Psalm 54 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 54 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might.
Verse 2Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.
Verse 3For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them. Selah
Verse 4But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
Verse 5He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your faithfulness, put an end to them.
Verse 6With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
Verse 7For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
Devotion
Today's wisdom comes from the perspective of one whom the ungodly have set upon. Right away we see the difference between the righteous and the unrighteous. The righteous do not focus on ruining the lives of the unrighteous, but on thanking God for what they do have. The author of this psalm is presumed to be David, and it follows the form of an "individual lament." An important part of such psalms is a turn from lament to thanksgiving in anticipation of God's grace. The righteous person turns to God in times of trouble rather than taking their anger and frustration out on the people around them. Indeed, David offers up a "freewill offering," that is, an offering that God has not asked for and for which nothing is expected in return. Such an example of thanksgiving is a hard one to follow, but it is the example set for us throughout the biblical story.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to find strength and grace in you and to know that you are enough. In Jesus' name. Amen.