Be Exalted
Psalms 57:1-5 (NIV)
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me—
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
4 I am in the midst of lions.
I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
Let your glory be over all the earth.
Hiding from the Storm
One of the scariest elements of storms is the difficulty in predicting how long they will last. A flash storm can produce flooding that can be more dangerous than the storm itself. Or what about a family member or acquaintance who has a flash temper, the effects from which can be more fatal than from nature’s storm.
When David wrote Psalm 57, he was on the run from Saul, hiding in a cave. David, God’s chosen and the future king of Israel, sought shelter in a dark, damp cave. But may I direct your attention not to where he was, nor even why he was there? Look, instead, at how he spent his time.
First, he asks God for mercy. David could have pled for Saul’s mercy, but Saul was fighting his own demons. So David bows before the most high God, the One who had proven Himself to have the quality of mercy time and again. You see, when you are in the midst of the storm you need an established ally, one who has shown His faithfulness.
Then, David lifts up high praises to the One, True and living God. Be exalted, Oh God, above the heavens! If we would only follow David’s example when the storm clouds gather!
May we keep a song of praise in our hearts and on our lips so that even in hiding we can have joy unspeakable and full of glory.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 