HAVE MERCY ON ME MY LORD

Proclamation:

“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in You I take refuge.  I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed.”  Psalm 57:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  When he is in the midst of trouble, David prays to The Lord God for help, protection, and deliverance. (Psalm 57:4)  He knows that The Most High God will hear him, vindicate him, and rebuke those who pursue him. (Psalm 57:2-3)  This psalm is a song and he repeats a stanza, or refrain, in the middle and at the end of it.  “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth.” (Psalm 57:5 and 11)  David’s faith and trust in God is steadfast, fixed, and unshakable. (Psalm 57:7)  He states that he will praise The Lord in the congregation of believers and in public for the whole world to see and hear. (Psalm 57:9)

Application:

When we say, “Lord, have mercy” we need to remember that it is not just some cute, catchy phrase, we are actually praying to The Lord God.  We are appealing to His goodness and kindness to withhold the punishment that we deserve, to deliver us from the pain and suffering that we endure, or to protect us from hurt, harm, and danger.  Like a mother hen protects her chicks, we seek the protection, refuge, and safety under His wings from whatever calamity, situation, or circumstance we face.  Because we are the children of God we know that He will protect us. (John 1:12 and Galatians 3:26)  We should praise Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do, because He is worthy to be praised.