In the readings of Psalm 15-20 we find the life of David taking various mood swings. Last week we read about how David was weary from all of the stress of being pursued by Saul. [enemies] David is weary from the constant barrage of attacks from physical enemies and spiritual enemies. In Psalm 17 – 18 David begins to find the resolve and rest from his attackers. But the relief doesn’t really appear for him until there is exhaustion. I find that our lives are like that today; while it may not be from enemies attacking us, but from stress of the culture and politics. There is enough stress and angst with just everyday living, but to compound life with health, sicknesses and other issues puts a believer in a turmoil. As we read David crying out to the LORD for relief and rest, i hear the soul of David praying and hoping for a quick deliverance. It is difficult to have to weather storms, but go through the storms we must. It is in the “staying the course” that we gain strength of our faith and resolve to press on. Our faith in Jesus Christ is our Rock, David understand the necessity to depend on the LORD only – he has a testimony during the time of Saul’s search and evil spirit to remain faithful to God. David speaks of his own faith, and how that the Father has tested him and found him to be faithful. James 1:2-5 tells us that we should count trails and struggles as joy – honestly that really sounds like dumb advice. But when we look into the “situation” that we have been through – great joy comes to us. In Psalm 18 we get an inside ear to listen to David’s great joy for being delivered from Saul and his enemies. The first verse says it all “I love you, O LORD, my strength!
When we are going through the trials of life , it is difficult to keep proper perspective and reality. It seems that when there is calamity in our life – everything, routine things of life become so overwhelming. Our senses are heighten to our surroundings, so much so we can become paranoid. Learning to trust in difficult times, when there doesn’t seem to be much reason to hope is when our faith grows.
Psalm 18:7-15 resound with the work of God in answering the prayers of His children. I have often watched a mother respond to her child’s cries. A mother will swoop in a take control of the situation. I pity anyone who got in her way! The response in the verses reflect the power and anger [righteously] in God’s response to David’s prayer. Suddenly David is no longer depressed or self-defeated in his spirit because of the circumstances – he talks of the joy and the leaping like a deer or jumping over a wall because of the freedom from his enemies. Now David does give reason why God responds as he does – David was righteous before God in his dealing with Saul. Several times David could have taken Saul’s life, even his men told him he should – but David revered the position Saul held and wouldn’t do anything against the “Anointed of God”. How many of us could say that we have been righteous towards our enemies when they attacked us?
In Psalms 19-20, there is continuation of the joy and relief of David – his words resound with wonderment at the LORD God who has delivered and rescued his life. How much more should we be today as believers who have been delivered from Satan, Sin and struggles of life through Jesus Christ. No more war, No more weariness – Wondrous Praise and Wonderment of soul; for the magnificent power and love of God towards us!!
preachbetweenthelines 