Psalm Meditation 1338 ¶Fifth Sunday after Epiphany ¶February 8, 2026 ¶Psalm 54 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2054&version=NRSVUE ¶There is a familiar movie trope in which someone is getting picked on by a person or group and when their friend finds out about it, they set out to avenge the wrong. In some cases the victim lets the bullies know that they have this friend, and the bullies are not the least bit frightened by the prospect of having to deal with the friend. Most of the time the friend comes in and by stealth or bravado takes out the bullies thereby saving or at least avenging the victim. ¶The psalmist is being picked on by those who were being trusted with the psalmist’s safety according to the psalm’s ascription. David calls on God, YHWH, to serve as protector and avenger in this situation. The Ziphites are more interested in appeasing Saul than God. David asks God to deal with the Ziphites, especially since they don’t have the same priorities as David. David anticipates that God will repay these now enemies for the evil of going to Saul rather than turning to God. ¶It is important for us to realize that not every enemy of ours is an enemy of God. Sometimes, those who seem to stand against God are actually on the side of God and want to turn us back in the right direction. The task before each of us who wants to follow God is to recognize that our task is to ask that we align ourselves with God, rather than asking God to align with us. ¶February 2, 2026 ¶LCM