Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.--1st Samuel 19:11
In First Samuel 19 we find Saul trying to kill David yet again. These years were obviously very difficult ones for David, but it is very helpful for us (me) to remember that some of David's most beautiful psalms were penned during this time. As we read them and hear the depths of David's heart, we too, cry out with David and turn out hearts upside down before our God.
Psalm 59 was written during this time in David's life. As you read it, you can hear his desperation and his desire on his enemies. He begins very distressed...but as I have always found in my own life when I bring my troubles to my God, my attitude begins to change as I lift my eyes to His throne. My problems so often overwhelm my heart but they never overwhelm my God. These low points in our lives give us the greatest opportunity for faith. All we need do is go to Him and pour out our heart. He does the rest.
As I pray through all my troubles and focus on Him my perspective changes....just as David's did. At the end of my prayer I am seeing God more clearly and my problems have dimmed in the light of His glory and grace. I begin to praise Him even though nothing has changed in my circumstances. Something has changed in my heart. I have beheld Him and have been transformed just a little bit more into His likeness. I then can praise Him as David did at the end of Psalm 59:
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.--Psalm 59:16-17
