Monthly Archives May 2015

Vs. 122 — Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me.

John Calvin:

But as from the last clause of the verse it is obvious that David here desires succour against his enemies, the verb Become surety is the more appropriate rendering.1 Lord, as if he had said, since the proud cruelly rush upon me to destroy me, interpose thyself between us, as if thou wert my surety. … The prayer is to this effect, That God would not suffer the wicked to exercise their cruelty against us at their pleasure, but that he would interpose as a defender to save us. By these words the Prophet intimates, that he was in extreme danger, and that he had nothing else left him in which to hope but the help of God. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 5, p. 3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

In You, my God, I do put my trust. I put my trust in no one else, nothing of this world, no other so-called god, but in You alone! The proud may boast, scoff, and shoot threatening arrows; they may blaspheme Your name and scheme to outlaw and destroy the civil liberty to worship You. Even if, or I should say, as they work to suppress and oppress the praises and proclamation of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, they cannot stop You. Their works will only feed their destruction and advance the word of salvation. Although they hate truth, it will not go away! You are our surety!

Vs. 121 — I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

“I have done judgment and justice.” This was a great thing for an Eastern ruler to say at any time, for these despots mostly cared more for gain than justice. Some of them altogether neglected their duty, and would not even do judgment at all, preferring their pleasures to their duties; and many more of them sold their judgments to the highest bidders by taking bribes, or regarding the persons of men. Some rulers gave neither judgment nor justice, others gave judgment without justice, but David gave judgment and justice, and saw that his sentences were carried out. He could claim before the Lord that he had dealt out even-handed justice, and was doing so still. On this fact he founded a plea with which he backed the prayer—“Leave me not to mine oppressors.”  (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 368). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Father, the Holy Spirit has led me to live and love justice and righteousness, which is the opposite of my former life, before Jesus captured my heart. I lived only to serve myself, to define justice and righteousness by what serves me and benefits me. But the Spirit has shown me Your righteousness and Your justice, which is perfect. Continue to lead me in this wonderful knowledge and in this path. It is my confession and desire to walk rightly before You and before man. And if the unrighteous, the schemers of this world, plot against me, I know that You will not leave me to Your enemies. In the path of righteousness and justice I will stay. For I know that it is the path of life. For I know that Your grace is sufficient for me to walk, yes stand in this path.