Today we are featuring a recent sermon by our friend Simon J. Oriedo. It was preached at the ACK St. Polycarp’s Church Mlango Kubwa on Sunday 6th July 2014 during the fundraising to by the church plot. If you have a sermon that you would like to share with us please contact me through the website. Samuel
Texts:
- Psalm 55:1-15, 18-22
- Deuteronomy 24:10-22
- Acts 28:1-16
Introduction
The historical context of this Psalm is not clear but there are about two proposals. The first is that the psalm was composed at time of David’s from Jerusalem, when he had heard of his son Absalom’s rebellion. It was hard for David when he learned that Ahithophel, his trusted friend was also among the conspirators.
2 Samuel 15:31 “Now David had been told, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “O Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”
The second proposal is that the psalm was composed when David was in Keilah surrounded by enemies. He was afraid that the inhabitants of Keilah would deliver him into the hand of Saul, 1 Sam. 23:1-12. The most probable is the supposition that the psalm was composed during the rebellion of Absalom because the psalm points to the events in David’s life at this time. All the circumstances in the psalm agree with his condition at that time, and the occasion was one in which the persecuted and much-afflicted king would be likely to pour out the desires of his heart before God.
Psalm 55, therefore is the expression of a heart deeply wounded by the faithlessness of a friend turned fore. This Psalm today speaks to us in the three ways how David handled his frustration:
- Calling God’s attention towards his anguish: Verse 1-8
Are there times we feel as God is not seeing what we are going through yet God is Omniscience? Are there times we have to appear to bang God’s head so that He gets our attention? Are there times we must pray and fast in order to arm-twist God, manipulate Him and force Him to act on our favour?
The Psalmist describes his situation in Verses 1-8
First,
- The Psalmist summons God to listen and respond to his anguish and complains
David felt that God has forgotten him or hidden his face from him. He yearns for God’s intervention. He calls for an immediate reply from God.
Psalm 55:1-2 “Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught.”
Secondly, the Psalmist
- Describes his anguish
Psalm 55:3-4 “at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart in in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me.”
His thoughts trouble him; he is distraught as a result of the voice and stares by his enemies
David is not only suffering from the physical loss of his friend but also emotional anguish for his friend who has turned to be his enemy.
Thirdly, Psalmist
- Anticipated fleeing from his country
Because of fear and trembling that had beset and the horror that had overwhelmed him (v. 5), he anticipated fleeing from his own country. The Psalmist thought of fleeing to where there was peace; escaping from insecurity and turmoil.
Psalm 55:6-8 “I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and he at rest – 7I would flee far away and stay in the desert; 8I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”
- Pleading with God against his enemies: Verse 9-15, 20-21
For what the friend has done to him; for the anguish and pain he has caused him, David pleads with God to punish his enemies.
First: David prays that that God may:
- Confuse the wicked and Confound their speech
The Psalmist wants God to intervene and deal decisively with his enemies because they have brought violence and strife in the city.
Psalm 55: 9- “Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city…”
Secondly: David reminds God that:
- The enemies have caused trouble in the city
By bringing violence, strife, and their utterances – they prowl about on the city walls with malice and abuse; destructive forces – threats and lies;
For the Psalmist, the enemies of peace in the city; the enemies of peace in the nation are betrayers:
Psalm 55: 12 – 14; 20-21
Thirdly: the Psalmist Prays for the:
- Wiping away of his Enemies from the face of the Earth!
Psalm 55:15 “Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them.”
It is very sad that the Psalmist had to get to this point; – the point of praying for the death of his enemies; the point of praying for the destruction of his enemies; the point of paying misfortune against his enemies. Oh what a painful point to reach!
What a horrible point we have reached! When CORD supporters pray for Raila, what do they pray for to happen to Uhuru; and when Jubilee supporters are praying for Uhuru, what do they pray for to happen to Raila?
These are very painful times that the Psalmist had to experience. When Christians pray for Christians what do they pray should happen to the Muslims; and when Muslims pray for Muslims what do they pray should happen to the Christians?
We have reached a very scaring and delicate point in the history of this country! There is fear for the known and fear for the unknown! There is anxiety of tomorrow mixed with uncertainty. People are in critical moment expecting something to happen; to happen it must happen to defuse the tensions and anxieties. To happen, it has to happen so that we can get our lives back and move on. To happen, it has to happen so that it will never happen again!
- Testifying of God’s doings: v. 16-19, 22
We might be overwhelmed by the troubles and defeat we are experiencing but we cannot forget what God can do and what He does. We might see only darkness that seems to cover the earth; that threaten the nation; the nation or the family but we must celebrate what God has already done. We may appear like cornered and no way out but we must trust in God’s ability and power.
Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may remain for a night by joy comes in the morning…”
We are not hopeless but we have hope in God; we have hope because we have put our trust in God. We have hope because we believe in God the giver of hope. The Psalmist has captured this well when he said
Psalm 46:1-3, 6-11 “1God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 8Come and see the works of the Lord. The desolations he has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth”. 11The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
For the Psalmist; first, he testifies that:
- God hears his voice at all times
Psalm 55:16-17 “But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. 17Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice”
There is a Luo say: “Winjo to a winjo to dewo ema ok a dewo” to hear I have heard but I have not bothered.
When God hears, how does he respond? Or how do we want Him to respond? For God, yes, no and wait are all answers.
Secondly; the Psalmist testifies that:
- God ransoms him unharmed from the battle waged against him
Psalm 55:18 “He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.”
Thirdly: the Psalmist testifies that:
- God will punish his enemies
The psalmist has an assurance that God would act in his favour
Psalm 55:19 “God, who is enthroned forever, will hear them and afflict them – men who never change their ways and have no fear of God.”
Conclusion
There is a choice which the Psalmist lays before us; a choice of how to react or respond when provoked.
From experience, the Psalmist proposes that:
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
He concludes that:
Psalm 55:23c “But for me, I trust in you.”
The second choice is the way of wickedness:
Psalm 55:23a “But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days.”
May the testimony of the Psalmist encourage us in our dissolutions and fears. It is encouraging to know that:
- God hears all our prayers at all times
- We can cast our cares on the Lord
- God can sustains us
- God will never let the righteous fall
- God will deal with the wicked as their wickedness deserve
- We can trust in God.
Rev. Simon J. Oriedo; BSc; BD (Hons.); PGD (Ecum); MABS; Med
P.O. Box 14814 – 00100; Nairobi – KENYA
Email: sjoriedo@gmail.com, sjoriedo@yahoo.com
Mobile: +254-722838023; 735621172; 752660620