difficulty

The Eager Expectation That Comes From An Eternal Perspective

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16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. – 2 Timothy 4:16-22 ESV

Since his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul developed the unique ability to view the events of his life through a Christ-colored lens. His life had been far from easy, but he never complained or questioned God’s goodness. But he did give the church in Corinth a lengthy and disturbing catalog of his “sufferings” on behalf of Christ.

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. – 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NLT

Paul described his litany of trials as a form of boasting, but he clarified that he was proudly listing his weaknesses, not his strengths.

If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. – 2 Corinthians 11:30 NLT

In the next chapter of the same letter, Paul shared how he had prayed repeatedly for God to remove “a thorn” in his flesh, “a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud” (2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT). But God answered his requests with the simple assurance, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). 

This led Paul to adopt the attitude he carried with him for the rest of his life.

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT

Paul’s words reveal a mindset that seems counterintuitive. The thought of someone “boasting” about their weaknesses sounds unstable and psychologically unhealthy, but Paul was far from crazy. He had learned to view his earthly life from an eternal perspective, so that the things that happened to him and around him were temporary and impermanent.  This longer-term perspective gave him a more positive outlook that helped him navigate life’s inevitable ups and downs. Paul wasn’t a wide-eyed optimist who walked through life with blinders on. He knew what it was like to be hated, persecuted, and deprived in all kinds of ways, but he shared the secret of his contentment with the believers in Philippi.

I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:11-13 NLT

Several times in his letter to Timothy, Paul mentions those who abandoned him or compromised the truth of the gospel.

Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me… – 2 Timothy 4:10 ESV

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm… – 2 Timothy 4:14 NLT

Hymenaeus and Philetus…have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith. – 2 Timothy 2:17-18 NLT

As he wraps up his letter, Paul adds a new detail that almost sounds as if he is having a pity party.

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. – 2 Timothy 4:16 ESV

In preparation for his trial before the Roman emperor, Paul was given a preliminary hearing. This was likely intended as an opportunity to present the facts of the case and call witnesses for both the prosecution and the defense. But Paul reveals that “no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me” (2 Timothy 4:16 NLT). No one showed up to defend Paul; no witnesses spoke up for him. But rather than responding in bitterness and self-pity, Paul expresses his desire that these individuals receive grace from God.

May it not be charged against them! – 2 Timothy 4:16 ESV

Then he reveals the Christ-centered perspective that allowed him to view even the darkest days of his life positively, rather than negatively.

But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. – 2 Timothy 4:17 NLT

When no one else showed up, the Lord was there. When it looked as if Paul was alone, he knew his Lord and Savior was with him. Paul, who was a student of the Hebrew scriptures, seems to have had the words of King David in mind.

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close. – Psalm 27:10 NLT

And this was not the first time Paul had expressed to Timothy his strong belief in Christ’s presence in the midst of his sufferings.

You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. – 2 Timothy 3:11 NLT

Paul saw God’s hand in every situation and circumstance of his life. Rather than viewing suffering as a sign of God’s absence or abandonment, Paul chose to see it as a reminder of God’s strength in the midst of his own weakness. He saw trials and difficulties as opportunities for God to display His strength and demonstrate His love. This doesn’t mean that Paul enjoyed suffering or sought it out, but that he chose to see it from God’s perspective. He believed God was sovereign over all things, and was willing to accept everything as coming through His hands. In a way, Paul shared the perspective that Job shared with his wife. “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10 NLT).

But Paul didn’t expect his earthly life to go on forever. He knew a divine timeline dictated how long he would live, and he looked forward to the day he would go to be with the Lord. That’s why he could say, “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever!” (2 Timothy 4:18 NLT).

Even if his trial before Nero ended in his conviction and execution, Paul viewed it as a victory. He was completely confident in his eternal future, so any suffering he might endure in this life was “nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (Romans 8:18 NLT).

Paul didn’t have a death wish, but he wasn’t afraid of the prospect of dying either. He told the Philippian church that he constantly vacillated between wanting to continue his earthly ministry and longing to be with Christ.

My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don’t know which I prefer: I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body.– Philippians 1:20-24 NLT

In Paul’s mind, either option was a win, because whichever happened, he would be within God’s sovereign will and enjoy unbroken fellowship with his Savior.

Paul concludes his letter by asking Timothy to convey his love to his old friends, Priscila and Aquila. It seems clear that Paul was reminiscing about his life and ministry, recalling names from the past as he faced an uncertain future. He longed to see Timothy and the many friends and associates whom he might never see again. But he was not melancholy or morose, and did not exhibit the characteristics of someone suffering from depression. He was at peace and ready to face the future with confidence, calmly assuring Timothy, “The Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18 NLT).

Father, I am always blown away by Paul’s eternal perspective that allowed him to face the uncertanties of life with joy, peace, and contentment. I have not had to face a fraction of the trials Paul was forced to endure, but I still find myself complaining, worrying, and doubting Your love, power, and provision. Contentment doesn’t come easy for me, and it certainly doesn’t show up when trouble knocks on my door. When trials appear, I don’t tend to view them as opportunities to see You work; I demand that You take them away. I don’t like suffering and I have a difficult time accepting that all things come through Your hands. But the Scriptures are filled with examples of Your goodness and power showing up in those moments when Your children are weak and in greatest need. I have even seen that to be true in my own life. Yet, I still find myself questioning Your presence and power when things don’t go as I expected. I want to share Paul’s more positive outlook, but it doesn’t come easy. I don’t want it to be some kind of fake, positive-thinking ploy that impresses others but doesn’t fool You. I want it to be based on my knowledge and understanding of who You are that produces an unwavering confidence in Your power, presence, and provision — no matter what happens. I want to live with the same eternal perspective that Paul had and be willing to say, “the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18 NLT). And with Your help, I know I can and will. Thank You. Amen 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

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12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. – Philippians 1:12-18 ESV

One of the truly amazing things about Paul is his attitude of selflessness and total lack of self-obsessiveness. While he had been hand-picked by Jesus Christ Himself and held the title of apostle, Paul never considered himself as better than those to whom he ministered. He knew he was a leader and took seriously the responsibilities that came with his position, but he never displayed an elitist attitude toward those under his care. It was as if he lived by the counsel Peter wrote to church elders.

Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. – 1 Peter 5:2-3 NLT

But unlike the average elder, Paul had responsibility for a much larger and geographically dispersed flock. He had planted churches throughout Asia, Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia, and he cared deeply for every single congregation he had helped to birth. He cared so deeply for his far-flung flock that he even described himself as having “labor pains” over his concern for them.

I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. – Galatians 4:19 NLT

But despite his frequent personal references, Paul was not overly self-absorbed. Even though he wrote his letter to the Philippians while under house arrest in Rome, he didn’t make it all about himself. In fact, his focus was clearly on those to whom he wrote, and he seems to be aware that they were upset over the news of his imprisonment and pending trial in Rome. Yet, rather than milk them for their sympathy and make it all about his less-than-ideal circumstances, he assured them that he was perfectly at peace with his situation. He attempted to assuage any concerns they had over his well-being by giving them a rather upbeat appraisal of his situation.

…what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. – Philippians 1:12 ESV

Basically, Paul was saying, “It’s all good!” He wanted them to know there was nothing for them to worry about because God was in complete control. Paul even seems to find delight in the fact that the Roman Emperor’s entire Imperial Guard was aware that his imprisonment was because of His faith in Christ. It’s important to remember that the reason for Paul’s imprisonment in Rome was that he had been accused of bringing a Gentile into the restricted area of the temple, and in doing so, violating Jewish religious laws. According to Mosaic Law, this was a crime worthy of death, and the Jews had demanded that Rome carry out his execution. Knowing a fair trial in Jerusalem was out of the question, Paul had appealed for a hearing before Caesar.

During Paul’s lengthy house arrest in Rome, he was always under the watchful eyes of his Roman guards. According to Paul, these men came to understand that Paul was in prison for being a Christ follower. But how did they reach that assessment? The most likely answer is that Paul had shared the good news of Jesus Christ with each Roman soldier assigned to guard him. In the Book of Acts, Luke records that, while Paul enjoyed a certain amount of freedom during his stay in Rome, he was always under the watchful eye of a well-armed Roman soldier.

When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. – Acts 28:16 NLT

Paul was under 24-hour watch, with a rotating team of Roman soldiers to protect him from threats of assassination (Acts 23:12-17) and to prevent him from escaping. Paul took advantage of this captive audience to share the gospel with each of his guards, and, as a result, the message of salvation began to spread throughout the Imperial Guard and the court of Nero.

From Paul’s perspective, his incarceration had a silver lining. Throughout his confinement, Paul stayed busy, hosting visitors, writing letters to the churches, and witnessing to his captors. He truly believed that as long as Jesus Christ was lifted up, nothing else mattered. He was encouraged to hear that his imprisonment had actually emboldened the believers in Rome to step up their game and proclaim the gospel fearlessly and joyfully.

…because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. – Philippians 1:14 NLT

When Paul was informed that others were preaching the gospel in his absence, he remained unconcerned and unaffected by the news. In fact, he was glad to hear it. He realized that some were doing it for the wrong reasons, but he didn’t let that bother him. He describes these individuals as being motivated by envy, jealousy, and rivalry over his notoriety. They viewed him as competition and were taking advantage of his incarceration to elevate themselves to positions of power and prominence. But, as long as the gospel was being shared, Paul was joyous, not jealous. He also knew that others were preaching the gospel with pure motives, and he rejoiced in their work as well.

…the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. – Philippians 1:18 NLT

Remember the context: Paul was under house arrest in Rome, accompanied by a Roman guard 24/7, and faced a trial before Nero, the Roman Emperor. This infamous man was a notorious enemy of all Christ-followers, and any hope of him giving Paul a fair hearing was unlikely. It had already been several years since Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem, and the initial hearings before the local authorities on the trumped-up charges leveled against him had not gone well. He had no idea what the future held for him, but he would allude to the only two options that seemed possible – either acquittal or death.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. – Philippians 1:20-24 NLT

Paul was willing to accept either outcome. If God chose to release him, he would simply return to his work of sharing the gospel. But if it was God’s will for Paul to die, he would do so gladly, fully believing that “to die is gain.” But Paul’s primary concern was for the Philippian believers; he wanted them to be encouraged, not discouraged. He didn’t want them to worry about him or to lose sleep over the possible failure of the gospel. Paul’s imprisonment would not bring the spread of the good news to a screeching halt because there were other messengers. He wanted the believers in Philippi to know that they had a job to do and his forced absence should motivate and mobilize them, not lead to despair and defeat.

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. – Philippians 1:27 NLT

Paul gave a similar charge to the believers living in Colossae, contained in a letter he wrote while under house arrest in Rome.

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. – Colossians 1:9-10 NLT

Imprisonment was not an impediment for Paul. He saw it as just one more way to spread the gospel to those who desperately needed to hear it, including Roman guards. Paul didn’t want the Philippian believers to let his confinement cause them consternation. As far as he was concerned, this was all God’s will and a necessary part of the divine plan to spread the gospel around the world. As long as Jesus Christ was being proclaimed, Paul had more than enough reason to rejoice, even while under house arrest.

Later in this letter, Paul expresses his gratitude for the Philippians’ concern for his welfare, but assures them that the dark cloud of his trials has had a silver lining.

How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. – Philippians 4:10-12 NLT

Father, how I long to share Paul’s outlook on life. He was not an idealistic, head-in-the-clouds kind of guy, who failed to view life realistically. He was optimistic because he had learned to trust in Your plan for his life. He had firsthand experience with suffering, but understood that Your power showed up best in his weakest moments. He didn’t view trials as setbacks or signs of Your displeasure; instead, he embraced them as opportunities to see Your power on display. I want to live with that kind of faith and faithfulness. I find it far to easy to become discontented and discouraged in the face of difficulties. I tend to lose hope when things don’t go my way or turn out as I expected., but not Paul. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I want to grow increasingly more content with my circumstances, and more confident in Your sovereignty over every thing that happens in my life. The more I learn to view my life through the lens of Your love and the reality of Your power, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Caves, Conflict, and Confidence

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A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

1 With my voice I cry out to the LORD;
    with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.

3 When my spirit faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
    there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

5 I cry to you, O LORD;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
    for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me. – Psalm 142:1-7 ESV

This song of lament was written by David while hiding in the Judean wilderness in an attempt to escape the wrath of King Saul. At one time, David had been the hero of Israel, having slain Goliath, the Philistine champion, who had taunted the Israelite army and mocked their God. David’s unexpected defeat of the giant from Gath not only elevated him in the eyes of the people but also got the attention of Saul. Before long, David was on Saul’s staff and serving as a commander in his army. However, over time, Saul grew disenchanted with David because he feared the young man’s growing popularity would ultimately threaten his hold on the throne. The prophet Samuel had already warned Saul that his days as king were numbered.

“…because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.

“The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you. And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” – 1Samuel 15:23, 28-29 NLT

Despite Samuel’s dire warning, Saul was not immediately dethroned and replaced, but his suspicions of David increased rapidly. In time, his paranoia became so pronounced that he attempted to kill David with his own hands.

Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. – 1 Samuel 19:10 ESV

Confused by the king’s schizophrenic behavior, David ran for his life and sought refuge among the enemies of Israel. For some unexplained reason, he showed up in the city of Gath, the hometown of Goliath the Philistine, but the reception he received was less than welcoming.

So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. – 1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT

From the royal courtroom to the dank confines of a cave, David’s fall from grace had been great. Months earlier, David could hear people singing songs about his exploits against Goliath and his victories over the Philistines. Now, he was persona non grata, a social pariah living like a fugitive from justice and surrounded by a ragtag group of disgruntled debtors, rebels, and malcontents.

It was while living in this less-than-ideal circumstance that David wrote this psalm.

I cry out to the LORD;
    I plead for the LORD’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
    and tell him all my troubles. – Psalm 142:1-2 NLT

As David sat in the dark recesses of his literal “hole-in-the-wall” home, he poured out his heart to Yahweh, bearing his soul to the only one who could make a difference. He no longer had access to his mentor Samuel. He had been forced to leave his wife and his best friend behind. Jonathan, the son of Saul, had tried to restore the broken relationship between David and his father, but had failed. Now, with no one to turn to except the LORD, David held nothing back. In another psalm, written during the same difficult time, David expressed his need for Yahweh’s help.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
    I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
    until the danger passes by. – Psalm 57:1 NLT

Despite the presence of his family and a committed cohort of 400 men, David felt abandoned and alone. He was confused and unable to comprehend how his world had fallen apart so quickly. As he looked back on his anointing by the prophet Samuel, he must have questioned its meaning. Nothing made sense. His fall from grace had been quick, unexpected, and, from David’s perspective, undeserved. On one occasion, David questions his friend and confidant, Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?” (1 Samuel 20:1 NLT).

However, despite his many questions, David remained steadfast in his belief in Yahweh’s sovereignty and providence.

When my spirit faints within me,
    you know my way! – Psalm 142:3 NLT

David was confident that his all-seeing, all-knowing God was well aware of his predicament and had a plan in place. No matter how dire the circumstances were, David knew Yahweh was in control and would protect and deliver him.

My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident. – Psalm 57:7 NLT

However, David’s confidence in God did not prevent him from voicing his concerns. Fear is not always a sign of a lack of faith; it may simply be momentary doubt in the face of mounting pressure. David knew he could be honest with God and expressed his feelings in blunt language meant to convey his confusion and uncertainty.

Wherever I go,
    my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come and help me,
    but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
    no one cares a bit what happens to me. – Psalm 142:3-4 NLT

My enemies have set a trap for me.
    I am weary from distress.
They have dug a deep pit in my path… – Psalm 57:6 NLT

David didn’t attempt to sugarcoat his doubts with overly optimistic, glass-half-full rhetoric that sounded pious but lacked sincerity. He wasn’t trying to impress Yahweh with his faith; he was calling on Yahweh’s faithfulness.

Then I pray to you, O LORD.
    I say, “You are my place of refuge.
    You are all I really want in life.” – Psalm 142:5 NLT

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. – Psalm 57:2 NLT

When facing difficulty and uncertainty, David had learned to turn to Yahweh. The presence of problems caused David to seek the presence and power of God. Long before David took the life of Goliath, he knew he wasn’t a giant slayer. He was just a shepherd boy who had learned to face life’s problems by leaning on the power of God.

“I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” – 1 Samuel 17:34-37 NLT

Even in the darkness of the cave, David could see the light of God’s presence and hope in His deliverance. He was brutally honest about his conditions.

I am surrounded by fierce lions
    who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
    and whose tongues cut like swords. – Psalm 57:4 NLT

But his God was greater than his biggest problem.

For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. – Psalm 57:10 NLT

No matter how bad things got, David maintained his confidence in God’s goodness, glory, and greatness. For David, problems were an opportunity to witness Yahweh’s power on display. That doesn’t mean he sought out trouble or welcomed it with open arms, but when it inevitably showed up, he expected Yahweh not to be far behind. He had learned to view difficulty as an opportunity to witness God’s deliverance. The Goliaths of life were not a problem for God. Lion, bears, and giants were no match for the God of the universe.

In another of his psalms, David expressed his confidence in God’s constant presence, even in the darkest moments of life.

…even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you. – Psalm 139:12 NLT

David could hide from Saul in one of the many caves dotting the Judean landscape, but he knew there was nothing hidden from the all-seeing eyes of Yahweh.

I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me. – Psalm 139:7-10 NLT

In the cave, Yahweh was there. In the face of doubt and fear, Yahweh was there. Entrapped, surrounded, hunted, and hounded, Yahweh was there. And David knew Yahweh cared. That is why he could confidently say, “Bring me out of prison so I can thank you” (Psalm 142:7 NLT).

Father, I want to trust You more. But I realize that trust is built in those moments where fear raises its ugly head and I doubt Your presence and power. It’s when I can’t see You that I am forced to trust You. It is when the difficulties of this world become overwhelming and insurmountable that I am forced to trust in Your strength and not my own. Help me to see the “caves” of my life as sanctuariies of Your presence; places where I can worship the light of Your goodness and greatness in the darkest moments of my life. I want to say with David, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life” (Psalm 142:5 NLT). Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Patiently, Expectantly Waiting

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To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man
    to batter him,
    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
    They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us. Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
    those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
    they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
    set no vain hopes on robbery;
    if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;
    twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12     and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
    according to his work. – Psalm 62:1-12 ESV

In this psalm, David repeatedly refers to God as his fortress, rock, refuge, and salvation. As a man well acquainted with the fugitive lifestyle, David uses terms that evoke his days on the run from King Saul. During those difficult years of his life, David sought safety by hiding in caves located in the difficult-to-access terrain of the rugged Judean wilderness. Those inaccessible geographic locales had provided him with a sense of security and rest from Saul’s relentless campaign to have him killed.

But in this psalm, David describes God as his ultimate source of solitude, solace, and security. The short descriptor that opens Psalm 62 provides no context to explain what happened in David’s life that caused him to pen its words. Some have speculated that it was written after David abandoned Jerusalem after his son Absalom conducted a successful coup to replace him as king.

A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”

“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”

So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard. – 2 Samuel 15:13-18 NLT

When Absalom entered Jerusalem and established himself as the new king, one of the first things he did was sexually violate the ten concubines David had left behind. He committed this heinous act under the advisement of Ahithophel, David’s former counselor, who had taken part in the coup.

Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines. – 2 Samuel 15:21-22 NLT

It is unclear whether this event prompted David to write Psalm 62, but it illustrates the perfect-storm conditions that would have led David to turn to God for help and hope. Even as David abandoned his capital, he was confronted by a relative of King Saul who decided to kick him while he was down. Shimei was still angry that David had supplanted Saul as the king of Israel and stolen the crown from the tribe of Benjamin.

“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!” – 2 Samuel 16:7-8 NLT

When one of David’s men offered to silence Shimei by cutting off his head, David expressed his consternation and confusion over the situation. Still, he refused to take matters into his own hands.

“My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.

The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River. – 2 Samuel 16:11-14 NLT

That last line is important because it states that David “rested” when he reached the Jordan. He and his entourage had walked the 21 miles from Jerusalem to the eastern border of Israel. But when they arrived, they found rest. The opening lines of this psalm reflect that this was likely far more than a physical form of restoration.

I wait quietly before God,
    for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will never be shaken. – Psalm 62:1-2 NLT

David had time to reflect on his circumstances and remind himself that God had seen him through far worse conditions in the past, and He could do so again. David was not underestimating the severity of his problem. He knew he was in trouble and refused to downplay the dire nature of his circumstance.

So many enemies against one man—
    all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
    or a tottering fence.
They plan to topple me from my high position.
    They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
    but curse me in their hearts. – Psalm 62:3-4 NLT

Yet, despite his doubts and fears, David decided to trust God for the outcome.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him. – Psalm 62:5 NLT

He placed his confidence in God and encouraged his discouraged followers to do the same.

O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:6 NLT

This psalm was written in the heat of the moment, when all felt lost and the future was uncertain. David had no way of knowing the outcome of his circumstances, but he was willing to trust in God’s sovereignty and wait for God to do what only He could do.

For most of us, waiting on God is viewed as some kind of punishment or penance we must pay for our bad behavior. We view it as if God is somehow holding out on us, making us sweat and suffer as He delays in giving us what we want to teach us a lesson. But that perspective is based on a faulty view of God. He is not some petty deity using His power maliciously or malevolently to force us to do His bidding. He is a loving, patient, and merciful God whose actions are always driven by His care and concern for us.

If God were withholding what we needed to punish us or teach us a lesson, what kind of God would He be? Jesus pointed this out when He said, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9-11 NLT).

Does that mean we always get what we ask for, and does it come exactly when we expect it? Of course not. God is still God. He is all-knowing and aware of things that are beyond our ability to comprehend. He has a “big picture view” of things we don’t possess. He is not bound by space and time and knows the past, present, and future equally well. He is not limited by our decisions or bad choices but is in control at all times. At no point is God up in heaven wringing His hands in disbelief because He was somehow caught off guard by the events or circumstances surrounding our lives.

So David says, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him” (Psalm 62:1 NLT). I love how The Message paraphrases that verse: “God, the one and only – I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?”

I’ll wait as long as he says. Why? Because He knows best and He has my best in mind. He is my hope and salvation. He is my help and source of healing. He has a plan for my life that is perfect and complete. So David reminds us, “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8 NLT). Trust in him at all times. Not just in the good times, but at all times. Even when things seem to be going poorly. Even when it appears as if He is nowhere to be found. Even when everything goes against you and everyone seems to be deserting you.

Wait quietly and trust Him. It is in those moments of waiting and trusting that we truly come to know who He really is. As we quietly, patiently wait, He reminds us of His love and then rewards us with His perfect answer at the ideal time. What we need is NOT the answer we’re hoping for, but the God who provides the answer. We need to know Him better. We need to trust Him more. We need to patiently wait and eagerly anticipate an answer because we understand the character of our God. His love never fails.

Father, thank You for the moments of waiting that come into my life on a regular basis. Thank You for teaching me to rely on You and not the world around me. May I continue to learn to wait patiently and expectantly on You because I believe You have my best in mind, in spite of what I see happening around me. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God Is For Me

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To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they injure my cause;
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk;
    they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

8 You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;
    I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life. – Psalm 56:1-13 ESV

It would be safe to say that David was well acquainted with suffering, sorrow, and setbacks. For 13 years, he lived as a fugitive, relentlessly pursued by King Saul. During those difficult days, he was forced to seek refuge in the wilderness and depend upon God for his safety and security. After seeking aid from Ahimelech, the priest at Nob, David and his men sought refuge in the Philistine city of Gath, the hometown of Goliath. This fateful decision and its less-than-flattering outcome are recorded in 1 Samuel chapter 21.

David left Nob carrying the bread of the presence to feed his men and the sword of Goliath that he used to cut off the giant’s head after killing him in battle. Bearing the holy bread dedicated to God and the sword belonging to the deceased Philistine champion, David led his men to Gath, the headquarters of Achish, the Philistine king. Everything about this decision seems poorly thought through. What was David thinking? How could he expect anything good to come from seeking refuge among the enemies of Israel, and why would they offer asylum to the man responsible for their champion’s death?

As soon as David showed up in Gath, the glaring stupidity of his decision became apparent.

So David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath. But the officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. “Isn’t this David, the king of the land?” they asked. “Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing,

‘Saul has killed his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands’?” – 1 Samuel 21:10-11 NLT

David immediately regretted his decision and was forced to devise Plan B. As his loyal men looked on in shock, David “pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard” (1 Samuel 21:13 NLT). Surrounded by hostile forces and desperate to preserve the lives of himself and his men, David feigned insanity. It must have been an Academy Award-winning performance because King Achish was convinced that David had lost his mind.

Finally, King Achish said to his men, “Must you bring me a madman? We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?” – 1 Samuel 15:14-15 NLT

Amazingly, David left Gath alive but with his dignity destroyed. He was a humbled and humiliated man without a home and a bounty on his head. He was persona non grata in Judah and now had a growing reputation as a wild-eyed lunatic. But through it all, David continued to place his trust in God. That is what Psalm 56 is all about. He opens this psalm of lament by seeking God’s assistance in his time of need.

O God, have mercy on me,
    for people are hounding me.
    My foes attack me all day long.
I am constantly hounded by those who slander me,
    and many are boldly attacking me. – Psalm 56:1-2 NLT

Despite all life’s difficulties, David refuses to turn his back on God. Instead, he declares his unwavering trust in the goodness of his ever-present, always faithful God.

But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
    I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4 NLT

David’s words remind me of a song made famous by Louis Armstrong.

Sometimes I’m up
And sometimes I’m down
Yes, Lord, you know sometimes I’m almost to the ground
Oh, yes, Lord, still
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows but Jesus
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen
Glory, Hallelujah

These familiar lyrics could be the anthem of every believer who has ever lived. We all face troubles in life. Some are physical, others are financial. Some of our problems are self-induced, while others come at us unexpectedly and undeservedly. Some are short-term, while others hang around for years, even a lifetime. But as the lyrics state so well, even when everybody else is oblivious to our troubles, Jesus knows. He is well aware of every circumstance going on in our lives.

David found comfort in his troubles because he knew that God was aware. He boldly declared, “God is on my side” (Psalm 56:9 NLT). Amid trouble, David put his hope and trust in the Lord. But before we place David on a pedestal and elevate him to sainthood, let’s remind ourselves that this psalm was written after he ran away from King Saul and fled to his arch enemies, the Philistines, for protection. That’s not exactly trusting in God, is it? He didn’t run to God; he ran to King Achish.

At every level, this does not appear to be a bright move on David’s part. Early in his career, David had made a name for himself by killing the Philistine champion, Goliath, in a one-on-one battle. The Philistines had never forgotten or forgiven David. On top of that, David had built his reputation on being a mighty warrior. In fact, there was already a song about David with lyrics that said, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” (1 Samuel 18:7 NLT). And many of those David had slain were Philistines. So why on earth did David run to the Philistines for protection? We’re not told, but we can guess that David hoped they would see him as some kind of secret weapon, and when they discovered he and King Saul were at odds, they would assume they could use him against the Israelites. But when David arrived in the Philistine territory, the reception he received was less than welcoming. They immediately recognized him and were ready to kill him. So David was forced to feign insanity, and had to act like he had completely lost his mind. Not willing to kill a lunatic, they allow him to leave.

It is after David got out of this sticky situation that he wrote, “You have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping” (Psalm 56:13 NLT). David realized after the fact that God had protected him even when he had refused to turn to God for protection. It wasn’t his incredible acting ability that saved his life; it was God. David had learned a valuable lesson: “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3 NLT).

Troubles were going to come. Trials were just around the next corner. David was always going to have people like Saul in his life. The Philistines would always be his enemy. But he had learned that he could trust God. God knew his troubles, and God had a solution. David didn’t have to fear Saul, Achish, the Philistines, Doeg the Edomite, the Ziphites,  or any other man. He simply had to trust the promises of God.

His enemies could twist his words, seek to betray him, constantly spy on him, and even plot his demise, but God was on his side. He envisioned God as caring and compassionate, carefully monitoring his suffering and sorrows.

You keep track of all my sorrows.
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book. – Psalm 56:8 NLT

What makes this psalm so powerful is the timing of its content. David wrote it in the heat of the battle, not after having been delivered from it. He was still a fugitive. The Philistines were still his enemy. He was living in caves and running for his life, but he knew he could rely on God.

This I know: God is on my side!
I praise God for what he has promised;
    yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:9-11 NLT

David’s troubles were far from over, but he continued to rest in God’s goodness, grace, mercy, and deliverance. He found strength in God’s promises. David didn’t fully understand what was happening in his life, but he knew that God had anointed him for a reason, and he was willing to trust God with the outcome. He was confident in God’s deliverance and determined to offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving one day.

I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
    and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death;
    you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
    in your life-giving light. – Psalm 56:12-13 NLT

Father, sometimes I’m up and sometimes I’m down, but You are always right there with me, fully aware of my situation and ready to take care of me in the midst of them. You know what is going on. You are aware and I can trust You to help me at all times. Help me to trust in Your faithfulness and rest in Your unwavering goodness. I want to walk in Your life-giving light and find hope in Your powerful promises. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Deeply Dependent

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A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple.

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.

8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! – Psalm 30:1-12 ESV

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 David’s heart toward his God. He loved God and had a desire to worship and honor Him with his life. He recognized God’s hand in his life over the years and had a unique vantage point to look back and put his life in perspective. He could see the countless times 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. There had even been occasions when David’s life hung in the balance, and God restored him.

You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
    You kept me from falling into the pit of death. – Psalm 30:3 NLT

He remembered the many times in his life when his actions had angered God, but he also recalled how God quickly extended mercy whenever he repented.

For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
    but joy comes with the morning. – Psalm 30:5 NLT

David could vividly recall the sleepless nights when he was 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. His world was trouble-free, and this idyllic state produced a false sense of security.

When I was prosperous, I said,
    “Nothing can stop me now!”
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

In those moments, David tended to get cocky and begin to take himself a little too seriously. He became dangerously independent from God – an ever-present danger for God’s people. David could probably recall the words Moses spoke to the people of Israel as they prepared to enter the land of promise for the very first time.

“Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God…” – Deuteronomy 8:11-14 NLT

David knew he had been guilty of not heeding this warning. In the good times, he had tended to take credit for his successes and ignored his need for God’s power and provision. Bolstered by his achievements, David proudly proclaimed, “Nothing can stop me now!” He was invincible, or so he thought. In retrospect, David realized that it was only the favor of God that allowed him to prosper and thrive. If God ever removed His unmerited favor, David’s seeming successes would quickly become glaring failures. David spoke from personal experience, having repeatedly discovered the truth behind the Proverb: “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 NLT). In those moments, David cried out to God to protect him from self-destruction.

 I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
“What will you gain if I die,
    if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
    Can it tell of your faithfulness?” – Psalm 30:8-9 NLT

Whenever we get brash and bold enough to believe that we don’t need God, He allows us to understand 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; it tastes great but provides no long-term value for sustaining life.

At those moments 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 lovingly provide for us.

David knew from experience that God was always there to pick him up when he was down, to meet needs he couldn’t meet, to win battles he had no strength to fight, let alone win, and to forgive him when he repented. God is faithful in replacing our sadness with joy. All He asks is that we replace our independence with dependence and our self-sufficiency with a total reliance upon 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

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Knowledge of God

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To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
    the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
    their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
    they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you cover him with favor as with a shield. – Psalm 5:1-12 ESV

In this Psalm, David issues another prayer to God, asking for His favor and help in a time of great need. No timeline is provided or details given that might shed light on the circumstances David is facing, but it is clear that he is going through difficult days. He mentions his “groanings” and cries for help, which indicate that he is a man facing a desperate situation. For the Jews, each new day began at sundown, and David seems to indicate that his prayer began at that moment and lasted throughout the night. His situation was so dire that he regularly spent his nights in prayer and welcomed the dawn by continuing to call out to God.

…in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer. – Psalm 5:3 NET

David makes clear the motivation behind his all-night prayer sessions. He knew that God was the Judge, the differentiator between the righteous and the wicked. Only Yahweh could discern truth from lies and make a just determination on David’s guilt or innocence.

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness;
    you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.
Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,
    for you hate all who do evil.
You will destroy those who tell lies.
    The Lord detests murderers and deceivers. – Psalm 5:4-6 NLT

David knew what it was like to be slandered and falsely accused by his enemies. His son Absalom had portrayed him as an unjust and uncaring king who regularly failed to mete out justice for his people (2 Samuel 15:1-4). As a king, David faced a constant barrage of false accusations designed to question his integrity and undermine his authority. But he knew that God was not fooled by these cleverly worded condemnations. Yahweh was all-knowing and could see into the hearts of men. He could not be deceived by their lies or manipulated by their false allegations against His servant. In fact, David rests in the confidence that his enemies have no access into God’s throne room. Because of their wickedness, they have no right to enter His presence to present their case against David.

But David is fully confident to come before God. He even boasts that his current situation will not prevent him from entering the Temple to offer sacrifices to God.

Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;
    I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe. – Psalm 5:7 NLT

His predicament would not prevent his access to the Almighty. Even when facing difficulty, David knew he was welcome to come before his Judge and King. In times of trouble, he would turn to the only One who could help. As a king himself, David understood the sovereign rule of God. He was in charge. He alone possessed the power and authority to do anything about David’s problem. But he was also David’s God, so He deserved honor, respect, and worship. David understood the holiness and righteousness of God, and never forgot that He was set apart and separate from the sinfulness of men – including the wicked, prideful, evil doers, liars, murderers, and deceitful.

God was not like earthly kings who could be all those things and more. He was a righteous, holy King who was just, good, and merciful. So David could appeal to His unfailing love and ask for protection and guidance.

Lead me in the right path, O Lord,
    or my enemies will conquer me.
Make your way plain for me to follow. – Psalm 5:8 NLT

Unlike David’s enemies, who lied and flattered for their own benefit, God was truthful, loving, and a righteous judge who always dealt justly and honestly with men. When David needed peace, he knew he could find it in God. When he needed direction, he could trust Yahweh to provide it. When he needed vindication, he knew God was the only reliable source.

David saw God as a place of refuge and protection. He could run to God in the tough times and find comfort in God’s open, loving arms. David understood the mercy and love of God because he had experienced it. That is why he could sing God’s praises even while suffering. He could experience joy even when surrounded by those who were out to destroy him. David had repeatedly found God to be his protector and provider. God had proven Himself faithful to David in the past, so he knew he could trust him for the future. He knew if he called, God would hear. He knew if he was under attack, verbally or physically, God would protect him. He knew if his enemies mistreated him, God would deal with them justly.

My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.
    Their deepest desire is to destroy others.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
    Their tongues are filled with flattery.
O God, declare them guilty.
    Let them be caught in their own traps.
Drive them away because of their many sins,
    for they have rebelled against you. – Psalm 5:9-10 NLT

David was humble enough to understand that he was not the real focus of his enemies’ attacks. Their assaults on him were really aimed at God. He was just the inconvenient intermediary. As God’s chosen king, David was the lightning rod for the attacks of the wicked and unrighteous. In rebelling against the Lord’s anointed, they were really rebelling against God. In questioning the sovereignty of David, they were denying the sovereignty of God. But David knew that his position and power had been ordained by God. He had not earned or deserved his role as king. Yahweh had placed David on the throne and he served at Yahweh’s pleasure.

This awareness of God’s sovereignty and providence caused David to take his problems to the only One who could do anything about them.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread your protection over them,
    that all who love your name may be filled with joy. – Psalm 5:11 NLT

He knew that when he was at a loss for what to do next, God would show him what to do because God was his King, guide, protector, provider, judge, advocate, and refuge. God was his source of joy and peace, the object of his praise, the focus of his prayers, the answer to his problems, the director of his paths, and the reason for his worship. The prophet Hosea calls on all the people of God to share that confident and unwavering perspective of God.

Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring. – Hosea 6:3 NLT

Father, I want to know You more. I want to have an understanding of Your character and nature like David did. Knowing You didn’t rid David of all his problems, but it gave him a different perspective on how to handle and view them. I want to respond to the circumstances of life as he did – prayerfully, expectantly, worshipfully, and joyfully. I want to understand Your holiness better, rest in Your love more often, and sing Your praises in the good times and the bad times. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Instruments in the Hands of a Holy God

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15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. – 2 Samuel 16:15-23 ESV

After David’s humiliating exit from the capital, Absalom waltzed in unopposed and without a fight. His carefully and patiently planned coup had come off without a hitch. Without lifting a sword or shedding a drop of blood, Absalom had stolen his father’s throne and elevated himself to the highest position in the land. As Absalom and his co-conspirators took up residence in the abandoned royal palace, they must have been overjoyed at the ease with which their plan unfolded. Absalom’s self-serving friends would have showered him with laudatory praise and flattering compliments, hoping to ingratiate themselves with Israel’s new king.

Yet, from God’s perspective, nothing had changed because this insurrection had been completely outside His will. As the sovereign God of the universe, God had allowed Absalom to plan and perpetrate the takeover of his father’s kingdom, but as far as God was concerned, David was still the anointed king of Israel. Not only that, according to God’s revealed will, Solomon was to be David’s successor – not Absalom. As the eldest son of David, Absalom considered himself the rightful heir apparent. But little did he know that God had other plans for his life. All of Absalom’s plotting and planning to usurp his father’s throne would end up accomplishing the will of God, but in a way that Absalom could never have imagined.

When Nathan the prophet confronted David about his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, he relayed a portion of God’s divine punishment.

“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” – 2 Samuel 12:11-12 NLT

God didn’t force Absalom to do what he did; his actions were his own responsibility. Yet God took advantage of Absalom’s pride and pent-up resentment toward his father to fulfill the judgment David deserved. Absalom was not destined to be king, but he would become an unwitting and unwilling instrument in the hands of God.

What happens next provides a glimpse into the character quality of Absalom and his associates. Upon commandeering the royal palace, Absalom sought the counsel of advisors. As the new king of Israel, what should be his next steps? How should he commemorate and demonstrate his newfound power before the people?  He could have declared a royal holiday or scheduled a public address to the masses. Absalom could have continued to reassure the people that he would be a king who provided justice and mercy (2 Samuel 15:1-4). But the advice Absalom received was of a completely different nature.

Ahithophel, who had served as a trusted counselor to David, had remained in the capital and aligned himself with Absalom. This former consultant to the king had chosen to betray his former friend and employer. But worse yet, he provided Absalom with shocking advice that would guarantee David’s humiliation and solidify the fractured state of their relationship.

“Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” – 2 Samuel 16:21 NLT

One can only guess the motivation behind Ahithophel’s counsel. This man was considered to be wise, discerning, and a trustworthy spokesman for God.

…every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God. – 2 Samuel 16:23 NLT

Yet, Ahithophel was recommending that Absalom disobey one of God’s commands.

“Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

“Do not have sexual relations with any of your father’s wives, for this would violate your father.” – Leviticus 18:7-8 NLT

Was Ahithophel setting up Absalom for failure? Was his advice intended to harm rather than help? The text doesn’t provide the motivation behind Ahithophel’s shocking counsel, but because he had a reputation for speaking on behalf of God, his words carried weight. Absalom took Ahithophel’s advice and sexually violated his father’s concubines, and it was all done in a much-publicized manner so that everyone knew the import of his actions.

It was all intended as an insult to David, showing that Absalom had not only taken David’s kingdom and palace but everything that had once belonged to him. As news of Absalom’s shocking actions spread throughout the city, the people of Jerusalem must have wondered what the future would be like under their new king.

But we must recognize this was all part of God’s will; He had warned David that this very thing would happen. It’s important to recall that it was from the very same rooftop that David had begun his own descent into adultery. This same vantage point had provided him with a bird’s-eye view of Bathsheba, bathing on another nearby rooftop. In a fit of lust, he sent for her and slept with her, ignoring the fact that she was a married woman. When he later discovered that she was pregnant, he attempted to cover his sin by having her husband brought back from the front. David had hoped that Uriah’s return would give the impression that the child was his. But when Uriah refused to sleep with his own wife, David ordered that he be sent back to the front lines and exposed to enemy fire, thus ensuring his death. With Uriah out of the way, David was “free” to take Bathsheba as his wife.

David’s sin with Bathsheba had been cloaked in secrecy. Even his murder of Uriah had been carefully concealed and known only to Joab, David’s faithful and overly compliant military commander. But years later, David’s sin and God’s discipline for it would be on full display for all to see. Absalom’s public violation of David’s wives took place on the very rooftop where David’s battle with the lure of lust had begun.

Like so many other times in the Scriptures, God used an unexpected source to teach one of His children a powerful and important lesson. In this case, God chose to use David’s own son as a tool to fulfill His promise of discipline. All of the actors in this sordid drama were unwittingly following a script that God had written. God didn’t command Ahithophel to give ungodly and unrighteous counsel to Absalom. This would have been in violation of God’s own character. James points out the fallacy of blaming God for our sins.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. – James 1:13-14 BSB

While Ahithophel’s counsel was anything but godly, he was still an unwitting instrument in the hands of God. This former counselor of David, who had treacherously aided Absalom in his overthrow of the kingdom, was used by God to accomplish His divine will concerning David’s punishment. It was all part of God’s plan. At no point was God out of control or up in heaven shaking His head in surprise at all that was taking place. God was using these events to accomplish His will and He had far more in store for Absalom.

From a human perspective, all looked lost, but God was in complete control of every single aspect of this entire affair. As demoralizing and humiliating as this was to David, God was still at work. He was simply fulfilling what He had promised and accomplishing all that He had planned. What appeared to be an unmitigated disaster was actually part of God’s sovereign will.

There is an invaluable lesson in this chapter for each of us who claim to be children of God. When we encounter difficulties and trials in our lives, it is so easy for us to automatically assume that God has lost control. We somehow convince ourselves that the presence of difficulties in our lives is proof of God’s absence. When we see our enemies celebrating their victories over us, we jump to the conclusion that God doesn’t care.

It would have been easy for David to assume that God had abandoned him. After all, Absalom had won the hearts of the people. He had orchestrated a bloodless coup and David was now persona non grata in his own kingdom. David could have come up with a myriad of reasons why God would have wanted to replace him as king but David didn’t have access to the mind of God. He had no idea what God was doing behind the scenes. One of the hardest things for a believer to do is to trust God, regardless of the circumstances. From a human perspective, it all appeared as if Absalom’s plans had succeeded. But the Scriptures would have us remember that God’s plans always trump those of men – each and every time.

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. – Proverbs 16:9 NLT

You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. – Proverbs 19:21 NLT

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has spoken – who can change his plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him? – Isaiah 14:27 NLT

Absalom believed his plan had succeeded – and it had. But only because God had a greater plan in store. While Absalom gloated over his victory from his throne in Jerusalem and David mourned over his fate somewhere along the banks of the Jordan, God was working His plan. He was orchestrating affairs in such a way that both men were in for a surprise as to how this whole affair would turn out. God had chosen David to be king, and Absalom could do nothing to change that fact. He could usurp David’s throne, but not permanently, and only because God had allowed it. David could consider himself defeated, dethroned, and abandoned by God, but he would be wrong. He was still God’s choice to be king. His son, Solomon, would be God’s handpicked successor, not Absalom. And while things looked bleak, God was in full control.

When our circumstances create uncertainty and leave us in a state of doubt and confusion, we are to look to God. He is always on His throne. His power is constant. His will is unavoidable. His plans are unstoppable. His love for us is inescapable. It was during this difficult time in David’s life that he penned the words of Psalm 3. They reflect his trust in God’s unfailing love for him – even in the darkest moments of life.

O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.
So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” Interlude

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.

Arise, O Lord!
    Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
    Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
Victory comes from you, O Lord.
    May you bless your people. – Psalm 3

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Willing to Wait on God

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13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house.

18 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness.

24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there. – 2 Samuel 15:13-29 ESV

It is difficult to read this text and not wonder why David, when he heard the news of Absalom’s coup, simply abandoned the city and refused to put up a fight. What would have caused the king to give up his kingdom so quickly and easily? Was he surrendering or just relocating his seat of government in case Absalom attacked the capital? Many of these questions remain unanswered because the text doesn’t elaborate. When David received the report, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:13 ESV), he displayed no surprise; it is as if he had seen it coming. As obtuse as he could be at times, David wasn’t completely oblivious to Absalom’s plans. He also had personal experience with the fickle nature of the people of Israel, who were notorious for their willingness to change horses in midstream. Years earlier, he had witnessed how quickly they switched their allegiance from Saul to him, without batting an eye. Now, he saw it happening again. This time it was his son who had won the hearts of the people. So, David abandoned the capital, perhaps to prevent it from facing destruction in the event of a war.

But David’s words recorded in this passage reflect a certain amount of resignation. It was not as if he viewed this whole affair as a bump in the road. When addressing Ittai, the leader of the men from Gath, David told him, “Why are you coming with us? Go on back to King Absalom, for you are a guest in Israel, a foreigner in exile. You arrived only recently, and should I force you today to wander with us? I don’t even know where we will go” (2 Samuel 15:19-20 NLT). Those don’t sound like the words of an optimistic man. He was already referring to Absalom as the king and as if his abdication of the throne was a done deal. David appeared to have no idea where he was going or what he was going to do. The only evidence that he harbored any hope of returning to power was his decision to leave behind ten of his concubines to maintain the palace in his absence. But he had everyone else pack up and leave.

For the second time in his life, David found himself a man on the run. But this time he was not alone; he was accompanied by a host of followers and loyal subjects, including 600 Gittites. These professional soldiers were Philistine warriors who had abandoned their hometown of Gath and chosen to pledge their support to David. Due to the unstable nature of his situation and the fact that they had just recently arrived in Jerusalem, David suggested that they return home. But their leader refused, saying, “I vow by the Lord and by your own life that I will go wherever my lord the king goes, no matter what happens—whether it means life or death” (2 Samuel 15:21 NLT).

These Philistine mercenaries refused to abandon David in his time of need and chose to take their chances defending his honor and kingdom. As David and his retinue vacated the city, “Everyone cried loudly as the king and his followers passed by” (2 Samuel 15:23 NLT). He still had loyal subjects. Despite the effectiveness of Absalom’s smear campaign against him, some remained committed to David’s cause. Yet, they were brought to tears as they saw their beloved king surrendering his kingdom without a fight. The once-mighty warrior of whom they once sang, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7 ESV), was not only abandoning his throne but was leaving his people to the mercies of his unstable and vengeful son.

As David left, the Levites attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant along, but David refused to let them do so. He allowed them to offer sacrifices but demanded that the Ark be returned to the city. This act provides additional evidence that David harbored some hope of returning to the city one day but it is accompanied by a certain degree of doubt.

“If the Lord sees fit,” David said, “he will bring me back to see the Ark and the Tabernacle again. But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”  – 2 Samuel 15:25-26 NLT

David had no idea what was going to happen. He was operating in the dark, having received no word from God regarding the outcome of these events. As far as David knew, his kingship could be over. Then again, it could be yet another difficult reversal of fortune that God would one day remedy. David was not unfamiliar with these kinds of predicaments. All during his life, he had learned to view his circumstances through the lens of God’s faithfulness. Things didn’t always go as expected, but he knew that God was always there. Time and time again, David had seen God show up at just the right time and in the most unexpected ways. God had a track record of success with David that produced in him a growing sense of reliance. David did not fully understand the why behind Absalom’s actions, but he knew that his return to Jerusalem would have to be God’s will if it was going to happen at all.

David knew that if it was God’s will for Absalom to replace him as king, there was nothing he could do about it. If David had learned anything from his years of running from Saul, it was that all of Saul’s efforts to thwart God’s will had been a royal waste of time. Saul had repeatedly tried to take David’s life but failed every time because God’s will was irrevocable and unstoppable. He had ordained David to be the next king of Israel and there was nothing Saul could do about it. So, David knew that if it was God’s will to make Absalom king, it would be useless to try and stand against it. David was determined to trust God, and if God was through with him, he was willing to accept his fate. Yet, David was also confident that if God wanted to return him to power, there was nothing anyone could do to stop it, including Absalom.

The hearts of the people could be fickle. The nation of Israel was still little more than a shakey confederation of independently-minded tribes, all 12 of which were fiercely self-reliant and focused on their own best interests. Any allegiance they showed the king always took a back seat to their commitment to their clan and community. David’s construction projects in his new capital had done nothing to line their pockets. His relocation of the Ark to Jerusalem had actually angered some. His building of a fancy palace made others jealous. His affair with Bathsheba caused many to doubt his competence to be king.

Absalom had raised serious doubts about David’s leadership capabilities and undermined his reputation as a just and caring king. Even he knew that the tribes of Israel were quick to change sides and seek out their own selfish agendas. But David knew he could trust God. No matter what happened, he knew God was faithful. Yahweh’s will might not always be crystal clear, but His character was always unquestionable. David might not have known what the future held in store, but he had no doubt that God held the future. So, he would trust God.

When God’s will is unclear, it requires that we trust Him. When His plans appear uncertain, it demands that we wait patiently for Him. Jumping to conclusions is never profitable or helpful. Doubting His presence and power is never helpful. David was willing to vacate Jerusalem and wait for God to either speak up or show up. He knew the certainty of his reign was not based on a kingdom, a capital, a crown, or a faithful constituency. His kingship was in God’s hands and he was willing to leave it there.

Life can be filled with dark days and moments of uncertainty, but one thing is always certain: God is in control at all times. He knows what is happening and He also knows how He is going to transform apparent defeat into victory. God has a way of turning tragedy into triumph by displaying His glory amid our greatest times of weakness and need – all for our good and His glory.

The Book of 2 Kings contains a story that accentuates God’s penchant for showing up when He is least expected. The nation of Israel was under attack by the armies of Aram and things were looking bleak. The king of Aram had “sent a great army with many chariots and horses” (2 Kings 6:14 NLT) and their superior forces seemed to spell Israel’s pending doom. In fact, one morning the servant of the prophet Elisha woke up to see “troops, horses, and chariots everywhere” (2 Kings 6:15 NLT), and cried out in dismay, “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” (2 Kings 6:15 NLT).  To which the prophet calmly replied, “Don’t be afraid!…For there are more on our side than on theirs!” (2 Kings 6:16 NLT).

None of this made sense to the petrified servant because, from his vantage point, there were enemy soldiers as far as the eye could see. But Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” (2 Kings 6:16 NLT), and when the servant looked up a second time, “he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:17 NLT). The servant had his eyes opened and his perspective changed. Where he had once seen only hopelessness and certain defeat, he now saw the power and provision of God. The horses and chariots hadn’t suddenly appeared; they had been there all along, and Elisha knew it. Now his servant could see that they were not alone. God was on their side and they had nothing to fear.

David could not see the future. He wasn’t given a glimpse of unseen forces and the promise of a bright outcome. But he knew that God was in control and completely capable of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. And he was willing to wait for God’s will to be done.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Close But Yet So Far

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8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12 Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” 15 Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is at Gibeon. 17 And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. – 2 Samuel 2:8-17 ESV

The fact that verse 8 starts with the word “but” should tell us something. Something about to happen that will stand in direct contrast to the events of the first seven verses. David received a warm welcome from the people of Judah, but that was to be expected since he was of the tribe of Judah. Yet, David knew he was going to have a more difficult time winning over the rest of the tribes of Israel and convincing them to accept him as their king. That was part of the reason behind his overtures to the men of Jabesh-gilead because they were of the tribe of Gad. The nation of Israel, while having been united under the leadership of Saul, was still little more than a loose confederation of 12 tribes. Their relationships with each other were typically fractious and contentious. With Saul’s death, David was attempting to unite them under his leadership and sovereignty as king.

But that’s not the only “but” in these verses. There was yet another obstacle to David’s quest to become the next king of Israel. It seems that not all of Saul’s sons died with him on the battlefield. There was one name left out; that of Ish-bosheth. He was the youngest of Saul’s four sons and would have been about 40 years old when his father and brothers fell at the battle of Gilboa. His given name was Eshbaal, which provides us with an interesting insight into King Saul. Baal was a Canaanite deity, and the name Eshbaal means “man of Baal.” So, it appears that Saul named his youngest son after a false god. Interestingly enough, the Jews would not repeat the name of this pagan idol, so they substituted the word, “boshesh”, which meant “shame” or “confusion.” So, Eshbaal became known as Ish-bosheth. And the son of Jonathan, who will appear later on in the story, was known as Mephibosheth.
But back to Ish-bosheth. It seems that this one son of Saul either survived the battle at Gilboa or was not even present. Abner, the commander of Saul’s armies, decided to use this sole surviving son as a tool to forestall David’s attempt to consolidate his reign over all of Israel. Keep in mind that Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin, as was Abner, his uncle. So it seems that Abner was attempting to keep the crown within the ranks of the Benjaminites.
Saul appointed Ish-bosheth “king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel” (2 Samuel 2:9 ESV). As Saul’s former commander in chief, this would have been outside the scope of Abner’s job description. It was not up to him to choose and appoint the king; the Israelites were to be a theocracy, ruled over by God Almighty. It was up to Yahweh to choose their king, just as He had chosen Saul. Abner did not have authority or permission from God to do what he did but he didn’t let that small detail stand in his way.
Lest we think this was a small matter that was of little or no significance, notice that Ish-bosheth was made king over Geshur. That was an area within the territory belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. Jezreel was in the land belonging to the tribe of Issachar. And then the text goes on to include the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and “all Israel.” So effectively, Abner crowned Ish-bosheth as king over all Israel, even countering David’s claim to be king over Judah. And we’re told that Ish-bosheth reigned for two years. This was no short-lived, flash-in-the-pan event. Once again, David found himself with serious opposition and facing another enemy from within his own nation. Saul was dead, but his son was alive and so was Abner. It’s likely that Abner never forgot the little lecture David had given him at Gibeah, after David had snuck into their camp and taken Saul’s spear and water jug as he slept.
“Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. “Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? So why haven’t you guarded your master the king when someone came to kill him? This isn’t good at all! I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?” – 1 Samuel 26:15-16 NLT
Determined to deny David his right to reign, Abner led his troops into battle against David and his men, meeting them at the pool of Gibeon. The initial conflict was an agreed-upon battle between 24 men, 12 from each side. This mini-battle ended in a draw, with all 24 men dead. But that was not the end of the hostilities. It was followed by a pitched battle between the forces of these two opposing kings. Many would die that day. Like our own Civil War, this battle featured brothers fighting against brothers. It characterized the divided nature of the kingdom at that time, and it was into this contentious atmosphere that David was forced to begin his reign.
David’s path to the throne had been anything but easy, but even with Saul’s death it continued to be a rocky and difficult journey. Years earlier, he had been anointed by Samuel but it had taken a long time before a crown was placed on his head. Even when it was, it represented the allegiance of a single tribe, his own. Winning over the other 11 tribes and solidifying his God-appointed position as king of Israel was going to be difficult and drawn out. There were still lessons for David to learn and God was providentially shifting the mindset of the tribes of Israel from autonomous people groups living in isolation and under self-rule to that of a single nation united under one king.
God was unifying what had been fractious. He was solidifying what had been disparate. He was transforming the divided tribes of Israel into a great nation that would be ruled by a king who was a man after His own heart. The days ahead would be difficult. They would be filled with disappointment. Many would die. Others would lose loved ones as a result of the battles that followed. David’s fledgling kingdom would suffer before it ever experienced any success. But it was all part of God’s sovereign plan.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.