Lent 13

This morning, three Psalms in a row. This morning, three Psalms where David goes on and on about how everyone is out to get him, about how unsafe things are, about how deceitful people are at every turn. About how certain he is that God is going to pull him through and about how God is still worthy of praise. Three Psalms where David says, And then you'll show them, right God?

I'm not sure where to go with this thought, but it occurred to me this morning, that Jesus could have been reading the Psalms in his own version of Lent. That as he made his way to the cross, and felt his accusers edge ever closer and the whispers grow ever louder, that maybe he tucked in bed at night and read these Psalms over and over, willing his heart to believe that there really is a God who will pull out the fangs of the lion (58:6).

Reading these back to back, with Jesus in mind... I don't have more to say about that. 

Psalm 56-58

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 56^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

¹ Be merciful to me, my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
    all day long they press their attack.
² My adversaries pursue me all day long;
    in their pride many are attacking me.

³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴     In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?

⁵ All day long they twist my words;
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
⁶ They conspire, they lurk,
    they watch my steps,
    hoping to take my life.
⁷ Because of their wickedness do not^[c] let them escape;
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

⁸ Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll^[d]—
    are they not in your record?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
    when I call for help.
    By this I will know that God is for me.

¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
¹¹ in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

¹² I am under vows to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered me from death
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.

Psalm 57^[e]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[f] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

¹ Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.

² I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
³ He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—^[g]
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

⁴ I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶ They spread a net for my feet—
    I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.

⁷ My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
⁸ Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.

⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 58^[h]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[i]

¹ Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
    Do you judge people with equity?
² No, in your heart you devise injustice,
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

³ Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
⁴ Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
⁵ that will not heed the tune of the charmer,
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

⁶ Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!
⁷ Let them vanish like water that flows away;
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.
⁸ May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,
    like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

⁹ Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.^[j]
10 The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.
¹¹ Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”