David’s Terrifying Oppression

Psalms 55:1–14
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If we are ever tempted to give up or to run away from our problems, then this is the Psalm for us.  It seems that David wrote this Psalm when Absalom’s rebellion was coming to a head in Jerusalem.  He felt what so many of us have felt when things have piled up on us largely as the result of our own foolishness and sin. It is true that God freely forgives us of our sin if we confess it (I John 1:9) but He nearly always lets us live with the consequences of our sin. Everything that has happened to David can be traced back step by step to his sin. Sin is a terrible thing. We may think that we will have just one little fling but it doesn’t end there. We set in motion the forces of the wind and we reap the whirlwind.

David does what any mature believer should do when in distress; he comes boldly to the throne of grace (verses 1-3). He is so deeply grieved by the attacks of his enemies that his spirit is wallowing in agony (v. 4). His fear is so great that he begins to tremble (v. 5). His whole world was crumbling around him. He was tired of fighting for his throne. His natural tendency was to flee from his oppressors. He longed for peace at any price to the point that he decided to escape his troubles and problems as a dove would escape by flying away to a place of refuge in the desert (vv. 6-8). He asked God to confuse the wicked who oppressed him (vv. 9-11).

Application

It is necessary for me to discuss with my family some of the consequences of sin using various examples. Example: The drinking of alcohol causes many deaths on the highway as well as causing various health problems, broken homes etc.