Here’s what one of my math teachers called an “obviosity.” We have A LOT of psalms, in which David is praying for deliverance. Yesterday we looked at excerpts from Psalms 28 and 30. Today:

To the chief musician. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. (Psalm 31.0 – 5, NKJV)

Why was David always praying for deliverance? Because he frequently needed deliverance! That is, life for David wasn’t easy. Sometimes it was his fault, but sometimes not, as in all those years running from King Saul.

And so his lament and prayer continues:

Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away. (Psalm 31.9, 10, NKJV)

But, as almost always, he ends the psalm with a promise. One that I’m claiming in my (temporary!) bout with an enlarged prostate:

Blessed be the LORD, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. (Psalm 31.21 – 24, NKJV)

“I felt cut off…but you heard the voice of my supplications…the LORD preserves the faithful…Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”