Psalm 55 - 1.16.24
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 55:22 - Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
OBSERVATION: Verse 22 encompasses David’s heart and firm faith even during the most distressing and difficult siege on his life. To really understand verse 22, it’s important to know what brought him to this place of faith and trust in the Lord.
This chapter begins with his cry to “listen to my prayer, O God” and then his plea in verse 2-3 about “my thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying.” He goes on to say in verses 4 – 6 he is in anguish, has terrors of death, fear, trembling and horror have overwhelmed him. The picture he paints is a man who is at the deepest depths of despair. Later, in verse 13, we find out what was causing him such grief. He was betrayed by a friend, a close companion, someone he “enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God.” He later describes the person, in verses 20 – 21, saying this “friend” attacks and violates their friendship, he is a smooth talker yet does the opposite behind his back. Some scholars think this might be about his son, Absalom, but it could have been someone else. No matter what, it was someone who was close, a brother in the Lord, and it was an utter betrayal to David. Have you ever been hurt from someone that close in your life? I have and know it’s a deep hurt that only God can heal.
Verse 22 is where David shares the one and only way to get through the trials and tribulations of life; even those places of deep betrayal and hurt. He writes to “cast your cares on the Lord.” The verb “cast” translates “shalak” which means to throw, to fling, to hurl. Imagine taking your burden and literally throwing it as hard as you can away from you and to the Lord. What a great visual when you’re in the midst of a trial to cast, throw or literally hurl it away to the Lord!
It’s very interesting verse 22 doesn’t say he will remove or take away the problem you’re going through but will sustain you through it. He promises to support you, bear the burden, to keep you from going under or giving way to the trial. Through all the trials in my life, I know and have experienced growth in my faith, strength to endure, and a deep and personal way to encourage others when going through trials. I love what George Campbell Morgan, a great Bible teacher, preacher and author wrote about verse 22: “The experience of suffering was not taken away from the servant of God, but he was sustained, and so made strong enough to resist its pressure, and through it to make his service more perfect. This is how God ever sustains us in the bearing of burdens.” (Morgan).
APPLICATION: There are many times in my life where I took on the burden of a trial. I failed miserably and was floundering at best. It seems when trying to carry a trail on my own, every aspect of the trial exponentially grows larger than the trial itself. Have you ever noticed that happen to you? The sweet part is once I gave the trail to the Lord, that’s where His peace surrounded me. Just like David, moments of human fear, discouragement, and despair can begin when faced with a trial, but it’s what you do with those emotions that is key. You can live in your fear and discouragement or you can live out your faith like David by trusting and knowing God’s promises have never failed. When you give your burden to the Lord, David confirms the promise of God “he will never let the righteous be shaken” while in the midst of the trial. What a wonderful promise!
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for David’s example of walking through the emotions of his deep betrayal and fear, and then witnessing his great faith in You. His example shows that he was human yet his faith in You was mighty. Help me, Lord, when I am going through a trial that I will immediately cast my fears and anything else on you. Thank you for caring and sustaining me through each and every trial. I give you all the praise and glory now for your love, care, and for sustaining me through every trial in life.
- Mary Oberg
