1. Keeping the conversation going: even when times are tough, David doesn’t stop talking to, or about, God. There is a lesson in that, as I sometimes find it easy to look for solutions to life’s challenges everywhere else before turning to God.
2. Being scared: it’s OK to be scared. Reading Psalm 59, I’m pretty sure David was terrified.
Corollary: we should not judge or criticise our friends when they express fear.
3. Dwelling on God’s character and promises can help.
It is not a solution to everything, but singing or listening to songs (such as Psalm 59) get us thinking about aspects of God’s character that we want to plant deeply within our selves.
Notice who for the first 7 verses David is focused upon his enemies and his plight. God is mentioned, but really only in a way that is in relation to David. The focus then shifts though, to emphasis who God is.
In verse 1 David is demanding God be his fortress. By verse 9 David is watching for God who he hopes will be his fortress. After singing to himself about God for a minute or so, David is able to conclude in vv16 and 17 that he can sing of God’s strength as God is his fortress.
Progression: demand to God -> expect God to act -> trust that God will act.
I know which part of the spectrum I want to be at!
My point: Psalm 59 reminds us that getting a regular in-take of the truth about God can help set our mind at ease and give us a Godly perspective.
How are you getting the truth about God into your life regularly?
– Peter Lochore