SURELY GOD IS MY HELP

Passage: Psalms 54:1-7

Key verse: 4

NIV

Psalm 54[a]
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David. When the Ziphites(A) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”

1 Save me(B), O God, by your name;(C)
    vindicate me by your might.(D)
2 Hear my prayer, O God;(E)
    listen to the words of my mouth.

3 Arrogant foes are attacking me;(F)
    ruthless people(G) are trying to kill me(H)—
    people without regard for God.[c](I)

4 Surely God is my help;(J)
    the Lord is the one who sustains me.(K)

5 Let evil recoil(L) on those who slander me;
    in your faithfulness(M) destroy them.

6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering(N) to you;
    I will praise(O) your name, Lord, for it is good.(P)
7 You have delivered me(Q) from all my troubles,
    and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(R)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 54:1 In Hebrew texts 54:1-7 is numbered 54:3-9.
  2. Psalm 54:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 54:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Lord Upholds My Life

To the choirmaster: with (A)stringed instruments. A Maskil[a] of David, (B)when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”

54 O God, save me by your (C)name,
    and vindicate me by your might.
2 O God, (D)hear my prayer;
    give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 (E)For (F)strangers[b] have risen against me;
    ruthless men (G)seek my life;
    they do not set God before themselves. Selah

4 Behold, (H)God is my helper;
    the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
    in your (I)faithfulness (J)put an end to them.

6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
    I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, (K)for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble,
    and my eye has (L)looked in triumph on my enemies.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 54:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 54:3 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Targum insolent men (compare Psalm 86:14)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Save me, O God! (1-3)

Saul envied David and sought to kill him. (See 1Sa 23:13-29.) During his years as a fugitive in the desert David learned to depend on God. He didn't know what to do, so he cried out to God for help. The wilderness life became a time of God's training. Because he cried out to God in time of trouble, he grew in his inner man. God's training helped him grow as a great king and shepherd for his people.

2. He has delivered me (4-7)

When we depend wholly on God, he is always faithful to help. David experienced the saving grace and help of the Lord. He never forgot to offer a thanksgiving offering, and to praise and thank God who delivered him from all his troubles. Hard problems are opportunities to pray; God's deliverance is an opportunity to praise and thank God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing and answering my prayers when I call on you with all my heart. Help me to offer to you an offering that expresses my thanks.

One Word: God is my help; he sustains me