Today’s psalm is perhaps my most favorite one. It was written by King David. The background story of this psalm is rather interesting. David spent a number of years in his early adulthood fleeing for his life from King Saul. On one occasion David fled and received sanctuary from the king of the Philistine city of Gath, the enemy of the people of Israel (I Samuel 21:10-15). While there, some of the king’s advisors reminded the king that this was David, from King Saul’s court, the one who had killed their hero, Goliath. David heard, and knew his life was in immediate danger. David comes up with a rather clever plan in order to escape with his life safe. He pretends to be a crazy man, scratching the walls, slobbering all over, acting raving mad. The king then has him cast out of Gath, and David’s life is safe from him. David knew that it was the Lord God who had helped him escape from Gath in safety, and he wrote this psalm in praise to Him. Let’s take closer look at some of the verses.
David never took any of the Lord’s blessings or protection for granted. He praised the Lord throughout the day, every day (vs 1). Sometimes things can look rather bleak. Nothing good seems to be happening. It sure looked that way to David in Gath, but he was going to bless the Lord at all times, praising Him continually. We should take his response to troubled times for our example, with a heart of praise. It is hard to fall into despair when we praise God for His love and strength. We cast out doubt by remembering God’s past faithfulness.
As we can imagine, David was afraid when he heard that they found out he was the one who had killed their champion, Goliath, and his life was in serious danger. However, David knew that God heard him and would deliver him (vs 4). When fear, any type of fear from any source, overwhelms us, we need to seek the Lord. He hears us and cares for us, and will bring us deliverance. No one is closer to us in the midst of our troubles than Jesus Christ. David saw this in Gath, and also all the other times he fled from Saul. David calls upon us to join him in His praise to God (vs 3).
David knew that the Lord and His angels were around him, no matter where he was, even in the enemy’s land, and would protect him (vs 7). We are well-guarded. The only way something can touch us is if God allows it.
When we have found something good, don’t we want our friends to get the same thing? That is what David is doing in verse 8. One thing he knew all throughout his life was how good God was to him. Here in our psalm David extends an invitation for us to come to God and experience the same gracious and loving care he has known.
In verses 9-10 we have a promise from God that those who fear Him, those who seek Him, will not lack from any good thing from Him. This is not a blanket promise that all Christians will have everything they want. All those who call upon God in their need will be answered, sometimes in unexpected ways. God does give us good things. Not all “good things” are possessions or worldly goods. God’s idea of “good things” can be other types of blessings (James 1:17). We need to seek God, Himself, not just what He can give us. Come to Him with an open heart, not just an outstretched hand for something He can give. To have God is to have all we really need. He is enough. God sometimes allows us to go without some things so we will grow more dependant on Him. We need God more than our physical desires fulfilled.
Throughout this whole psalm, David testifies that no matter where we are or what is happening, the Lord is always watching over and caring for His children. Whenever we are afraid, it is good to remember times in the past when God heard and answered our prayers in the past, and delivered us from our troubles. David knew this first hand. God had delivered him from wild animals when a shepherd. He had delivered him from Goliath and from Saul. Now in Gath, he knew God would protect him. Let’s put our faith and trust in God during our needs, whatever they are, just as David did, and see how He will come to our aid.
No comments:
Post a Comment