Many Psalms clearly refer to us approaching God in His dwelling place, or communing with the ‘saints.’ But others relate to our interaction with the world around us, the world to which we do not belong. By ‘the world,’ I do not mean the physical planet on which we live, but human-kind, living in ignorance of God, or in rebellion against God. This is ‘the world’ that God so loved (John 3.16). It is this world which is foreign to the Psalmist and to those of us who read the Psalms.
We belong first to the kingdom of God; we recognise its principles take precedence over those of the kingdoms of this world. Reading Psalm 119.49-56 in light of this conflict and then perhaps the entire psalm. This stanza mentions ‘my suffering’ (v49), ‘the arrogant’ (v51), ‘the wicked’ (v53): even among the people of God, many did not live as the people of God. So the Psalmist finds himself, as it were, in a foreign land, amongst his own people.
His practice, habit, routine, in response was to obey (v56).
Many of the Psalms are written in explicitly hostile situations. Psalms 52-54 are good examples of this. They show the reaction of the godly to the ungodly. In Psalm 52, this is an individual, namely Doeg. Psalms 53 and 54 refer to the ungodly more generally.
Psalm 52.8-9, David refers to the house of God and the company of the godly. Whatever our challenges, we will find strength amongst God’s people, and an opportunity to give testimony and hear testimony.
One theme is of victory and confidence. The Christ-follower is not to fear the hostile environment. The steadfast love of God endues all day (v1). The righteous shall see (the defeat of the wicked) and fear and even laugh at him (v6).
What started as slaughter (Doeg had killed the priests; see 1 Sam 22) led here to a declaration of victory.
Psalm 53 describes more generally the depravity of mankind. The apostle Paul picks this up in Rom 3.10-18. Naturally, each of us is corrupt in every aspect of our person; our speech, our thoughts, our ambitions, etc. Yet, as the psalmist concludes, salvation will come; God will restore our fortunes. We will rejoice and be glad.
Psalm 54 was written when David was fleeing from King Saul. The king, who was supposed to uphold God’s ways, setting an example for the people, had departed from these ways and sought to kill ‘the man after God’s own heart.’
Sometimes the hostile environment is personal. But God remains ‘my helper’ (v4). The conclusion is deliverance and victory (v7).