Psalm 28 The Lord is My Strength and My Shield

The greatest benefit I enjoy in my Christian faith is that I don't walk alone through life. My God is with me in the joys of life and he is with me in my darkest moments. I can talk to my God about my problems and he will listen to me. God not only listens to me, but he also speaks to me offering encouragement, guidance, and counsel. Silence from God is a sign of judgment or displeasure. In Psalm 28, David indicates to God that his silence may cause him to become like the unbelievers around him when he cries out for mercy.

Despite the fact that I know that God is with me, I don't just bring out a laundry list for God to get to work. Neither David came to God with an attitude of demand. He would lift up his hands and worship as he approached God with his plea. I can't forget that God is worthy of worship and adoration. I must give him the glory and honor he deserves under all circumstances of life. In fact, David's description of unbelievers is that "they do not regard the works of the Lord or the works of his hands." As a believer, I am called to remember that I am approaching the Creator of all things including my own life.

I can't understand how the unbeliever lives life without God. It seems to me that the difficulties and disappointments of life are enough for me to need someone who can stand with me. It is good to have friends, but friends are not always with you. God is always with me. His presence is available 24/7 without interruption. He does not slumber or sleep and has no need of anything.

The strength I need to get through life comes from my God. I suppose one can muster strength from other sources to get through life, but this is precisely what idolatry is all about. God does not desire that I seek other sources. He wants to be the one and only source because he is my Creator. "The Lord is the strength of his people." In times of need, I can take refuge in him. "In him my heart trusts." For this reason, I can live my life in thanksgiving to him.

Father, you are my strength and shield. You are my refuge and shepherd of my soul. To you I run every day all the day long to seek help. Thanks for your presence and for listening my cry. Amen.

Psalm 7 When Slandered...

Some time ago, I was falsely accused of covering up the sin of a friend. In reality, I did not know about his sin and never set out to cover it up before other people. The unfair criticism of the people against me brought much pain to my life during those agonizing months. But there wasn't much I could do about it. Only time would allow the truth to surface and in the meantime, I had to endure the abuse. The truth is that I could not endure it on my own strength. My God became the source of strength I needed to stay above water.

Psalm 7 is a psalm for all who are suffering because of slander or unfair criticism. Cush, a Benjamite made some accusing remarks against David for which he suffered greatly. Instead of exacting revenge, David prays to the Lord for strength. We can learn a thing or two on how to respond to slander as we read this psalm.

First, we are to run to the Lord as our refuge to find safety in him and no one else, and nothing else. Then, as we pray to our God, we can make our claim of innocence before him, since no one else may believe us. Through prayer, we also keep a long term perspective on how those who slander will pay unless they repent. God is our judge and all these matters will be dealt with in the future by him personally. We need to surrender our desire to make them pay and turn them to God for payment. At the end of the psalm, we find that David ends with thanksgiving and worship. Ultimately, after processing our pain before God and relinquishing our desire for revenge, we can give thanks and praise his name.

My initial reaction to slander and unfair criticism is to lash out against my accusers. But that only stirs up more strife. At times, I felt the desire to run away from the problem, but we all know that running away would not solve anything. Many times, I felt like giving the cold shoulder with silent treatment by distancing myself from those brothers and sisters, but that would damage the environment of love and peace in the church. I most certainly don't want to be the culprit of such terrible negativity in the church.

Slander is painful. Unfair criticism is just that: unfair. But living these experiences teaches me to depend on God and make him my refuge. It helps me to see God as the Judge of injustice and not myself. When I learn to pray like David, I am set free to give thanks and worship my God. Ultimately, time will tell if what people say of me is true or not.

Father, when slandered, help me run to you right away. May I pray like David in your presence. Become my refuge and strength that I may be grateful and worship your name. Amen.