You will not restrain your mercy from me

Wednesday night in our Lifegroup, we were discussing the Psalms. So many of them follow a similar theme – “LORD, deliver me from my enemies”. David spent much of his life either fleeing or fearing those who sought to kill him, even his own son.

My life isn’t like that. No one is trying to kill me. I don’t even have people at work who have it in for me. So how should I read:

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! (Psalms 40:11-14)

Even though David wrote this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we have one advantage that David didn’t have – the cross. On this side of the cross, I know that:

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

In reality, I do have someone who is trying to kill me. And like David, I need to ask the LORD to preserve me in His steadfast love and faithfulness.

Posted by David Fenton on Aug 14, 09:03 AM