Listen to My Prayer

Psalm 55

　
　
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of David - how about Goliath? That was when David catapulted into national prominence. "Saul killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands", the crowds chanted as he returned a national hero.

A man after God’s own heart - it doesn’t get much better than that. Goliath was an intimidating enemy, and David had stood up to him without fear. He trusted in the Living God. But what do we find in Psalm 55?

It’s interesting how David begins this Psalm. "Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me". It’s as though he is stomping his feet and shouting at God, like a child throwing a temper tantrum to get their way with a parent. Whatever the case, he is very aggressive towards God.

Sometimes people will act that way when they are afraid, and David is definitely afraid. "Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me". Like a frightened animal he lashes out at the one person who can help him – God.

Then he really feels sorry for himself and wants to flee. He wants to escape. "Oh that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest". Facing a desperate situation, David wants to live in a fantasy world – one where he doesn’t have to deal with the reality of people hunting him down.

Hurt by a close friend, David feels alone and isolated. It is someone who in the past has shared his closest memories but has now betrayed him. "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it… but it is you, my close friend with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God". How painful that must have been for David.

Finally, erupting out of all these deep-seated emotions, David wishes the worst for his enemies. "Let death take my enemies by surprise". I’m not sure I’ve ever prayed that before but I certainly have felt that way.

David is honest in his prayer. God can handle our anger, our fear, our self-pity, our desire to escape and our pain. Let us pray like David, with honesty, and "He will hear your voice… and rescue you".

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2055&version=NIV;MSG
http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Ps.55