Deeply Dependent.
“When I was prosperous, I said, ‘Nothing can stop me know!’ Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me and I was shattered.” – Psalm 30:6-7 NLT
David wrote this Psalm as a song to be sung at the dedication of the Temple – an event he would never live long enough to personally witness. But the words of this Psalm reflect the heart of David toward his God. He loved God and had a desire to worship Him and honor him with his life. He recognized Gods hand in his life over the years and had a unique vantage point to be able to look back and put his life in perspective. He could see the countless times that God had rescued him from his enemies. He could recall the many times he had called out to God in sickness or weakness, and God had answered with healing and strength. He remembered the many times in his life when his actions had angered God, but he also remembered that God was always quick to extend mercy whenever David returned to Him and repented. David could vividly recall the sleepless nights when he found himself in tears because of hopelessness and helplessness. But morning always seemed to bring joy and a sense of peace because God was there. Then there were those times when all was going well in David’s life and his world was rocking along seamlessly and happily. In those times, David tended to get cocky and begin to take himself a little too seriously. He became dangerously independent from God – a danger we all face as believers. Because all was going well in his life, David began to take credit for his life, which led him to take responsibility for his life. He didn’t need God, which is what led him to say, “Nothing can stop me now!” He was invincible! Or so he thought. But in looking back, David realizes that it was only the favor of God that allowed him to prosper and thrive. If God removed that favor, David was in trouble, and he had experienced that on more than one occasion in his life. Whenever we get brash and bold enough to believe that we don’t need God, He allows us to understand just what that kind of life will look like. Prosperity without God’s presence is joyless, meaningless, and in the end, a waste of time. Success without God’s favor is like eating cotton candy, lot’s of flavor, but of no long-term value for sustaining life.
At those moments in his life when David realized he had begun to take himself too seriously and God too lightly, he repented and cried out for mercy. He begged God to forgive him and restore Him. “Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD” (Psalm 30:10 NLT). Those are words that our heavenly Father loves to hear from His children. He longs to be there for us, to help us, protect us, give us direction, and love us through providing for us. David knew from experience that God was there to pick us up whenever we’re down; to meet needs we have no capacity to meet; to win battles we have no strength to even fight, let alone win; and to forgive us when we repent. He replaces our sadness with joy. All He asks is that we replace our independence with dependence and our self-sufficiency with a total reliance on Him. When we do, we will be able to say along with David, ” O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!” (Psalm 30:12b NLT).
Father, forgive me for my arrogant independence. Far too often i want to live my life my way and take credit for the successes. But then I want to turn around and blame You for the failures. May I grow increasingly more aware of just how much I need You for everything in my life. And may I never forget that I can take no credit for anything good that happens in my life. It is all a result of Your good favor. Amen
Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org