My God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,
or people who are wicked and deceitful
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
With words of hatred they surround me;
they attack me without cause.
In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.
I love the end of verse 4 -… “but I am a man of prayer.” Surely a lesson to learn from David on how to deal with difficult times, particularly if these trials are as a result of conflict from others. A reminder of where to go with these things; to God in prayer. It made me think of that old, familiar hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
It really is a privilege to do what David did, and what the hymn tells us to. But sometimes we just don’t do it.
Dear Lord,
Help me never to take this great privilege for granted. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.