Those who prayed in verse 6 join David in songs of deliverance.The psalmist, reflecting upon his own emancipation, summons all the godly to join in prayer for similar deliverance (v 6). (2) There follow the words of the prayer, as spoken by all the godly (v 7).
Craigie, P. C. (2004). Psalms 1–50 (2nd ed., Vol. 19, p. 267). Nelson Reference & Electronic
Worship in Word:
IV. Confidence/Compass/Shelter/Security/Surround – v. 7
The words “Compass” and “Surround” did not appear in my original outlines of this verse. I felt it necessary to add them because my original outlines did not include the thoughts behind them. Thoughts, I believe, that are found in verse seven.
In my previous blog entry, I concentrated on the “negative” aspect of verse 7. Many use the word negative to refer to something dire, difficult, or distressing. So, the question may arise in someone’s mind, “How can a hiding place be seen as negative?” However, as you read verse seven, I’m sure you will realize I was referring to the term “trouble” when writing about the “negative” aspect of the verse. The good news is that we have a hiding place we can run to for shelter and security when trouble arises. And that refuge is God Himself! That begins the positive side of this verse, which I promised to consider in today’s journal entry. What follows this affirmation (i.e., You are my hiding place) is the positive side I want to explore today.
My previous blog covered three aspects of this verse:
- Confidence – From Wrath to Refuge
- Shelter – From Shame to Shelter
- Security – From Dejection to Protection
Below, I want to look at the positive facet of this verse’s second half.
From pressure to praise/ From silence to singing
D. Compass/Surround – You will…surround me with songs of deliverance. NIV2011/Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. KJV
David’s confidence extends not only to a place of protection but also to a place of praise. He sees himself as surrounded not by an enemy but by a song. The word for surround or compass in Hebrew is cabab or s¹bab, depending on which reference work you are consulting. The word means:
1) to encompass, to surround
2) to come about, to assemble round
3) to march, to go about
4) to enclose, to envelop
(from The Online Bible Thayer’s Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, Copyright © 1993, Woodside Bible Fellowship, Ontario, Canada. Licensed from the Institute for Creation Research.)
[See notes & quotes section at the bottom of this blog for further expansion on the meaning and application of this word.]
In verse 7, we see two more blessings experienced by one whose sins have been forgiven, as seen in verse 1 of this psalm. God protects the blessed believer as his refuge, and they are enveloped in a refrain of deliverance.
When David referred to God as his refuge, did it remind him of the days he was running from King Saul, who was seeking to take his life? Did he find shelter in caves during his flight? Were some of his psalms composed in such a refuge? And did the walls echo with the sound of him singing them out to God, his refuge and deliverer? In verse 7, we find his voice is accompanied and encouraged by a chorus of saints who have experienced, as David has, the same blessings of forgiveness, protection from returning to their former predicament, trouble in general, and God’s deliverance.
What a blessed experience that is, — to be surrounded with songs, to hear music on the right and music on the left, singing behind me for mercy received, singing before me for hopes yet to be fulfilled, — singing above me, the angels welcoming me when my time comes to go home to my Father’s house! “Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.”
(from Spurgeon’s Expository Notes. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Worship in Witness:
A whole crowd of troubles encompassed him when through his sin God was estranged from him; but now, instead, a circle of joyous songs encompass him through the favour of God.
Fausset, A. R. (n.d.). A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Job–Isaiah: Vol. III (p. 169). William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited.
When David found forgiveness and deliverance, he did not keep quiet as he did when he tried to hide his sin from God and humanity. Instead, he urged other fellow strugglers to repent and receive the blessings and divine deliverance he had received.
Consider this thought. David declared that God was his refuge, not some cold, dark, and dank cave. It wasn’t an empty fortress that sheltered him from trouble. No, GOD was his fortress. The walls that encompassed him were God’s arms surrounding him. And those arms manifested themselves in the praises of His people. The testimony of the saints brought strength, encouragement, and perseverance to David. The fellowship of victorious fellow believers, joined with our praise, will result in joy and worship.
A lump of glowing coal by itself will soon die out. However, its life will be extended when placed amid a heap of burning coals. Unfortunately, many Christians, because of our spread-out community and penchant for individualism, are like that separated lump of glowing coal. Thus, many for whom the blessings of forgiveness and deliverance have been granted begin to cool off. And the struggling and discouraged are not ministered to. “Leave it to the professionals to help them,” we might tell ourselves. But that is not the picture presented in the New Testament. In Acts 2:46-47 we read:
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
NIV
And consider this appeal from the Holy Spirit through the author of the letter to the Hebrews:
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Heb 10:24-25 NIV
These verses illustrate the power and purpose of fellowship. These verses, coupled with Psalm 32:7, demonstrate that the life of the godly is not a solo act but a choir. It’s a duet sung between God and His people. It is not a field of scattered coals but a flaming fire of many coals fueling each other and igniting others. Lord, may we never keep Your blessings to ourselves but witness to others of Your grace and mercy in our lives for Your glory and the good of others. Let us call the unsaved sinner or sinning saint to repentance and point them to or remind them that God is a refuge, deliverer, and source of joy.
Witness in Promise, Poem, Prayer, and Praise
Burning Coals
O Christian, you are burning coal
Aflame with a loving fire
With an all-consuming goal
To encourage and inspire
But like a coal that falls away
This truth you must remember
When you choose to go astray
You become a dying ember
Break My Heart Lord
Break my heart, Lord
The one covered in scars
Take Your Holy Sword
And remove all that mars
That keeps me from feeling
From reaching out to others
Those whose lives are reeling
In pain and hurt that smothers
Amen
Oh How Good It Is by Kieth and Kristyn Getty
Oh, how good it is when the family of God
Dwell together in spirit, in love, and unity;
Where the bonds of peace, of acceptance, and love
Are the fruits of his presence here among us.
CHORUS
So, with one voice, we’ll sing to the Lord,
And with one heart, we’ll live out his word
Til the whole world sees the Redeemer has come,
For he dwells in the presence of his people.
Oh, how good it is on this journey we share
To rejoice with the happy and weep with those who mourn.
For the weak find strength, the afflicted find grace,
When we offer the blessing of belonging.
Oh, how good it is to embrace his command
To prefer one another, forgive as he forgives.
When we live as one, we all share in the love
Of the Son with the Father and the Spirit.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZILsLR3PH3Y&pp=ygUYb2ggaG93IGdvb2QgaXQgaXMgZ2V0dHkg
Lyrics & Devotion: https://fbchurch.org/resource/hymnology-oh-how-good-it-is
This website is an excellent resource to go to for thoughts on a favorite song you have. I don’t know how many songs they cover, but it is worth checking out.
(Lyric punctuation corrected by Grammarly😊 )
Notes & Quotes:
Nah 1:7-8
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 But with an overflowing flood
he will make a complete end of the adversaries,
and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
ESV
Psalms For The Journey 