Day 53: Psalm 17:6-9

"I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me." ~Psalm 17:6-9 NLT

I spy proof that when in trouble, I should pray. If David says something like, "I am praying to you," "listen as I pray," then I can easily conclude that David is doing what when he is in trouble? (Read the whole psalm for this context, it's only 15 verses long) PRAYING!!! Why is he praying? Because he knows God will answer.

I am intrigued by what David asks of God. Not only does he ask for protection, but he also asks that God's unfailing love would be shown in wonderful ways. To me, that shows that David understands that even if God doesn't work the way he expects, He is still good. God always will love him. Here is what David asks for, specifically in these verses:

~ "Show me Your unfailing love (in wonderful ways)"

~ "Guard me as You would guard Your own eyes"

~ "Hide me under the shadow of Your wings"

~ "Protect me from wicked and murderous people"

I am also intrigued by how David describes God. He says, "by Your mighty power," implying that he believes that God is all powerful. He also goes on, saying, "You rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies," showing that God's character is one that will deliver His people. As long as His people are seeking refuge, anyways. God apparently likes to help when asked. He approves when we trample our pride and ask for His help. He doesn't approve when I assume He knows what I need.

I think He does that to help us realize what we need, and what He provides. If He always provided health, we wouldn't know we needed it. We need sickness and injury to understand that we need health, if that makes sense. If health wasn't a variable, we wouldn't thank Him for giving it to us. We wouldn't be able to glorify Him for it.

And our pleasure and purpose is to glorify God for how great and wonderful He is. And in order to reveal what that entails, He allows some hardships upon us so we realize what we're praising Him for. And when we ask, He comes through and answers.