LORD, WHO IS LIKE UNTO THEE?

This is one of the imprecatory psalms about which mention has been made in the Introduction to this month’s readings. To this the reader is referred. At this point, therefore, it is sufficient to say that David lived in a different dispensation to ours. We who live in this church-age of grace, who are indwelt by the Spirit, and who are members of Christ’s Body, are to love our enemies, not to avenge ourselves, and to pray for our persecutors, Matt 5. 44; Rom. 12. 19.

By contrast, however, it is a fact that God in His providential ways does sometimes act in judgment on evil men, even though the day of His judicial vengeance does not begin until this age of grace has run its course. There have been cases of divine intervention during the course of this dispensation. In apostolic times, Herod is a case in point, Acts 12. 21-23. There must be many others.

Eventually, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, 1 Thess. 5. 2; 2 Pet. 3. 10, when the ungodly will be taken completely by surprise. In this connection, verse 8 of this psalm is instructive.

David, a man after God’s own heart, Acts 13. 22, had many enemies who conspired against him. In his prayer, he refers to them as those “that strive with me”, “that fight against me”, “that persecute me”, “that seek after my soul”, “that devise my hurt”, vv. 1-4. Writing figuratively, in verses 7-8 he refers to a net concealed by hunters in a pit, dug to trap the unsuspecting prey. In this descriptive way, he speaks of the intrigues of those who pursued him.

In this situation, David displays a complete absence of self confidence. He acknowledges his weakness in his appeals to the Lord, “stand up for mine help”, “say unto my soul, I am thy salvation”, vv. 2, 3. Some lines from Luther’s fine hymn are worth quoting in this context:

“Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing.”

The secret of strength lies in the confession of weakness and reliance upon the Lord. Paul learned this and wrote, “when I am weak, then am I strong”, 2 Cor. 12. 9, 10; “be strong in the Lord”, Eph. 6. 10.