Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Waiting Upon the Holy Spirit
Psalm 34
Angie Mathews
St. John's MTC, NY
St. John's MTC, NY
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who
fear him, and delivers them.
Loneliness, discouragement, depression and fear of the unknown; to name a few; grind our daily lives from time to time and steal the joy from us. We try to find a way to live beyond it and seek comfort from the Bible's most beloved book- “Psalms"
David, author of Psalm 34, was a man after God's own heart. In many ways he was an extraordinary man - intelligent, handsome, a gifted musician, poet, warrior and an able administrator. Yet, he was an ordinary man with destructive passion and a life with personal tragedies. In spite of his weakness, David's life offers hope to all of us through his enduring trust in God.
In 1 Samuel chapter 21 and 22, we see David's life on a downward swirl of events. He also experienced the same discouragement, loneliness and fear like any one of us. He was a man on the run! He was dribbling saliva down his beard and scratching on the gate of the enemy like a madman. Realizing that his identity was known by the Philistines, he behaved insanely and then slipped out of the city of Gath. He was gripped by fear and panic and was hiding in the cave of Adullam for an undisclosed period of time (1 Samuel 22:1). He was all alone in the dark, damp and lonely cave, away from everything and everybody he loved. Everybody, except God.
David must have composed Psalm 142 (A Maskil, when he was in the cave), at the lowest moment of his life. Yet in the midst of this, David did not lose his sight of God. He cries out for the Lord to deliver him. He poured out his trouble before Him. He admitted his needs before the Lord. When David was in dire need, God steps in. Though he was facing all types of troubles, God delivers from all.
David was brought to this place, so God can truly shape his life and use him. And look what God did! His brothers and his father's household came down to him there. The same brothers and his father who had paid no attention when Samuel came to the house looking for a possible candidate for the kingship. Not only David's family came to see him but also those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him (1 Samuel 22:1-2). These were the people who were facing hardship under King Saul. God was redirecting David's life.
1 Chronicles 10 and 11 says, these men became his mighty men and David was their leader. David wrote a couple of Psalms when he was in the cave. He must have written Psalms 57 on his knees when he fled from Saul and in the cave with strangers around him. He is asking God to show mercy towards him. Finally Psalms 34 when he is on his feet. Who would have ever guessed that the next king of Israel was training his troops in a dark cave where nobody saw and nobody cared! David says I will bless the Lord at all times and His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Some of us are living in an emotional cave, where it is dark and lonely. There are times when we do not even want to share our burdens with anyone. We want to remain in the cave. But God loves us in spite of all our feebleness. He steps into our lives at the right time. He said you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:4). Why don't we share David's Psalms? The One David called, "My strength, My Refuge, My Fortress, My Stronghold, My Mighty Rock, and My Most High”. His name is Jesus. He is always available for us. On the night before His crucifixion our Lord was talking to His disciples about the Comforter, who after His departure was to come to take His place. He is an ever-present, loving friend and mighty helper, who dwells in our heart every day and every hour and who is ready to undertake every emergencies of our life. Our Sovereign God reshapes our lives not to end them but to give a new life in Him.
Loneliness, discouragement, depression and fear of the unknown; to name a few; grind our daily lives from time to time and steal the joy from us. We try to find a way to live beyond it and seek comfort from the Bible's most beloved book- “Psalms"
David, author of Psalm 34, was a man after God's own heart. In many ways he was an extraordinary man - intelligent, handsome, a gifted musician, poet, warrior and an able administrator. Yet, he was an ordinary man with destructive passion and a life with personal tragedies. In spite of his weakness, David's life offers hope to all of us through his enduring trust in God.
In 1 Samuel chapter 21 and 22, we see David's life on a downward swirl of events. He also experienced the same discouragement, loneliness and fear like any one of us. He was a man on the run! He was dribbling saliva down his beard and scratching on the gate of the enemy like a madman. Realizing that his identity was known by the Philistines, he behaved insanely and then slipped out of the city of Gath. He was gripped by fear and panic and was hiding in the cave of Adullam for an undisclosed period of time (1 Samuel 22:1). He was all alone in the dark, damp and lonely cave, away from everything and everybody he loved. Everybody, except God.
David must have composed Psalm 142 (A Maskil, when he was in the cave), at the lowest moment of his life. Yet in the midst of this, David did not lose his sight of God. He cries out for the Lord to deliver him. He poured out his trouble before Him. He admitted his needs before the Lord. When David was in dire need, God steps in. Though he was facing all types of troubles, God delivers from all.
David was brought to this place, so God can truly shape his life and use him. And look what God did! His brothers and his father's household came down to him there. The same brothers and his father who had paid no attention when Samuel came to the house looking for a possible candidate for the kingship. Not only David's family came to see him but also those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him (1 Samuel 22:1-2). These were the people who were facing hardship under King Saul. God was redirecting David's life.
1 Chronicles 10 and 11 says, these men became his mighty men and David was their leader. David wrote a couple of Psalms when he was in the cave. He must have written Psalms 57 on his knees when he fled from Saul and in the cave with strangers around him. He is asking God to show mercy towards him. Finally Psalms 34 when he is on his feet. Who would have ever guessed that the next king of Israel was training his troops in a dark cave where nobody saw and nobody cared! David says I will bless the Lord at all times and His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Some of us are living in an emotional cave, where it is dark and lonely. There are times when we do not even want to share our burdens with anyone. We want to remain in the cave. But God loves us in spite of all our feebleness. He steps into our lives at the right time. He said you may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it (John 14:4). Why don't we share David's Psalms? The One David called, "My strength, My Refuge, My Fortress, My Stronghold, My Mighty Rock, and My Most High”. His name is Jesus. He is always available for us. On the night before His crucifixion our Lord was talking to His disciples about the Comforter, who after His departure was to come to take His place. He is an ever-present, loving friend and mighty helper, who dwells in our heart every day and every hour and who is ready to undertake every emergencies of our life. Our Sovereign God reshapes our lives not to end them but to give a new life in Him.
PRAYER
Father God, we thank
you, for being our Master; using us though we are weak and forgiving us when we
fail and loving us by sending your Holy Spirit to comfort us and to guide
us. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "A tree is best measured when it's down."