Psalm71: do not abandon me, O Elohim.

 I got angry whenever a pastor says: "Are you sure of your salvation?" because it seems to imply that this assurance is what leads to salvation. 

In Psalm 71, the psalmist prays: "do not abandon me, O Elohim.", "Do not reject me when I am old or abandon me when I lose my strength.", "O Elohim, do not be so distant from me.", "O my Elohim, come quickly to help me.", "Rescue me and free me because of your righteousness.", "Turn your ear toward me, and save me.". Is the psalmist sure of his salvation? How many times I (with my theology) have prayed in a similar way? I don't remember praying like that in my whole life even though I coudln't "feel" the Lord next to me many times in my life.

By other hand, we also read in Psalm 71: "I have taken refuge in you, O Yahweh.  Never let me be put to shame. ", "You gave the order to save me! Indeed, you are my rock and my Metsuda.", "You are my hope, O Adonay Yahweh. You have been my confidence ever since I was young.", "I depended on you before I was born. You took me from my mother’s womb. My songs of praise constantly speak about you.". These statements seems more appropriate for the believer according to our nowdays theology. Even though, how many times, did I pray something similar? Perhaps one or another time. In the same psalm, the psalmist asks for salvation and praises the Lord for his salvation. Why? Because he put all bets on the Lord. If the Lord fails on him, he will be ashamed before others. Due to this bet, if the Lord exalts him, the name of the Lord will also be exalted. He praises the Lord for his salvation, but he also keeps asking the Lord to stay by his side even on old ages and when will lose his strentgh.

salvation in Psalm68

The Lord has established Israel as his nation. The Lord lives in the temple of Jerusalem. 

Kings (of other nations) will bring gifts to Him (Psalm68:29), however, those who don't submit to the Lord will be scattered (Psalm68:1). The enemies of the Lord are the enemies of Israel. These enemies want to destroy Israel.

In Psalm 68:20 (NOG) we read:

Our El is the El of victories.  Yahweh Adonay is our escape from death.

His people will be saved from the death inflicted by the enemies. In a similar way, we Christians are saved from the death. However, we understand that we were sinners and enemies of the Lord, but the gracious Lord carried (and carries) our burdens for us (Psalm68:19) so that we will be saved from the death that was demanded by the Law.

Smile to me

It is common to believe that our success or failure depends on us, but the Bible teaches differently.

In Psalm 67:1 (MSG) we read:

God, mark us with grace

    and blessing! Smile!

Lord, you are the source and cause of everything, including my life. Be kind to me and bless me because I need your favor, I need your smile.

In Psalm 67:5,6:

God! Let people thank and enjoy you.

    Let all people thank and enjoy you.

Earth, display your exuberance!

    You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.

In particular let me thank you and enjoy you. Let me see your goodness to me, oh Lord, because this is the basis of my trust in you. 

Praise the Lord (instead of seeking self esteem)

 The Lord is wonderful and deserves applause from all over the Earth as in Psalm 66:1. Despite His greatness, He hears my prayers and remains with me, loyal in His love for me (Psalm 66:20). I know the Lord hears me because I have not become accustomed to evil (Psalm 66:18). 

Psychologists seek to improve their patients' self-esteem, but the psalmist marvels at being loved by such a great God. He has no other reaction than praising the Lord.

The Lord's guest

The blameless will dwell in the presence of the Lord but the Lord is merciful and will let me dwell in his presence.

In Psalm 65 (MSG), we read:

We all arrive at your doorstep sooner    or later, loaded with guilt,

Our sins too much for us—     but you get rid of them once and for all.

Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest    at home in your place!

We expect our fill of good things    in your house, your heavenly manse.

The Lord will get rid of my sins so that I may dwell in his heavenly manse as his guest.

The Lord is good, that is why I may expect good things from Him in his house with all his saints.

sin and integrity applied to David in Psalm 41

In Psalm 41:4 (NIV) we read:

I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you."

and in Psalm 41:12

In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

David confesses that he is a sinner and asks the Lord for mercy, but in verse 12 David says that in his integrity the Lord has set him in His presence forever.

It reminds me of a politician who said he had integrity. When he was caught stealing with a lot of evidence against him, his defense was always to criticize the judge, the opposition, but he never dealt with the evidence.

David had integrity because he repented and confessed his sins to the Lord.

sleepless at midnight

 In Psalm 63:6 (MSG) we read:

If I am sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection.

Sometimes I struggle to sleep, but I can use this time to reflect on how good the Lord has been to me, my family, and those around me.
In Psalm 63:8 (NIV) we read:

I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

David is aware that the right hand of the Lord upholds him. He knows he is blessed by the Lord. That thought at night, when he was sleepless, must have brought peace to David.