WHAT CAN MEN DO TO ME?
Verse Key 56: 5
The psalmist
groans night and day because of his stalking enemies (1Sa 21:11-15). The
Gathians waged war without cause, blaming him. However, at that time he placed
his trust in the Lord and he praised the Word of God. It was his only refuge
and valid remedy.
1. Give me a break. (1-7) David called for God's mercy (2).
His enemy's throbbing weapon was their tongue. It was like a poison, a viper.
They were unscrupulous by blaming the innocent. They were plotting to kill David.
Nevertheless, he framed the confession of fear, which gradually gave way to
trust (v.4-5). Human beings, weak both physically and morally, find help in God
who is strong, has life and eternity. The psalmist made a perfect act of faith
in the Word of God. His Word deserves praise (v. 5a). What's this
"Word": it is the promise made by God to protect and defend his
faithful, as Ps 119:41 recalls: "Let your graces come to me, O Lord, your
salvation, according to your words". And 119:65: "You have done good
to your servant, O LORD, according to your word. Deep in his anguish, the
psalmist discovered that he who trusts in God has nothing to fear from human
actions.
2. O God, I want to fulfill my vows (8-14) The psalmist cried, "O
God. He really wanted to fulfill his vows before God (13). Help was needed for
this (v.8-9), because the situation was really hostile. The psalmist expressed
"his tears" as his human fragility, knowing that his misfortunes were
taken into account. Since God's goodness was manifested in favour of the needy
whom he certainly delivered, the psalmist would praise the divine word of
salvation. The trials and sufferings had led the psalmist to the certainty of
faith engendered his trust and led him to entrust himself entirely to God. In the
face of danger and harassment by his enemies, the psalmist appealed to God,
implored him, and being strengthened by the Word, he surrendered himself to the
LORD. The petitioner glimpsed a prospect of victory and the collapse of evil,
here called "the peoples" (v. 8b), then "death" (v. 14a)
and pledged gratitude to God (v. 13b).
No comments:
Post a Comment