Deliver Me!

DELIVER ME!

a prayer to open

My Lord, my God, show me your heart. Ground me in your presence.

Draw me near and hold me close.

Rescue me from my enemies, O God.

Protect me from those who have come to destroy me. . . .

They have set an ambush for me.

Fierce enemies are out there waiting, LORD,

though I have not sinned or offended them.

I have done nothing wrong,

yet they prepare to attack me.

Wake up! See what is happening and help me!

O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,

wake up and punish those hostile nations.

Show no mercy to wicked traitors. . . .

Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths;

their words cut like swords.

“After all, who can hear us?” they sneer.

But LORD, you laugh at them.

You scoff at all the hostile nations.

You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me,

for you, O God, are my fortress.

In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.

He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons;

stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees,

O Lord our shield.

Because of the sinful things they say,

because of the evil that is on their lips,

let them be captured by their pride,

their curses, and their lies.

Destroy them in your anger!

Wipe them out completely!

Then the whole world will know

that God reigns in Israel. . . .

But as for me, I will sing about your power.

Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.

For you have been my refuge,

a place of safety when I am in distress.

O my Strength, to you I sing praises,

for you, O God, are my refuge,

the God who shows me unfailing love.

David wrote Psalm 59 during the time Saul was attempting to have him killed. David’s prayer is directed less against Saul as a personal enemy and more against the enemies of God. By attempting to kill David, God’s appointed king and progenitor of the coming Messiah, Saul was trying to thwart God’s purposes. There seems no end to the ways we humans seek to thwart God’s purposes, from the unseen sins we practice in our hearts and minds (such as deception, hatred, and lust) to the spectacular demonstrations of evil we experience in mass shootings and acts of terror. We all long to be delivered from the enemies of love and righteousness.

• What do you notice about God through reading this passage?
• When have you been accused of something you didn’t do? What were your thoughts during that time? What kinds of conversations did you have with God?
• What does it mean for God to be your strength during times of trouble? What would it look like in your life?

Father, thank you for sending Jesus to rescue us from our sin and take on the wrath we deserve. Thank you that I can live in freedom and that you have promised to transform me into the likeness of Christ over the course of my life because I have received your gift of grace. My heart is open to your love. May your will be done. Amen.