If we consider the teachings from the Psalms of David, we discern the gravity of consistently tending to our soul. While many prioritize the desires of the flesh, David, in his Psalms, underscores the significance of caring for one’s soul. This is crucial because when we indulge our wrongful fleshly desires, knowingly or inadvertently, it inflicts harm upon our souls. Without prompt attention, our souls may wither. As the soul becomes dormant, our impure thoughts can overpower us, resulting in a significant deterioration of our spiritual well-being. Judas failed to tend to his soul when his greed for money smothered it, ultimately leading him to betray his Saviour.
I Cry Out to God Most High
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.
Psalm 57:1-3 (NIV)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.
He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
During the most crucial moment of his life, David earnestly implored the Almighty God. When we ourselves face dire circumstances, who do we seek? Often, we depend on ourselves, finding comfort within, yet we also frequently rely on others, inadvertently overwhelming them with our troubles. Another common mistake is expecting compassion from those who lack mercy, while neglecting to implore God for His infinite mercy. It is clear that David was accustomed to receiving immediate answers in the form of God’s unwavering love and loyalty.
These remarkable possibilities have all become attainable because David chose to take shelter in His shadow. Seeking refuge involves acknowledging our vulnerable state and resolutely resolving to overcome that vulnerability. Frequently, we struggle to receive responses from God, longing for Him to remove our vulnerable situation. Nonetheless, God does not change the situation; He empowers us to prevail over it.
Identifying The True Nature Of People
I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
Psalm 57:4-6 (NIV)
men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
They spread a net for my feet — I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.
Once we are in the presence of the Lord, we will easily discern the wicked desires of those we live among. Only when we turn to God as our shelter will we truly understand their deceitful nature before becoming victims of it. Otherwise, we will experience disappointment and frustration, and in the midst of this chaos, we will inadvertently carry out the devil’s will instead of uplifting God. Like David, who sought refuge in God, we must perceive the deceptive ways of those around us without falling prey to their schemes.
Four friends of Job serve as a cautionary example of those around us. Despite Job not seeking their support or comfort, they intruded themselves into his agony under the guise of offering solace, only to rejoice at his situation using their tongues as sharp swords. People lay snares at our feet to lead us away from God and even to rebuke Him. It is only by taking refuge in God that we can avoid such treacherous acts by those around us.
Ultimately, they will fall into the pit they have dug for us. If we take pleasure in their downfall, we become victims of their deceitful nature. We must remain steadfast in faith, even as we witness the downfall of our adversaries, so that we may advocate for them instead of taking pleasure in their misfortune.
We Will Awaken The Dawn
My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast;
Psalm 57:7-10 (NIV)
I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
To comprehend the unwavering love of God, our hearts must remain steadfast and resolute in the face of perilous situations. If our hearts falter, we risk straying from the path of God, seeking solace in mediums and fortune-tellers to escape adversity. Such actions will obscure our path from witnessing the Dawn.
When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Isaiah 8:19-20 (NIV)
Not dependent on any other source, the Psalmist stood firm under the wings of God. He did not merely wake at dawn, but rather, he was awakening the dawn itself. This signifies that by being with God, he was able to initiate actions and prevent stagnation in the process. He sang of the mercies of God, measuring the length of God’s love up to the heavens and His faithfulness up to the skies. Do we awaken the hearts of people, illuminating their paths with the true light?
Be Exalted, O God
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 57:11 (NIV )
The Psalmist had encountered the love and faithfulness of God on a deeply personal level. Having been the recipient of His protection, the Psalmist did not see himself as deserving of it, nor did he take credit for God’s actions. Instead, he sought to glorify God’s name through every possible means. Jesus also instructed us to bear good fruit, so that others may honour our Father in Heaven.
Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (MSG)
If we were to claim the wondrous deeds of God as our own, how could people exalt our Father in heaven? In the present day, every organization that proclaims the love of God to the world lays claim to the miracles performed by God through their ministry, seeking to become a role model for aspiring ministers to follow in their footsteps. If everyone adopts this approach, when will the name of God be glorified? Let us attribute every occurrence in our lives and in our ministries to God and to God alone, so that people may glorify our Father in heaven.
Loving God, you are our refuge.
Grant us the strength to seek shelter under your protective wing,
Shielding us from the clutches of the adversary who seeks to ensnare us. Bestow upon us the grace to supplicate for the absolution of our adversaries.
Furthermore, discipline us to ascribe all occurrences in our lives to your benevolence and elevate your name with reverence.
The Jordan Valley 
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