[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T40dmjuBDm8&feature=youtu.be”]
This week’s study is from Tehillim / Psalms 54:1-7, the psalm opens saying, א לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינֹת מַשְֹכִּיל לְדָוִד: ב בְבוֹא הַזִּיפִים וַיֹּאמְרוּ לְשָׁאוּל הֲלֹא-דָוִד מִסְתַּתֵּר עִמָּנוּ: For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, “Is not David hiding himself among us?” (NASB) The first two verses from the Masoretic Text have become the title for our English translations of Tehillim / Psalms 54. David says, ג אֱלֹהִים בְּשִׁמְךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ תְדִינֵנִי: 54:1 Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your power. (NASB) How does God save David by His name? What is it about the Name of God that saves? He expects the Lord to move in His power according to His name. He is seeking the Lord for an answer to his prayer, ד אֱלֹהִים שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה לְאִמְרֵי-פִי: 54:2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. (NASB) David’s case is based on the enemy who surrounds, ה כִּי זָרִים | קָמוּ עָלַי וְעָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁוּ נַפְשִׁי לֹא שָֹמוּ אֱלֹהִים לְנֶגְדָּם סֶלָה: 54:3 For strangers have risen against me And violent men have sought my life; They have not set God before them. Selah. (NASB) Notice how those who surround David to take his life do not set the Lord God before them. What does it mean to set God before us? Read more here: Tehillim 54-Part1
