Year 5, Day 177: Psalm 30-31

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Protection

• Protection: In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray that God might deliver us from evil – even the Evil One.  Sometimes we need God’s protection from the sin around us.  Sometimes we need protection from the sinful people around us.  Other times we need protection from the sin that lies within ourselves. In any case, Jesus’ point is clear.  We need protection from the Father to make it through each and every day.

It is pretty easy to read through these psalms and pick up on the idea that they are about protection.  The psalms repeated use words like “refuge,” shelter,” “delivered,” “rock,” “fortress,” and “restored.”  These are words of protection.

In Psalm 30 we hear about a free exchange between God and mankind.  God saves us from the wicked, rescuing us from those who intend to harm us.  In turn, we give Him praise and worship.  He does not save us so that we will praise Him.  Rather, He protects us because He is God.  We worship Him because He is God.  It is truly a free exchange.

In Psalm 31 we hear a much more personal plea.  I am always struck by the personal nature of verses 11-13.  Who hasn’t felt like the object of hidden scorn?  Who hasn’t felt like the subject of whispering in the shadows?  Who hasn’t known that feeling of other people plotting against you?  Who doesn’t know the sense of helplessness that comes from such times?

But what is the point of both of these psalms?  God is our rock.  He is our refuge.  There is nothing that anyone can do to me or you that God cannot make right in the end.  Why wouldn’t we praise a God who can protect us in anything - even in death!

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