Jenny's Psalm Reflections: 54 verse 4

Today’s verse is Psalm 54 VERSE 4

“But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.”

Background:

The wonderful aspect of the Psalms is that they show a full range of emotions. This Psalm is one of those in which the writer, David, wants bad things to happen to his enemies, and their ultimate destruction. The language is full of revenge. And everyone is human, of course. David is writing when he was in hiding from King Saul. The Psalm passes through different phases from an initial prayer (verses 1-2), and then his faith appears in verse 4. David is trusting the Lord. Not only has he cried out in prayer but he has now conviction in the faith that God will hear him and answer him.  David ends the Psalm with praise (verse 6). The sequence of events is trouble, he turned to God in prayer and praises Him.

The cry of the Psalm is about “payback” and I am sure we have all been there! But if we believe and trust in God and that our deeds are done in His name, then even our feelings of anger must be changed and refined. Like David, our feelings of revenge or anger must be tempered by the love of God and turned to forgiveness.

Meditation

1. Think about something or someone you're struggling with 

Think of an issue or person you are struggling with and finding it hard to forgive.

2. FIND A QUIET PLACE. 

Make sure that you are in a quiet place. Sit comfortably but alert – feet flat on the floor, back pushed hard against the back of the chair. Start your reflection with hands cupped open ready to be open to God’s presence.

3. Focus on your breathing.

Pay attention to in-breaths and out-breaths. You may think of breathing in God’s life and peace and breathing out any tension.

4. Be aware of your body.

Let your aches and pains be there. Rest your hands in your lap; you don’t need to be doing anything with them now. Rest your feet on the floor; you don’t need to go anywhere. Shrug your shoulders, ease your neck. Take time to become still…

5. Say the verses aloud to yourself.

Say verse 4 to yourself and bring your concerns to God. Place them “in your cupped hands.”

6. Finish with this prayer:

Close the prayer with your hands now turned over the other way as you release your concern, and hand it over to your God, your helper.  Finish with the prayer below.

Living God, you are our helper in times of difficulty. Help us to be upheld by you in difficult situations and instead of wishing harm to pray for love. With your help, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.