We are all called to lead somewhere. Leadership comes with joys and challenges. One person who knew a lot about leadership is David. He certainly know of his great victories like bringing the ark to Jerusalem. He also knew great challenges, some very tough ones. These came at all times in his life. As a young man he cared for sheep and fought off lions. Even as an old man weakened and mainly confined to bed he had pull himself up to ensure Solomon would be the heir. He faced enemies of all kinds, many times running for his life.
What was his prayer life like as he faced these challenges?
I recently bumped into a set of Psalms that gives us a window into his prayer life. Ps 140 through 144 give us powerful prayers as we lead. These are prayers that came out of challenges David was trying face. Think of these words being uttered as he ran from Saul, as he was being overtaken by the Philistines, as ran from Absalom.
I’ll highlight a few of the key thoughts from each of these Psalms that have been significant to me. You’ll be able to find others that will speak to you as you mull through each chapter.
In Psalm 140 David prays
- verse one …Rescue me!
- verse four …protect me from the wicked
- verse nine …let the wicked experience trouble
- the Psalm end with David reminding himself of God’s character and protection
This calls out strongly to get the wicked. David prays they would get what they are dishing out. Now in our world today that might seem way too judgmental. Many of us do not think we have enemies that deserve this kind punishment from the Lord. Yet, consider that our battle as Paul says it in Ephesians 6, that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces. We all do have an enemy. It is Satan and his demons. They want the very worst for us. They desire to steal, kill and destroy us (John 10:10). C.S. Lewis reminded us that we can make two errors when considering the evil spiritual forces. We can minimize, forgetting about them OR we can become overwhelmed by their presence. Ephesians 6 gives us a helpful view.
In Psalm 141 David prays slightly differently
- verse one …Come quickly!
- verse three and four … set a guard over my heart and my lips
- verse five …prayer against the evildoers
- verse eight …Lord you are my refuge
Again, David pleads for his needy hour. This time he says, “Come quickly.” David also claims God as his refuge. As these Psalms flow, this idea continues through the rest of them. However, there’s a more significant change in this Psalm. Instead of the target of his prayer being those enemies outside him, he prays for himself. David knows too well that he can be the problem. “Lord guard what I think and what I say,” are very important prayers for us because we can cause great damage with who we are before our people.
In Psalm 142 David continues deeper within
- verse one …I cry aloud
- verse four …My spirit grows faint
- verse five …You are my refuge Lord
David pleads even more deeply. Consider the difference from his initial petition in this Psalm and the previous one. “I cry” vs “Come quickly.” Both have strong emotion. Crying add a painful reality here. David is running out of will power to continue the battle. He admits he’s faint, weary and out of gas. Yet he claims the Lord as his refuge in the midst of his weakness.
In Psalm 143 continues with many of these themes
- verse one …Hear my prayer because of your faithfulness and righteousness
- verse two …He confesses no one is righteous
- verse three …Rescue me from my enemies
- verse nine and ten …Show me the way and teach me
- verse twelve …Plea for rescue because of Lord’s character
The prayers return to some of the same themes: hear me, rescue me, because of your unfailing love rescue me. How David prays differently is his confession. Similar to Ps 141 he admits we, God’s people are the problem. No one can stand perfect before the Righteous One.
A distinctive prayer in this Psalm are in verse nine and ten. “Show me the way.” This is a prayer for wisdom, for the correct direction. David is asking for help so he can move ahead. David knows he doesn’t know it all. He is humble, understanding he absolutely needs the Lord’s instruction. These prayers are a good segue to the final Psalm in this series.
Psalm 144 sets a completely different course and completes these petitions. Let’s see how.
- verse one …Praise be to the Rock, my fortress …who trains my hands for battle
- verse seven …Reach down your hand and deliver me
- verse thirteen …Then our barns will be filled with plenty
David changes the tone completely. It’s the first time he starts with praise. Up to this time each Psalm start pleas of protection, come quickly, hear me. Now he’s praising God for being his fortress his strength. Yet David is not out of trouble. He is praising the Lord in the midst of issues. He has moved to faith. He still asks God to move and take on his foes. He is now doing it in the Lord’s strength.
Part of what is attractive about this chapter is the phrase, “he trains my hands for battle.” You and I are not slashing our enemies, but we do have leadership challenges all around us. And we need to learn how to take them on. The tasks that the Lord has us to do need skills and insights that we do have. We need his wisdom for each leadership decision and challenge. Think of how much there is out in the world for training: workshops, webinars, books, podcast, videos, conferences. Can we not trust the Lord to train us for what is before us? That is exactly the prayer David knew must bring before the Lord.
Another attractive piece in this chapter is the hope for a better day. The last four verses speak about the fulfillment of a better day. God is promising ultimately a better day, a better place. Contrast that with the sense of dread and being overwhelmed in chapters 140-143. The Lord does bring a better day, relief from the weight of difficulty. In the end we will be able to exclaim completely, “You have blessed us beyond our imagination.”
David has chosen to move out in the Lord’s strength to battle to what God is calling him and he is resting in the hope of a better day. The sorrow, the worry, the pleading, the weariness of Ps 140, 141, 142 & 143 come to beautiful display of the Lord’s rescue.
May the Lord use these Psalms to equip you as you lead.