I Trust, Because…

“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because he has been so good to me.” ­– Psalms 13:5-6 NLT

David has had to sneak out of Jerusalem, because his son, Absalom, has turned the people against him and successfully pulled off a bloodless coup. This is the son who killed his own half-brother for raping his sister, Tamar. This is the son that should have been arrested, brought to justice, and given the death sentence. But instead, he was allowed to escape and live in exile for two years. This is the son who finally was allowed to return to the kingdom, but who David refused to see for another two years. This is the son that finally demanded an audience with the king, his own father, and when he finally got it, David acted as if nothing had ever happened. This is the son who turned his anger, bitterness and resentment against his father into action and took over his kingdom.

And rather than fight, David has decided to flee the kingdom. He was in mourning. He was a defeated man. His own son had turned against him. And in the midst of all this sorrow and despair, David did what any God-fearing man should do, he called out to God.

“Arise, O LORD! Rescue me, my God!” (Psalms 3:7 NLT)

“Answer me when I call, O God who declares me innocent. Take away my distress. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer” (Psalms 4:1 NLT)

“Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!” (Psalms 12:1 NLT)

“O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?” (Psalms 13:1 NLT)

“Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die” (Psalms 13:3 NLT)

David turned to God. He called out to God. He expressed his deepest feelings to God. Why? Because he knew God would hear him and answer him. He trusted in God’s unfailing love. Yes, David had screwed up in a lot of ways. He had made some major mistakes. But God still loved him. God still counted David as one of His righteous ones. He was David’s chosen and God was going to be faithful to keep His commitments to David. The key is that David kept turning to God. When he screwed up, he kept looking up. He knew the answer to his problem was going to come from one source and one source only. So David prayed honestly, yet confidently.

“…you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high” (Psalms 3:3 NLT)

“I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain” (Psalms 3:4 NLT)

“I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me” (Psalms 3:5 NLT)

“Victory comes from you, O LORD. May your blessings rest on your people” (Psalms 3:8 NLT)

“You can be sure of this: The LORD has set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him” (Psalms 4:3 NLT)

“I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe” (Psalms 4:8 NLT)

“The LORD’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. Therefore, LORD, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land” (Psalms 12:6-8 NLT)

“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because he has been so good to me” (Psalms 13:5-6 NLT)

David trusted God, because… because he knew Him to be trustworthy. He knew God was loving and faithful. He knew God cared for His own and would not leave them defenseless. He knew God hated the wicked and could see into the hearts of men. David loved God and wanted to do what was right. He had made mistakes, but His God was a forgiving God, a God who forgave and restored His own. So David prayed. And he waited…with confidence. He had been here before. He had played the part of the exiled king before. And God had come through. So David was confident God would do so again.

Father, I want to trust You like David did. In the midst of my worst moments, I want to be able to turn to You and honestly share my heart, but also to share my confidence that You will deliver – even before You have! May my faith continue to grow in You. May my confidence increase daily as I recognize Your faithful activity in my life. I will rejoice because You have rescued me! Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org