Here is another collection of psalms that may well come from the time when David was in the wilderness, hiding from his father-in-law Saul and others who had been his companions. “Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me” (Psalm 35:4). “Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them” (54:2-3).

Part of the difficulty is the lack of reciprocity: David had prayed for others in their time of suffering, but in his time of need they’d prefer to mock or attack. “They repay me evil for good; my soul is forlorn. But as for me, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting, I prayed with head bowed … But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me” (35:12-15).

Still, there is a dominant note of praise and trust. The enemies are fierce, but the love and grace of God is even fiercer. “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name” (63:3-4). “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness” (17:15). “God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. … With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good” (54:4-6).

There is an important lesson here in the way David offers confident praise even though he’s still hiding from his enemies in the wilderness. We want to see our Lord rescue us first, and then we’ll probably remember to say Thanks. But David says Thanks first, because he trusts that one way or another God will bring him through.

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Your steadfast love is indeed better than life, O God. You are our helper, in the midst of every struggle. Grant us the grace to pray for our enemies, to seek their good even when they have aimed to make us suffer. Teach us to be satisfied, as long as we can behold your righteous face.

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