A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  “I am willing, ” he said, “Be clean!”  Immediately, the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Sometimes I think when we are confronted with people who are very ill, or who are deep in a life struggle, we don’t know what to do to help, and we forget that maybe all they need is our compassion. The Scripture says Jesus was filled with compassion for this very ill man.

Webster’s dictionary defines compassion as sorrow for the sufferings or trouble of another, accompanied by an urge to help.  Lord, teach us to be people of compassion who long to be of help to people in need.

Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.  With God we will gain the victory and he will trample down our enemies.

Whether enemy or friend, the help of man in any struggle cannot compare to the wealth of hope and help available to those who love God.

O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God are my fortress, my loving God.

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

There is a very personal, poignant atmosphere to this psalm.  The king has sent men to David’s house to kill him.  He is trusting God for protection, but his trust has a sweetness to it that is at once submissive, loving, obedient and hopeful.  He is waiting on God.

David is running from King Saul, hiding in a cave – no guarantee of food or water, or even safety.  He is desperate, and in his desperation, he asks God to wipe out the wicked from the earth.  

He is asking God to judge NOW, to avenge NOW, but God alone knows the time of judgment and vengeance.  The wicked, described in vs. 3 & 4, will “get theirs”, but it will be in God’s time, not David’s.  God’s time, not ours.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

Really, in any disaster – fire, earthquake, financial calamity, floods or personal tragedy, the only safe shelter is in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:4  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge, his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Proverbs 18: 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?

These verses should really give us confidence.  If God is our protector on earth, and death is the doorway to being always in His Presence, then what is there to fear?

I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest – I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

One thing that makes the Psalms so visual is David’s use of creation.  His years as a shepherd exposed him to nature and God’s creatures in very personal ways.  The dove fleeing from the storm to a place of shelter.  The description of hiding in the shelter of God’s wing (Psalm 91:4).  He freely uses examples from creation to share with us the love, care and safety we find in the presence of the Almighty.

Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life – men without regard for God.  Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

David is being attacked, by men who, he perceives  have no regard for God.  So, he cries out to the One Who can help.   He asks for help from the Lord.  Men who have no regard for God have no morals and no regard for law or justice.  Maybe you work with someone like that, or have a person like that in your family circle.  They are often argumentative and aggressive.  There is only one recourse when they attack: God is our help.  Cry out to Him.

The fool says in his heart,”There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good.

Do you know someone who says,”There is no God.”? God says they are a fool, they are corrupt, their ways are vile.  This is hard to accept when it involves someone you know, someone you may even love.  My friend married an atheist.  He seems like a nice enough fellow, until you read this verse.  According to the Word of God, she married a fool, and a fool is raising their children.

There is redemption for a fool. It is found in Jesus, at the cross.  Thanks be to God for this amazing gift.  Interesting……..God provides a way for the one who says there is no God.  This is GRACE in action.