Briefing: What tools do you carry in your arsenal? How many different weapons are on your duty belt? Over the years I have carried OC spray, an ASP baton, a PR-24 baton, and a Taser. I have carried a Sig Sauer P226, a Smith & Wesson M&P 40, and a Glock 17.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read Psalm 55.

On the Street: Some psalms are beautiful, some are encouraging, and some are informative. This psalm gives us a glimpse into God’s power and wisdom. It starts out like a lot of other psalms. David is turning to God for help again (no wonder he was such a successful king). This psalm takes a different turn. David wants to run and hide. We read in verses 6-8, “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.”

The enemy that has David so afraid is not the Philistine army. It was not the Moabite, Aramean, Ammonite, or the Amalekite armies. If this enemy had a sword and shield, David would not have been afraid of them. He was skilled at defeating armies. This enemy carried a much more dangerous weapon, the tongue. Verse 11 says, “Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.” Then in verse 21 he says, “His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.”

David prays to God for help. He asks God to use one of His most successful and devastating weapons. “Confuse the wicked, O Lord, confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.” David has tapped into a weapon that defeats its enemy every time.

There are Biblical examples of this weapon being used by God. In Genesis 11:1 it says, “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.” These people decided they would make themselves as important as God by building a tower (later called the Tower of Babel). Because of their pride and arrogance, God said, in verse 7, “Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” By doing this, God threw them into confusion and they were unable to complete the tower.

When Moses was leading the Hebrews out of Egypt, they were about to be overtaken and destroyed by the Egyptian army. God stepped in and confused the Egyptians. “During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.” Exodus 14:24.

In another example, God threw an enemy army into so much confusion that the soldiers turned on each other and destroyed themselves before the Israelites even stepped on the battlefield. This account is found in 2 Chronicles 20:22-25.

When Joshua was marching into Gilgal, God struck the enemy with confusion which gave Joshua’s army a huge advantage. “The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon.” Joshua 10:10.

David knew of this secret weapon because David knew and studied his God. We can know God just as well if we put in the effort. God is our protector. He is our strength. David knew and understood this.

As we come to the end of this psalm, David is again worshiping God. Verse 22 says, “Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”

Investigational Resources: God confusing with temporary blindness; Genesis 19 and 2 Kings 6:8-23. 2 Chronicles 20:22-25 and John 2:24.

Officer Safety Principle: “But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.” Psalm 55:16.

from Psalms Through the Eyes of a Cop, Volume 1
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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