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

David pleads with God to save him by his name. David’s intention becomes clear as he asks God to vindicate him from the accusation of his enemies who did not have any regard for God (3). By hearing David’s prayer and saving him from the enemies’ attack, God would display His might and uphold His name.

David’s confidence is based on his relationship with God. He calls God his ‘help’ and the one who sustains him (4). He relies on God’s faithfulness. He trusts in God’s unchanging character to destroy his enemies. What is a name that you call God personally? Eternal Father? Best Friend? The Comforter? The Provider? In times of discouragement, we can find confidence by calling his name that is known to us intimately.

As David gains confidence, he sees hope for the future (6-7). David does not know when and how, but he knows that God will surely deliver him from his troubles. And David would give thanks and praise to the Lord. David has a clear vision of the day when God’s name will be exalted and vindicated as an answer to his prayer.

Prayer: Father, thank you for being my good shepherd. I fear no evil when I am with you. Please help me not to deviate but grow in my relationship with you to overcome troubles.

One Word: Surely God is my help.