Some of the deepest wounds in life come because someone we trust lies to us. These wounds can penetrate so deeply that we begin to not trust anyone. And as that mistrust settles in we can begin to believe that no one can be trusted ever. Sometimes the mistrust settles in and we begin to believe that we are the problem, that I am not worthy of trust.
The writer of our Psalm speaks about one of those moments when someone has broken trust with him. In making his feelings known, David makes universal statements about humanity’s inability to be faithful. In doing so he includes himself in the lot with the unfaithful. So if we took his words literally, he would be saying that he isn’t faithful either. I don’t think this was his intent.
This use of the language of universality is a literary device used to express the magnitude of the hurt, but not the literal numbers involved. David has been hurt deeply by the betrayal.
People often use the words ‘always, never, every, and none’ when high emotions have been activated. In marriages these types of words often come out during an argument. They are part of a criticism volleyed back and forth, one accusing while the other is defending. And the usual counter-accusation and denial follow.
Often lies come in the form of flattery. Always be aware of flattery. Flattery often hides a motive that is just under the surface. And once a person has started with the small lies, it can be hard to tell lies from truth. That is why these types of wounds can be so deep. If they lied about that, what else are they lying about!
The LORD gets involved: He speaks. The rare times when the LORD speaks are valuable. David illustrates their value by comparing them with silver and gold, refined to purity. They are worth collecting, worth protecting, worth saving. We must remember that much of the world today, and even hundreds of millions of Jesus-followers, don’t have a personal copy of the Scriptures in their own language. Because of poverty, political and religious oppression, and even a lack of available translation keep people from having a copy.
So for David, the response from the LORD was just what he needed. The LORD had heard his cry for help. The LORD didn’t answer because of David, but because of the poor and needy. David was king, after all. He was in a position of power. He had influence. He had the means to bring comfort. But the poor and needy only had the LORD.
I am glad there is someone to stick up for those who can’t stick up for themselves. One of the reasons the Gospel is such Good News is that we now can exhibit this same care and concern for the needy and downtrodden that the LORD does. We can be His hands extended.
The wicked will not stick up for these people. They instead dance on them, using them to lift themselves up. We see this in the million dollar parties to benefit some charity. They sip on Champaign while decrying the poverty of the poor. They put on a music event to raise money which costs more to put on than is given to the poor. They could just write the check themselves and the poor would come out ahead. But instead they put on the grand gesture to make it seem as if they care. This isn’t true of every event, but of many.
We are called to be as David, standing before the LORD on behalf of the poor and needy. And then to respond to the LORD’s direction, meeting the need if asked to.
The Arnold Journey 