David Prayed For Vindication From His Enemies

Commentary

As a Christian what we need to do is to stop looking at the past and start looking to the future. The answer to depression is hope. As stated before, “hope” is not just a “hope so.” As a child, we may have hoped that we would get a new toy but there was no assurance the we would get it. When our hope is not in ourselves or in our circumstances but is in Christ it is guaranteed.

In this Psalm the writer lists his hopes:

1. That God will one day defeat the enemy and give victory (v. 1). Sometimes God moves with great power and deliverance and at other times he is more patient and slower in bringing about judgment. Either way deliverance is in our future and this should be our hope.”
2. That God will be his strength (v. 2). God may not change our circumstances but we can be sure that He will enable us to face them and that He will be adequate.
3. That God will give direction to his life (v. 3). It is His desire to lead us in all of the decisions we must make.
4. That God will give him joy (v. 4). If we seek to get our joy from our own feelings or comfortable circumstances we will be constantly disappointed. However if we find our hope in Him and in His Word we will experience hope even in the midst of hopeless situations.
5. That God will put praise on his lips (v. 5). In the process it will not just be something that he knows in his heart but will show on his face so others will know.

Application

Philip Brooks in his book on “Visions and Tasks” says. “Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.” Lord, help this to be true in my life! I have the choice of living a life that is full of hope or a life that is filled with despair.