Do I need to be saved every day?
Eventually, it would be set to music, sung, accompanied by stringed instruments.
Originally, it was a desperate plea for help.
Psalm 55 is yet another one of those David-cries. “Give ear to my prayer, O God. Don’t hide yourself when I so urgently need Your mercy.” Enemies, trouble, terror (yes, terror!). “O that I had wings!! I’d fly out of here to a safe, restful place. I would get out of this raging tempest!!”
More surprisingly, the trouble is coming from someone (or someones) close at hand. A companion, an equal, a familiar friend (55:13). Someone whose counsel and company had been often sought out and treasured.
Sometimes trouble comes from the outside. At other times, it explodes through someone near. Like an undetected roadside bomb, unseen, undetected, yet when triggered, something unmercifully hurtful.
There is however, for David, a “but” which he accesses.
“But I will call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will utter my complaint, and moan, and He hears my voice” (55:16-17).
SALVATION 3 TIMES A DAY
Perhaps Daniel took this Psalm with him as a young exile to Babylon. Perhaps he chose this to become his rhythm, his prayer habit (cf. Danile 6:10-11). A life-long, daily, never-miss-it habit. Three times a day — morning, noon, night — he made time to give thanks to God and set his heart toward Jerusalem. Thanks to God for His redemption, His presence, His salvation. On the good days; and on the cast-in-the-lions-den days.
The truth is that there are enemies every day that seek to take the children of God down and out. Some are outside enemies. Some are near enemies. Some are inside enemies (cf. Romans 7). Unless we are fooling ourselves or foolishly proud, we each need God’s rescuing help every moment of every day.
“Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved” (55:23). Our enemies can cause inside anxiety. So Peter, with an ear cocked toward Psalm 55, would write to fellow Christians to “cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Yes, we who trust in Christ stand in His righteousness and have the assurance of eternal life and salvation. And yet each day, we need the Lord’s rescue from “your adversary, the devil [who] prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Resisting him successfully, firm in one’s faith, is best done when we call upon the Lord, evening, morning, and at noon, for his daily salvation.
Let’s excel in Him!