We, modern man, desperately need to live under the grace of the Lord; prayer must be the breath of our soul.
There are dangers around us that people in the psalmist David's days did not have to meet—like cancers of various kinds, dangers from automobile and plane crashes, stock market crashes, and our ever present fears from terrorism. But David knew something we seldom know (unless we go hiking alone in certain remote areas)—danger from wild lions.
He says, "My soul is among lions," and he used them as representing cruel people "whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword" (Psalm 57:4). People hated him simply because he was "the anointed of the Lord." However high the honor may have been that he was to take Saul's place as king of Israel, David had to meet opposition constantly. People "prepare[d] a net for [his] steps; [his] soul [was] bowed down; they have dug a pit before me," he says (vs. 6). Treacherous people, yet professed Israelites!
David's dwelling "among lions" was a type of Jesus living among cruel enemies; all around Him were those who "hated [Him] without a cause"(Psalm 69:4) simply because He was "the Anointed of the Lord." And you and I who "follow the Lamb wherever He goes"(Rev. 14:4) must be prepared to "rejoice to the extent that [we] partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Peter 4:13). We can't be glad when we shall meet Him personally unless we have tasted His "sufferings"!
Anyone who follows Christ truly today will also meet the wrath of Christ's enemy: the reason why our modern "lions" have teeth like "sharp swords" is because "the love of many [has become] cold" (Matt. 24:12). It's been a mysterious ferment like that in the days of Elijah when Israel for a century had unconsciously drifted into Baal worship; in Elijah's day the love of Christ had well nigh disappeared among God's chosen people.
David in Psalm 57 rebuilds his faith in the Lord while he is hiding in "in the cave Adullam" and "in the wilderness of Engedi" (1 Sam. 22:1; 24:1). "My heart is fixed, O God. ... I will sing and give thanks," he says (Psalm 57:7). He believes in the goodness of the Lord when everything seems impossible (cf. Psalm 27:13, 14). Now let's do the same.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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