Can't Get Enough of God.

Psalms 84-85; 87

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. ­– Psalms 84:10 NLT

Let's be honest with one another. There are a lot of places most of us would rather be on a Sunday morning than church. Like back in bed, at the park, on a golf course, or sitting on the back porch with a cup of coffee and a good book. Not that any of those things are wrong, but why is it that they seem more attractive to us than spending time with God and His people? In the morning, reading the paper can be more appealing to us than reading His Word. Perusing the morning paper can take the place of our morning prayer time. Watching the Cowboys play on Sunday afternoon can keep us from showing up at church on Sunday night. It is not that we lack passion, it is just that it just doesn't happen to be for the things of God. But take a look at the words of the Psalmist: "A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked" (Psalms 84:10 NLT). I love the way The Message paraphrases it. "One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin." The Psalmist loved God's house. Why? Because that is where the presence of God dwelt. It was where he could go to find God. Which is why he said, "I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the LORD. With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God" (Psalms 84:2 NLT). Do you and I have that same kind of passion and desire for God? Do we long to be in His presence? Do we view our time in the Word as an opportunity to sit with Him and hear from Him? If we don't, that may be why our "quiet" times are just that – painfully and eerily quiet. We don't feel His presence. We don't hear His voice. When we go to church, we spend more time talking to our friends than we do listening to God. It is a social hour, not a worship experience.

The Psalmist was focused on God as his source of grace and glory. He described God as his sun and shield. He believed that God would withhold no good thing and would give joy to those who trusted in Him. He was a source of blessing and abundance. He was the restorer and redeemer. He provided salvation and was a source of unfailing love. Righteousness and truth could be found in His presence. So to be where God was was the Psalmist's greatest desire. What about you? What about me? Do we long to be with God? Do we find ourselves compelled to be in His Word so that we can hear from Him? Do we get excited to join God's people in worship of Him on Sunday? Or do we go out of some sense of duty rather than delight? A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! Really?

Father, I confess that I do not delight in You like I should. I find pleasure and fulfillment in so many other places. I seek comfort elsewhere. I search for wisdom elsewhere. I do not wake up thinking about You. I don't find myself passionate about You and desiring to spend time with You. I am distracted too much of the time. May I lose my love affair with this world and find You as my soul delight. May I become fixated on You. May the things of You bring me greater delight than anything else this world has to offer. Amen



Humble Pie.

Psalms 43-45; 49

So don't be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can't take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they've arrived and folks praise them because they've made good, they enter the family burial plot where they'll never see sunshine again. We aren't immortal. We don't last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die. ­– Psalms 49:16-20 MSG

Sometimes we can really believe our own press clippings and think we are more significant than we really are. If we're not careful, we can buy into the lie that we are the center of the universe and everything and everyone else revolves around us. We look at all the accomplishments and accoutrements we've built up in life and start to think we're pretty hot stuff. But in these four Psalms, we see a different perspective. They reveal a recognition that it is God who is ultimately responsible for anything of significance that happens in our lives. The people of Israel didn't possess the land of promise based on their skill with the bow and military strategy. In fact, the Psalmist said, "I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies, you disgrace those who hate us. I God, we give glory to you all day long, and constantly praise your name" (Psalms 44:6-8 NLT).

There is a certain sense in which we all need to come to grips with our own insignificance. Andrew Murray once wrote, "Humility is nothing but the disappearance of self in the vision that God is all." We can try and take credit for our accomplishments, but to do so is to rob God of glory. We are attempting to claim responsibility for things we had little or nothing to do with. Our pride gets in the way and tempts us to blow our own horn and wallow in our own sense of significance and self-worth. T.S. Eliot wrote, "Humility is the most difficult of all virtues to achieve; nothing dies harder than the desire to think well of oneself." The Psalmist somewhat sarcastically paints the picture of the wealthy man who name their lands after themselves, out of some sense of self-exaltation – only to end up leaving those lands to someone else in the end.

Recognition of God's worth and our own worthlessness is vital to the development of a healthy humility. To a certain degree, these Psalms are all about dependence – a reliance upon God and a recognition of our own helplessness. Our wealth, strength, intelligence, planning, even spiritual giftedness, are nothing without Him. If we can ever come to grips with God's transcendence and our own impermanence, we will begin to recognize that we have nothing to fear. We'll also discover we have nothing to brag about. Which should be great news, because there are going to be those days when our strength runs out, our wisdom falls short, our wealth drives up and our confidence in self grows weak. At those moments, if we recognize the power and pervasive presence of God in our lives, we will be able to say along with the Psalmist: "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!" (Psalms 43:5 NLT).

Father, You are so much greater than I am. But I tend to want to think of myself as fairly significant. I want to elevate my own self-worth and claim responsibility for the affairs of my life. In other words, I want to be God. I want to be in control. I want to be the one to call all the shots. But thanks for the reminder that You are so much greater than I am. May I respond to Your greatness with humility – a growing awareness of Your holiness and my sinfulness. Amen



What's In A Name?

1 Chronicles 2

Jesse’s first son was Eliab, his second was Abinadab, his third was Shimea, his fourth was Nethanel, his fifth was Raddai, his sixth was Ozem, and his seventh was David. ­– 1 Chronicles 2:13-15 NLT

The first nine chapters of the 29 books of 1 Chronicles are genealogies. What's up with that? Obviously, the author of the book had a reason for dedicating such time and space to these lists of names. Remember that that the book was written to those who had been in exile and were now returning to the land of promise. Many had never been there, but had been born in Babylon while in exile. These seemingly endless lists of genealogies were a reminder to them of their heritage. Dr. Thomas L. Constable, in his Notes on 1 Chronicles, offers this explanation.

"The writer evidently chose, under divine inspiration, to open his book with genealogies to help his readers appreciate their heritage and to tie themselves to Adam, Abraham, and David in particular. Adam was important as the head of the human race. Abraham was important because of the promises God gave him and his descendants in the Abrahamic Covenant. David was important because of his role as Israel's model king and because of the promises God gave him in the Davidic Covenant. This section shows Israel's place among the nations. Both the Old and New Testaments open with genealogies, in Genesis, Matthew, and Luke.

"One of the major themes of Chronicles is that the Davidic dynasty would be the instrument through which God promised that salvation and blessing would come to Israel. It would also come through Israel to the whole world. The final Davidic king, Jesus Christ, was the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) as well as the Person who would fulfill the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants completely."

Can you imagine the sense of loss and confusion the people must have felt as they returned to the land after nearly 70 years in captivity? Many had long ago given up on ever returning. They had seen their fathers and mothers die in the land of Babylon. They had resigned themselves to the fact that they would also die in exile, never living to see their homeland. But now that they had returned, they had to be wondering what the future held. These genealogies provided them a reminder of God's sovereign plan for their lives and of His faithfulness. He had not abandoned them. He was still going to keep His covenants to Abraham and David. The people of Israel would still be a blessing. David would still have a descendant sit on his throne, even though it had sat vacant for many years. All of this points to the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ would ultimately fulfill the promises of God made to Israel. Through Him all the nations of the world would be blessed. He will someday reign on earth as the rightful and righteous king of Israel.

Imagine the people reading through these lists of names. To us, they mean next to nothing, except for an occasional name like David, Boaz, or Judah. But for the people returning from exile, this would have been like looking at their family tree. They would have scanned the list to find the names of their ancestors. It would have provided a sense of connection. They were part of something much bigger than themselves. And while they may have been in exile, they were still connected to the lineage of God's chosen people. So they could have hope that God was not done with them yet. The peoples' sin of rebellion, which led to their exile, would not prevent God from keeping His covenant and completing His plan for His people.

Father, Your story is so much bigger than me. I sometimes think that it all revolves around me and that I am the star of the show. But I am just a bit player in Your play. I am thrilled that I have a part, but help me realize that You have a much larger objective than my happiness and satisfaction. You are fulfilling Your plan for mankind. You are redeeming the world. May I never lose sight of that great redemptive plan. Amen



Method to the Madness.

1 Chronicles 1

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. ­– 2 Timothy 3:16 NASB

I know what you're thinking. Why in the world did God include this chapter in the Bible? What could possibly be the purpose of this mind-numbing list of hard-to-pronounce names? But we have to keep in mind the original author's intent AND who his original audience would have been. For us, as modern-day Christians, these names mean next to nothing, except for the occasional reference to Adam, Abraham, and Isaac. But even though we know who these men were, we aren't exactly sure what they have to do with us. But the Chronicler was writing to a particular audience for whom this list would have had real significance. It is believed that the books of Chronicles were the last books written of the Old Testament. They would have been penned after the people of Israel had returned to the Promised Land from Babylon where they had been exiled by God for their disobedience. Upon their return, they would have been suffering from a kind of an identity crisis. Many of them would have been born in exile, having never set foot in the land of Canaan before. Now here they were, living in the land of "promise." What did that mean to them? Where was the promise? The land would have been desolate and its cities would have been in disrepair.  They would have returned weak and powerless. This would have been a whole new land to them. They were strangers in their own home. It would have been much like a prisoner sentenced to life in prison, who gets released after 50 years and allowed to return home. He would feel like a stranger, an alien, even in his own home.

So the writer of Chronicles begins by reminding his readers of their heritage. They needed to remember who they were and how they belonged to God. He had a plan for them. Their detour into captivity had not changed God's original plan. Beginning with Adam, the author takes them through the genealogy of Adam, Abraham, and Isaac, all the way to David, all the while giving them a history lesson in who there were and what God was doing in their midst. He reminds them that they are descendants of Abraham and Isaac. They have been chosen by God. He is going to remind them of the temple and the God-ordained worship prescribed to take place there. He is going to remind them of their covenant relationship to God as descendants of Abraham. David was their covenant king. He had placed over them by God Himself, and through him would come the ultimate Shepherd/King, the Messiah.

Sometimes we can forget who we are. As we live in this fallen world, surrounded by sin and bombarded by the false lies of the enemy, we can too often lose sight of who we are and forget what God has promised. We are children of the promise. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. We have been chosen by God and He has a plan for our lives. While our circumstances may not be the best and we may sometimes feel as if we are anything but saints, we must constantly remind ourselves of the truth of God's Word and His promises found in it. While this first chapter may be hard to read, and even harder to find something spiritually life-changing to pull out of it, we can walk away knowing that we too are children of Abraham, with access to all the promises made to him. "So that’s why faith is the key! God’s promise is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to receive it, whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe" (Romans 4:16 NLT).

Father, sometimes I lose perspective. I get hung up on the things taking place around me and I begin to doubt that I am who You say I am. Like the Israelites, I feel like I am coming out of a land of captivity, and I have forgotten what the land of promise was supposed to be like. Remind me daily just exactly who I am and what Your plan is for me. Amen



The Palpable Presence of God.

Psalms 14; 16; 19; 21

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. ­– Psalm 16:8 NLT

I remember a trip we took as a family to Carlsbad, New Mexico. Our reason for going was simple: To visit Carlsbad Caverns. I had been there as a child and now I wanted my kids to see it. The highlight of a tour of these magnificent caverns is always the point at which they turn off the lights and allow you to stand in absolute, pitch-black darkness. It is a darkness so dense and complete you can almost feel it. They tell you to put your hand in front of your face. Nothing. You can see absolutely nothing. It is an eerie feeling. When I read the passage above and think about the presence of God, that experience in the darkness of Carlsbad Caverns comes to mind. For David, God's presence was so real, it was palpable. He could feel it surrounding him. Nothing else mattered. He couldn't see anything else because his thoughts of God completely filled his mind. Was this all the time? Probably not, but there were moments when he could sense God's presence so strongly that nothing else mattered.

At those moments, David could say, "No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety" (Psalms 16:9 NLT). His awareness of God's presence filled him with peace, joy, and contentment. He knew he had nothing to fear. He could say to God, "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever" (Psalm 16:11 NLT). When the all-pervasive presence of God surrounded him, David knew he was going to have all he needed for life. But David wasn't content to sit around and just wait for some ethereal, feelings-dependent experience to take place to convince him of God's presence. He went back to the word of God. He stood on the promises of God. He read the Scriptures provided by God. And when he did, he experienced a reviving of his soul, wisdom (Psalm 19:7), joy, insight for living (Psalm 19:8), reverence for God (Psalm 19:9), refreshment (Psalm 19:10), warning and reward (Psalm 19:11), and an awareness of the sins in his life (Psalm 19:13).

The Word of God is the revelation of God. It is a glimpse into who He is. So when we read the Word of God, we become more aware of God and learn to sense His presence in and around our lives. We begin to see how He works. We begin to get a grasp of His divine plan and how He interacts with men and women. Our trials become opportunities to see Him work, not just inconvenient experiences that we try to pray away. We learn that He is more powerful than our biggest problem. David knew God because he had read about God. Not all we know about God will come from our own experience. Most of it will come from His self-revelation – through His written Word and the Living Word, His Son Jesus Christ. As I get to know both better, I will sense His presence in my life more completely and consistently. His presence will begin to surround me like the darkness in that cavern in Carlsbad, New Mexico. But rather than make me feel uncomfortable and uneasy, God's presence will provide me with peace, joy, contentment, rest, and a healthy trust in His faithfulness – no matter what is happening around me.

Father, keep me in Your Word. Open my eyes to your powerful and pervasive presence. Help me learn more and more about You so that I can sense You in my life. You surround me at all times. There is no time when You are not there. The problem is that I cannot see or sense You. I have filled my mind with other things. I have allowed the things of this world to become my reality, instead of You. I want You to become my reality. I want to learn to sense You even when I can't see You. Amen



A Dependable God For Difficult Days.

Psalms 6; 8-10

And he will be the judge of the world in righteousness, giving true decisions for the peoples. The Lord will be a high tower for those who are crushed down, a high tower in times of trouble; And those who have knowledge of your name will put their faith in you; because you, Lord, have ever given your help to those who were waiting for you. ­– Psalm 9:8-10 BBE

The Psalms of David are honest and real. In them, he shares exactly what he is feeling at the time. They reflect his thoughts at that moment in time and he does not hold back or sugar-coat what he is thinking. He expresses it in a clear and, sometimes painfully, transparent way. And in this section of Psalms David talks a great deal about the negatives that seem to be a part of his life. Things are so bad that he says he can't stop crying at night. "I'm tired of all this--so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights on the flood of my tears. My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope" (Psalm 6:6-7 MSG). What seems to be the problem? Enemies, adversaries, those who would do David harm. They seem to be a permanent part of David"s life. Just because he is on the throne now does not mean that his troubles have ended. Over and over again, David refers to his enemies, adversaries, evildoers, and the wicked. He talks about the oppressed, needy, afflicted, unfortunate, and orphan. David is fully aware of the inequities of life. He knows that there are those who seem to have it out for the less fortunate. He also knows that these people have no regard for God and even think that there is no God (Psalm 10:4). They do what they do with impunity, not fearing retribution from God.

But David knows that God will repay the evil done by these people. David is counting on the fact that God is in charge. He WILL judge the world in righteousness one day. He WILL execute judgment with equity. What looks unfair and unbalanced right now will some day be set right. Because God can be trusted to do what is right. The presence of evil does not mean that God is non-existent or uncaring. He is still on His throne and He is in complete control and totally aware of what is going on in our world. He sees the actions of the wicked. He hears the cries of the oppressed. He listens to the prayers of His people – those who trust in Him. And He responds. Maybe not in the way we would want or in the timing we would prefer. But He does respond. David knew this. He believed in it. He counted on it. "For the needy will not be forgotten forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed" (Psalms 8:18 NLT). David was resting in the fact that God was still God and He would some day let the nations all know that they are but men (Psalm 8:19-20). There is a day coming when all that is wrong in this world will be made right. All who seem to prosper doing evil will have their actions judged and their punishment meted out. Because God is righteous and will not allow unrighteousness to go unpunished. He will not allow the inequities of life to remain. So like David, we should rejoice in the reality that our God is fully aware of the trouble of our times, and we should call out to Him, then rest in the fact that He will act. Even if we don't live to see it happen in our lifetime.

Father, You are faithful, righteous, and just. You are more aware of the evil in this world than I am. You see things that would shock me. You are fully aware of the wickedness of mankind. And while I think things are spinning out of control, You maintain a firm grasp on the reigns of this world and its inhabitants. You are sovereign and You are righteous. You will one day make all things right. I can count on that. Help me to rejoice in it even when things seem out of control and the evil in this world seems to surround me. Amen

A Righteous King For Unrighteous Times.

2 Samuel 3-4

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, 'May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.' Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people. ­– 2 Samuel 3:36-37 NASB

David was now king. Saul was dead. You would think that things would be looking up for David right about now. But instead, the first days of his reign were filled with war, deception, murder, intrigue, and difficult decisions. The kingdom is divided. Saul's son, Ish-bosheth, is king of Israel to the north, set up by Saul's former commander, Abner. He reigns at the bidding of Abner and owes his position to Abner's power and influence. He is a puppet king.

David was king over Judah to the north, and the passage tells us that David's power was growing while the power wielded by the house of Saul was waning. And in the midst of all this, Abner decided to switch sides and align himself and the kingdom of Israel with David. He bails on Ish-bosheth and turns the control of Israel over to David. David and Abner make a truce and all seems well. That is until Joab, David's commander finds out. He is still angry over the fact that Abner killed his younger brother, Asahel. So when he discovers that David has made an alliance with Abner, he takes matters into his own hands and personally kills Abner.

Now, as if that was not enough, poor Ish-bosheth ends up getting killed by two of his own commanders, who bring his head to David, in hopes of gaining favor with the newly crowned king. But to their shock and surprise, the payment they receive for their efforts is death. David has them executed for having murdered an innocent man.

These were not easy days for David. But through it all, he ruled righteously and rightly. He mourned the loss of Abner. He avenged the death of Ish-bosheth. At no point do you see David enjoying the demise of his enemies or gloating over the death of his rival king. Even while surrounded by conniving, manipulative people who made poor decisions and created extremely conditions in which David had to reign, David did so with integrity. He did not seek revenge on those who had made his life a living hell all those years. While he could have turned on Abner and had him killed for the role he played in David's years as a fugitive, David was willing to make peace with him. David could have rejoiced over the death of Ish-bosheth, but instead he mourned. David's reaction to the circumstances of life reveals a lot about the kind of man he really was. What do the circumstances of life reveal about YOU?

Father, I want to be a man after your own heart like David was. I want to react to the circumstances of life with integrity and righteousness. Continue your life-transformative work in me. Amen

A Man After God's Own Heart.

2 Samuel 1-2

David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day. ­– 2 Samuel 1:11-12 NLT

David was referred to by God Himself as a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). That designation has always bothered some people because of what appear to be some significant character deficiencies in David. But these first two chapters of 2 Samuel give us some insight into what God saw in David. God knew David's heart. He also knew David's flaws. His choice of David was not based on perfection, but on a willingness to obey God and serve Him with integrity of heart. In fact, we read over in Psalm 78 these words regarding David:

He [God] also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds; From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands. – Psalm 78:70-72 NASB

David was a man of integrity, and nowhere is this more apparent than in his reaction to the death of his arch nemesis, Saul. Think about what your reaction would have been if you had been in David's sandals. He had been relentlessly pursued by this man for years. He had been forced to live in caves, scrounge for food, care for a growing band of men and their families, and constantly look over his shoulder in fear that Saul and his men might be there, ready to take his life. Now, he receives the news that Saul has been killed in battle, along with his son, Jonathan. Did David rejoice? Did he pump his fist and yell at the top of his lungs? Did he and his men hold a celebration? No, we're told that his immediate reaction was one of mourning. And not just for the loss of Jonathan, his best friend. David legitimately mourned for Saul.

David received this news from an Amalekite mercenary who said that he had stumbled upon Saul in the heat of battle. When he arrived, Saul was near death and about to be swarmed by the Philistines, so Saul asked the man to take his life. The man supposedly agreed to do just that and when he had done so, he took Saul's crown and arm bracelet and brought them to David as proof. He probably thought David was going to give him a reward for taking the life of David's enemy. The only problem is that this man's story was a complete fabrication. We know from 1 Samuel 31:3-6, that Saul had taken his own life. This guy had just happened to come upon Saul's body, probably while doing a little looting on the battlefield. He fully expected David to slap him on the back and give him some kind of a reward for his "efforts." But he was in for a surprise. David actually has the man killed. Why? Because he confessed to doing what David himself had refused to do on two different occasions. He took the life of the Lord's anointed. David had had his chances to kill Saul and he had refused, saying, "The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him" (1 Samuel 24:6 NLT). You see the integrity of David's heart. He knew that God had put Saul on the throne and it was up to God to remove him. And even when it became apparent that God had done just that, David didn't rejoice – he mourned. He was saddened over the death of the king of Israel.

One of the characteristics of pride is resisting authority and showing disrespect to those in authority. At no point did David do this. A prideful person is also consumed with themselves, jealous, envious, not glad for others' successes, deceitful, covering up their own faults, while gladly exposing the failings of others. David could have easily gloated over Saul's death. He could have recounted all the times Saul had tried to kill him and that now Saul had finally gotten what he deserved. But instead, David mourned. He truly did have integrity of heart. Our reaction when our enemies fail is a great indicator of the condition of our heart. Do we gloat when our enemies face disaster? Do we find ourselves happy when we hear that someone we dislike has run into unexpected trouble? When the politician we didn't vote for runs into trouble, do we inwardly rejoice? If so, then these reactions give a snap shot of the condition of our heart. May we pray that God give us a heart marked by integrity. A heart like his. A heart of love. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT).

Father, I want to have a heart like David had, a heart like Yours. Too often I rejoice in wrong, I get jealous, I become proud and conceited. I would have had a party if I had been David. I would have been happy to hear of Saul's death. But David mourned. Give me that kind of a heart, Father. Amen

He Offers Forgiveness.

Psalms 120; 130

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. ­– Psalm 130:3-4 NLT

What an unbelievable reminder. Our God is not some kind of a cosmic score keeper, keeping meticulous track of all our sins and waiting for us to balance our good behavior with our bad behavior. He's not "making a list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty or nice." If God kept track of all our sins, we'd all be in big trouble, because our sins would far outweigh any righteousness we might have to offer. Isaiah put it in these graphic terms: "We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind" (Isaiah 64:6 NET). But instead of keeping track of our sins, God offers forgiveness for our sins. Why? So that we might learn to fear and reverence Him. When we understand the magnitude of our sinfulness, His forgiveness will mean so much more to us. But for many of us, we don't tend to think we're all that bad. We seem to think that our sins are somehow not so glaring as somebody else's. Our need for forgiveness is not that great, so we fail to appreciate the gift of forgiveness and the one who has given it.

David seemed to understand both the magnitude of his sin and the magnificence of the one who offered him forgiveness. He goes on to say, "O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He Himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin" (Psalm 130:7-8 NLT). Unfailing love and overflowing redemption. God was ready to redeem Israel in spite of their sin. He was ready to rescue them and forgive them in spite of them. That is an amazing reminder to us all that our God offers us forgiveness from every sin, large or small, through His Son Jesus Christ. That should cause me to stand in awe and reverence of Him. It should draw me to Him, not push me away in fear. He should be where I run for hope and healing. He will not reject me because of my sin, but instead will welcome me with open arms because He wants to forgive me of my sin and restore me to a right relationship with Himself.

Father, thank You for Your unfailing love and limitless forgiveness. Forgive me for not taking advantage of it and for sometimes thinking I don't even need it! If You kept track of all my sins, I would be without hope. But instead, You offer me forgiveness and healing. Never let me forget that. Amen

Looking For God.

Psalms 121; 123-125

I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help. ­– Psalm 123:1 MSG

Where do you look when things are looking down? What about when things are looking up? David looked to God. In these four Psalms, labeled Songs of Ascent, David reveals his awareness of God as his source of strength, salvation, and grace. "So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us" (Psalms 123:2 NASB). Where we turn out attention during times of testing is a great revealer of our faith and in what we put our trust. In financial difficulty do we look to our bank accounts or our ability to generate income? When we face relationship difficulties do we look for a little time to pass to get us through the uncomfortable moments? When our health suffers to we look to the wonders of modern medicine to give us hope and healing? Where do we turn our eyes in the hard times and in the good times? When all is well, do we look to ourselves as the source of our abundance and blessing – do we take credit for our seeming success?

David had been through some tough times, and it had taught him to turn to God. Tough times have a tendency to do that. But now his fortunes were about to change. He was moving from the cave to the palace. He was finally going to be the king of Israel. But the lessons he learned on the run from Saul were going to pay big dividends now that he was on the throne. He had learned that God was the source of his comfort, hope, protection, and success. "If the LORD had not been on our side when people rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive because of their burning anger against us" (Psalms 124:2-4 NLT). David knew where to look. When a child is in trouble, where do his eyes go first? To his mom or dad. When he is fearful, where does he turn his attention? To the ones who have proven themselves trustworthy and helpful in the past. That is what David had learned about God. He knew that God was trustworthy and faithful. He had proven Himself so time and time again.

We have a lot of things distracting our attention away from God these days. Sometimes we are like small children whose attention is easily distracted by the toys and trinkets of life. We stop listening to God. We stop paying attention to Him. And we stop turning our eyes to Him. Satan knows how to distract us. He turn to the TV for comfort and a false sense of happiness. We turn to the news for an accurate depiction of what is going on in the world, instead of God's Word. We turn to the "experts" of this age to gain insight into everything from money and marriage to health and fitness. To look to God is a sign of our dependence upon God. We look to Him because we know we need Him. We look to Him because we know He will provide – and He is the only one who can. So where are you looking today?

Father, teach me to look to You. Help me keep my eyes focused on You and You alone. Don't allow me to be distracted by the things of this world. They never deliver. They can't. But You can and always do. Amen

How the Mighty Fall.

1 Samuel 30-31; Psalm 18

So Saul, three of his sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day. ­– 1 Samuel 31:6 NLT

As we come to the end of 1 Samuel, we come to the tragic end of Saul's life. Abandoned by God. Driven by jealousy and fear. Characterized by disobedience and a self-centered, me-focused mindset, Saul ends his life by taking it. He is not even willing to allow God to act as His judge and executioner. Instead, he begs his armor bearer to kill him. When he refuses, Saul takes matters into his own hands again and commits suicide.

What a sad ending to a life that started out so well. He had been given an opportunity by God to serve Him and live as His representative here on earth. But Saul was NOT a man after God's own heart. He did not share God's passions. Saul was obsessed with Saul. His will held sway. His desires ruled his life and determined his actions. His death is tragic. You can't help but feel sorry for him as you read of the last moments of his life and the degrading treatment of his corpse by the enemy after his death.

Yet, at the same time we see David being blessed by God – even in his disobedience. David had been given the town of Ziglag by Achish, king of the Philistines. Located in Philistine territory, David had used this town as his base of operations as he ran secret raids back into the land of Israel, wiping out the enemies of Israel. But the whole time he was hiding his actions by allowing Achish to think he was actually attacking the enemies of the Philistines. God had not told David to hide out in the land of the Philistines. This was David's decision. But even in his disobedience, David was still trying to serve God by protecting Israel. His heart was right even though some of his decisions were wrong. And those decisions would have negative ramifications. Living in the enemy's camp was going to be costly. God had already protected him from having to fight against Israel side by side with Achish and his armies. But now, when David returned home to Ziklag, he found it burned to the ground and everyone and everything taken captive by the Amalekites. Things were so bad that David's men are ready to stone him! They had all lost their wives, children, and possessions. All because David had decided to hide out in the land of the Philistines.

But once again, God steps in. David seeks God's favor and counsel. He turns to the one he knew he could trust. And God answers. God had stopped talking to Saul a long time ago, but He was still talking to David. And He tells David to go after the Amalekites and that everything would be returned. And it all turns out just as God had said. They catch up to the Amalekites, wipe them out, and get back every person and every possession that had been taken. God intervened once again in the life of David.

David knew that God was with him. He recognized the hand of God in his life. Psalm 18, written at this same time reveals David's understanding of God's presence and protection, and His sovereign involvement in his life. All his victories in battle were the result of God's divine enablement. And success David had experienced was attributable to God and no one else. God was David's deliverer and his delight. David owed all he was to his God. His life was in God's hand. His future was in God's hand. His kingdom was in God's hand. Which is why he could say, "Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O Lord, and I will sing praises to Your name." – Psalm 18:49 NASB).

Father, may the words of David be my words. I want to give thanks to You because of all that you have done, are doing, and will do in my life. I owe all that I am to You. I am nothing without You. You have always been my deliverer, but I want You to be my delight. Amen

Rejected. Protected.

1 Samuel 28-29

Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary?" ­– 1 Samuel 28:16 NASB

As we come to the end of the book of 1 Samuel, we see an interesting contrast between the book's two main characters: Saul and David. While their paths have intertwined for some time now, we have been watching their relationship slowly unravel. They are on two separate paths, both of which are fully under the sovereign plan and direction of God. Saul's path, even though he is king, will lead to his own destruction. And in spite of the fact that David is a fugitive living in caves and running for his life, his path will end up in blessing and exaltation at the hand of God.

Saul has been rejected by God. His failure to obey God has resulted in his rejection by God. God has removed His Spirit from Saul and things have degraded to the point where Saul no longer has the ear of God. He calls out to Him, but God refuses to answer. So he is left to consult a witch in an attempt to get some kind of direction regarding the eminent attack of the Philistines. Saul is in trouble. He kingdom is on the verge of collapse and he finds God silent. Even his plan to secretly seek out the help of this woman is a direct violation of the law of God. He had publicly banned all such people, but he knew of at least one witch he could consult privately. Saul's life was marked by disobedience and compromise – twisting the rules to fit his fancy. But now he found himself rejected by God.

David, on the other hand, finds himself protected by God. Even though he has chosen to seek refuge with the enemy and is living a life of deception and lies, God is protecting him. Why? Because, in spite of his bad decision-making skills, David had a heart for God. He was a man after God's own heart. He was still trying to do the right thing. He was fighting the enemies of Israel and attempting to honor the king of Israel at the same time. But David's decision to live among the Philistines had finally caught up with him. Now that the Philistines were going to war with Israel, King Achish was going to expect David to "put up or shut up." He was going to demand that David show his allegiance by fighting against his former countrymen. David had deceived Achish into believing that he was fighting against the enemies of the Philistines all along, when in reality he had been making raids on the enemies of Israel. All the while enjoying the hospitality and protection of the king of the Philistines.

But now things were going to get interesting. What was David going to do? How was he going to bluff his way out of this one? Fortunately, God intervened and protected David. He led the Philistine military leaders to reject David's participation in their war effort. They didn't trust him. So David was able to go home without having to compromise his position or risk his own life in what was going to be God's punishment of Saul. This story is less about Saul and David than it is about God. He rewards the faithful and punishes the disobedient. God was working out His plan to perfection. He was in complete control. Saul seeks out the help of a witch, a person who consulted with the dead – in complete violation of God's command. In reality, this woman had no ability to speak with the dead. Instead, her attempts to communicate with the deceased was probably a charade perpetrated by demonic forces. But in this case, God allowed her to actually speak to Samuel or at least a vision of him. That is probably why she is so shocked. God used this unlikely source to give Saul an unpopular message: his coming death.

God would also use the military leaders of Philistia to speak to David and protect him from the very trap in which he had placed himself. God was running this show all the way. David was protected. Saul was rejected. God brought both about. He is always behind the scenes accomplishing His will in His own way. We can't always see it and don't always recognize it. But He is intimately involved in our lives in much the same way. Do you see Him?

Father, thanks for this encouraging reminder of Your presence and activity in my life. You are there, each and every day, every step of the way. Help me see You more clearly with each passing day and trust You more with every aspect of my life. Amen

Do Times of Drought Make You Thirst For God?

Psalms 54; 63

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. ­– Psalm 63:1 NLT

Do you ever have those wilderness moments – those times when nothing seems to go right? Your job may not be going as well as you would like or you may not be making as much money as you think you need. Maybe you find yourself not doing well physically or emotionally. Your marriage may be struggling or your kids may be rebelling. It could be that you find yourself alone and lonely. Your world is not as you had hoped it would be. Your life seems to be one constant struggle. What do you long for in those moments? Release? More money? Better health? A healed marriage? A compliant child? A friend?

David found himself in the desert – literally. He was running from a madman who wanted to take his life. He had lost everything – his wife, his best friend, his mentor, his job, and seemingly, his opportunity to be the next king of Israel. He had been anointed the king by Samuel the prophet, handpicked by God Himself. But now he was little more than a fugitive with a bounty on his head and no place to call his home. Yet in spite of all that had happened in his life, David had a thirst for God. He craved God more than anything else. His circumstances produced in him a hunger and thirst for God that was insatiable. Because He knew that God was the solution to ALL his problems. God was NOT just the source to supply his needs. God was who David needed and he knew it. A palace wouldn't improve David's life. An end to his fugitive lifestyle would not meet David's need. Better food wouldn't satisfy David's needs. In fact, David said, "You satisfy me more than the richest of foods. I will praise you with songs of joy" (Psalms 63:5 NLT). David was in the wilderness and was learning that God was all he really needed. Nothing more. Listen to his words: "If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection. Because you've always stood up for me, I'm free to run and play" (Psalms 63:6-7 NLT). Is that how you feel when you find yourself in a wilderness moment? When you wake up at night, unable to sleep, is God the first thing that come to your mind? Are you more grumpy than grateful? Does your soul pursue God or does it seek solutions to your problems? David's lack was a reminder of what he really needed: God. What does your lack make you thirsty for?

Father, I want to want You more than anything else. When I find myself in need of anything, may I realize that what I really need is You. Nothing can supply my needs like You can. More money only makes me less dependent on You. More peace only makes me less likely to turn to You because I think all is well. More friends give me less time for You. More material possessions only tend to make me less satisfied. What I need is You. May my soul increasingly thirst for You and nothing else. Amen

Where Do You Turn When Times Get Tough?

Psalms 17; 35

I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. ­– Psalm 17:6 NLT

David had been slandered, betrayed, hunted like an animal, abandoned, falsely accused, relegated to the life of a fugitive, humiliated, harassed, and almost killed numerous times. In other words, he had experienced some pretty tough moments in his life. Just like many of us. But what did he do when times got tough? David seemed to have a plan. He turned to God. He cried out to God. He poured out his heart to God. Sure, there were times when David took matters into his own hands, but more often than not, he turned to God. The Psalms are David's personal journal to his heavenly Father, where he shares his most intimate and intense feelings. He pulls no punches. He doesn't sugarcoat his feelings. His words are raw and honest. Because he seems to know that God is the only one who can help him in his time of distress. He doesn't waste time telling his problems to someone else. He goes straight to the one who has the capacity and the compassion to do something about it.

David asks God to "hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from an honest heart" (Psalm 17:1 NLT). He tells God "I am praying to you because I know you will answer" (Psalm 17:6 NLT). David knows he can call out to God and get a response. The size of his problems are no problem for God. The number of his enemies isn't an issue with God. David knows his God will rescue, vindicate, justify, restore, repay evil for good, set all things right, and prove David's innocence. Now, that didn't prevent David from giving God a few helpful hints as to how He might want to deal with his enemies, but at the end of the day, David was willing to let God do what was best. His job was to cry out. God's job was to respond. And David was confident He would. And when He did, David promised to "tell everyone of your justice and goodness" (Psalm 35:28 NLT). He said, "I will praise you all day long" (Psalm 35:28 NLT). There was no doubt in David's mind that God would intervene.

In a sense, you and I are living in a wilderness experience like David. We are aliens and strangers, fugitives, living in a hostile land relentlessly pursued by a merciless enemy. Yet we have been called by God and anointed with His Holy Spirit. We have been declared His heirs and children, adopted into His family. But we find ourselves constantly harassed by our enemy. He is out to destroy us. He wants us dead. Like David, we have been promised a place in the palace, but we are not there yet. We are living in the wilderness and we face constant struggles. So where do we turn? Who do we turn to when times get tough? Our finances? Our own abilities? Do we come up with our own plan of action? Do we attempt to save ourselves? David was learning that there was only one place to turn in the tough times. To God. Jesus said, "the thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness" (John 10:10 NLT). He wants to give us life in all its fullness – overflowing with abundance. But we have to turn to Him. We have to rely on Him. We have to trust Him with our lives, even in the midst of these desert days.

Father, like David, I am slowly learning to turn to You. I am learning to cry out to You. But I have a long way to go. I am still tempted to take matters into my own hands and solve my own problems. Thank You for Your patience as You wait for me to wake up and realize that You alone are my source of fullness of life. You alone can rescue, restore and redeem my situation. Never let me forget that. Amen

When Doubt Leads To Despair and Deception.

1 Samuel 27

But David kept thinking to himself, "Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing for me to do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me, and I will finally be safe." ­– 1 Samuel 27:1 NLT

Consulting with yourself can be hazardous to your health. When we stop talking to God and start taking advice from ourselves, it usually doesn't end well. And it usually starts with a little doubt. We begin to wonder if God is really going to take care of us. Is He really going to come through and accomplish all He has promised? Things start going a little south and we decide that God is either not there or He doesn't care, so we take matters into our own hands. Our doubt leads us to despair. That's what seems to have happened to David in this chapter. Listen to what he says: "Someday Saul is going to get me." David had been running and hiding for some time now. He was tired. He was frustrated. And in spite of the fact that he had been anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel, and had seen God preserve his life from Saul time and time again, he began to conclude that he was going to die someday at the hands of Saul. He doubted God's word. His doubt led to despair. His despair led to a really poor decision. He and his men return to Gath – the hometown of Goliath – the man David had killed. David is so down that his decision to go find refuge with the enemy sounded plausible and preferable to running from Saul. David seemed to forget his last experience in Gath when he had to pretend he was certifiably crazy just to escape. No, David consults with himself and comes up with the great idea to flee to the Philistines for safety.

Nowhere in this chapter do you see the name of God. David doesn't consult with God as he has done before. He doesn't seek God's advice or counsel. David had concluded that he was going to die if he stayed in the land of Judah, in spite of the promises of God and His prophet. David was human. He wasn't divine. His life as a fugitive had taken its toll. He couldn't see any other way out of his circumstance, so he made a decision. But it does not appear that his was the decision God wanted him to make. Yet in spite of his ill-conceived, self-determined plan, God remained with him. God continued to use him. David may have suffered a lapse of faith, but he was still committed to God and His cause.

David's doubt led to despair. His despair led to a poor decision. And that decision led to a life of deception. In order for David to remain in the land of the Philistines, he had to deceive king Achish into believing he was on his side. Yet David also wanted to remain true to his God. King Achish seems to have agreed to let David and his 600 warriors remain in his land because he was convinced that David had turned against Saul. Achish believed that David and his men would fight against Saul and the people of Israel because they were now sworn enemies of Saul. And David was willing to give Achish's conclusion support. He asks king Achish to give him a town in which to live with his men, and the king gives him the town of Ziklag. David uses a false humility as his rationale for moving out of the royal city. But his real motive was to use Ziklag as a base of operations to run raids into the land of Judah to fight against Israel's enemies. For almost a year and a half, David kept up a deception that led Achish to believe he was attacking Israelite cities, while in reality, David was wiping out the enemies of Israel. In fact, David was accomplishing the will of God. He was clearing the Promised Land of the enemy just as God had commanded and the people had failed to do all these years. But David was mixing his obedience with deception. He was doing God's will, but in his own way. Always a dangerous combination.

David would experience a measure of success with his plan. He would escape the constant threat of Saul. He would successfully wipe out the enemies of Israel. But he would also have to live a life for almost a year and a half. And as we will find out, his decision would ultimately result in destruction. God's will done man's way never ends well. David's compromise with the enemy was going to have negative ramifications. He may have escaped Saul, but he was not going to escape the results of his god-less decision. Seeking God's will is always the best way. Leaning on our own understanding is always dangerous. Allowing our doubt to led to despair will always result in a life of deception and end in destruction.

Father, I have seen time and time again in my life where my doubt in You has caused me to despair and then it has led me to make self-conceived plans that never end up turning out quite like I had planned. Help me to trust You at all times. But thank You that even when I doubt and make bad plans, You never leave me. You let me learn from my mistakes. You teach me to trust You more by exposing that I can't be trusted. My ways are not Your ways. My plans will never measure up to Yours. Amen

Recognizing the Hand of God.

1 Samuel 25-26

The LORD gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the LORD placed you in my power, for you are the LORD’s anointed one. ­– 1 Samuel 26:23 NLT

Life has its ups and downs. There are days when things go well, and days when things go poorly. At times we can make decisions that are totally in line with God's will and other times when we stubbornly and stupidly decide to do things our way. But as believers there is one thing that is always consistent about our lives – the sovereign presence of God. In these two stories found in chapters 25 and 26 of 1 Samuel we are reminded of God's sovereign purpose and presence in the life of David. In the story of Abigail, we see a rather hot-headed David reacting to an undeserved snub by the foolish Nabal. This wealthy man had the audacity to refuse David's request for food for his men after they had protected Nabal's shepherds and livestock in the wilderness. David's reaction was to wipe out Nabal and every other male who worked for him. He is hot and it appears that David has had just about enough of being treated like a second-class citizen. He has been hiding in caves, running from Saul, and eking out a living for he and his men for some time now. So Nabal's response pushes David over the edge. The only thing that prevented David from following through with his ill-conceived plan was the quick-thinking of Nabal's wife, Abigail. She intervenes, bringing David and his men a peace offering and pleading with David to spare Nabal's worthless life. She appeals to David to reconsider what he is thinking and not to avenge himself against Nabal. Her intervention spared David from doing something he would have regretted. But was this just quick-thinking on the part of Abigail? Or was it the sovereign hand of God directing her decisions and giving her the words to say? I tend to think it was the latter. David seems to recognize that it was God who had sent Abigail. "Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murdering the man and carrying out vengeance with my own hands" (1 Samuel 25:32-33 NLT). God had used Abigail to prevent David from acting rashly and potentially harming his future legacy.

In chapter 26 we see the hand of God again as David is presented with yet another opportunity to eliminate the threat to his life by taking the life of Saul. In a situation similar to that found in chapter 24, David is betrayed by the Ziphites, resulting in Saul and his 3,000 mercenaries coming after David in the wilderness. In the middle of the night, David and one of his men sneak into Saul's camp, finding him sound asleep (thanks to God), and David takes Saul's spear. He rejects the counsel of his own man to see this as a God-given opportunity to kill Saul, even though it was probably tempting to view things that way. Instead, David appeals to Saul and claims his own innocence. He acknowledges that God had given Saul into his hand, but that he refused to take Saul's life. David saw God's hands all over this situation. He had used the betrayal of the Ziphites and the anger-driven response of Saul to bring him right to that exact spot. God had caused Saul and his entire camp to sleep so soundly that they never heard David come into the camp. But David also knew that God was going to deal with Saul just like He did with Nabal – according to His own terms and in His own timing. David could trust God to take care of everything. He didn't have to take matters into his own hands.

God was there and David recognized it. But do I? Do I see the hand of God at work in and around my life? He is sovereign and in complete control. I don't need to panic. He prevents me from doing things I don't need to do and then does for me things I would never think to do. He uses others in my life to guide and direct me. He uses circumstances to teach me. He is in large and in charge, and I can trust Him.

Father, help me to see You more clearly and more consistently in and around me life. I know You are there, but I don't always recognize or acknowledge Your hand in my life. Open my eyes. Help me see. Amen

He Knows My Path.

Psalms 140-142

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. ­– Psalm 142:3a NASB

Even when my strength leaves me, you know my footsteps. That is how the NET Bible translates verse 3 of Psalm 142. When David was weak, feeling overwhelmed, and struggling with despair, he still knew that God was fully aware of his circumstances and was watching over him. Yet even though David knew God was aware of what was going on, it didn't stop him from crying out and pouring out his heart. He told God exactly how he was feeling. No mincing words. No pulling punches. David wrote honestly, freely, and expectantly. He knew God was listening and that God would respond.

David may not have had anybody on his side, but he knew he had God as a resource and a refuge. We need to learn with David that while others may disappoint us or even abandon us, God never will. He is faithful all the time and is there when we call on Him. We will never tell Him anything He doesn't already know, but He still wants to hear from us. Our cries to God express our dependency like nothing else. They acknowledge our need for Him and trust in Him.

Father, I don't cry to You enough. Maybe it's because I don't sense You watching and listening. Maybe I doubt that You will really answer. But I want to be like David, completely honest and open with You about my feelings and my frustrations. Not to complain, but because I believe You are listening and that You will respond. May my prayer life be an expression of my faith life. Amen

God Is On My Side!

Psalms 56; 120

This I know: God is on my side. O God, I praise your word. Yes, LORD, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? ­– Psalm 56:9-11 NLT

David was in deep trouble. He had sauntered into the Philistine city of Gath, the hometown of Goliath, who David had killed in battle, and he was wearing Goliath's sword and seeking shelter. What was he thinking? Why in the world would he run right into the enemy's hands expecting them to protect him from Saul? David had killed their champion. He had put an end to the Philistine lopsided oppression of Israel. So when he showed up in Gath, the people are shocked that David has walked right into their hands. King Achish is almost persuaded by David to provide the shelter he seeks. Maybe Achish thinks David can be turned against the Israelites and become the new Philistine champion. He could become their new secret weapon. But the people see trouble. They don't trust David or believe his story. Suddenly David sees the insanity of what he has done. He has stepped into a hornets nest. So his solution is to feign insanity. The people think he is crazy to have shown up in the first place, so he obliges them by acting like he's crazy. He puts on quite a performance, drooling in his beard and acting as if he has lost his mind. Not exactly the kind of actions to help build self-esteem. But it does the trick. It convinces Achish that David is nuts, so he releases him, and David escapes.

And sometimes after the events of this day, David writes, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You" (Psalm 56:3 NASB). Do you think David was afraid that day? I think he was petrified. He was in a predicament that looked like it couldn't end in anything but disaster, and somehow he had escaped with his life. He was still alive and he was learning to trust in God. "O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 56:4 NLT). "I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 56:11 NLT).

In spite of all that was going on around him and happening to him, David was learning that God really was on his side. And with God on his side, he didn't have to worry. God had rescued him from death that day in Gath. He may have put on a good performance, but David knew that it was God who had rescued him and not his acting ability. "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 56:13 NLT). David had made the decision to seek refuge with the enemy. His choice had resulted in a really bad situation. But God was still with him and for him. God rescued David that day. Just like He does you and me each and every day of our lives. God is on our side. He is intimately aware of every circumstance of our lives. He never falls asleep on the job or turns His back and forgets about us. He knows every tear we cry, every difficulty we encounter, every stupid decision we make, every predicament we put ourselves into. "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). He knows. He cares. He rescues. He restores. He is on your side. What can mere man do to you?

Father, I have put myself in a lot of bad circumstances over the years, but I am still here. Not because I am smart and clever, but because You are faithful and merciful. You are on my side. You are so aware of all my circumstances and You use them to teach me to trust You and not myself. Help me to see Your hand at work in my life. Give me the capacity to look back and see You at work in those moments when all was lost and failure seemed inescapable. You were on my side and You delivered, so I will put my trust in You. Amen

Betrayed, Yet Blessed.

Psalm 52

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it. ­– Psalm 52:8-9 NASB

David has just been ratted out by Doeg, the Edomite. David, on the run from Saul, has made his way to Nob, to find help from Ahimelech the priest. But little did David know that Saul's chief shepherd, Doeg, was also there in Nob. When Doeg sees that David has come there to find shelter, he makes a bee line back to Saul to give him the news of David's whereabouts. Doeg's betrayal of David would lead to the destruction of the city of Nob and the deaths of all its inhabitants, along with 85 priests. This man's desire to find favor with the king would end up costing the lives of hundreds of innocent men, women, and children.

In this Psalm, written at the very time all this was happening, David compares the Doeg's betrayal with God's blessing. Doeg meant to David harm. His words were deceitful and destructive. But God meant David only good. In fact, David compares himself to an olive tree in the house of God. The olive tree lives for an incredibly long time. I was able to see this first hand when I got the opportunity to visit Israel. In the Garden of Gethsemane you can actually see trees that go back all the way to the time of Christ. Many of the trees in the garden today would have been alive when Jesus prayed there the night of His betrayal. David says that he is like one of those trees. He is prosperous and fruitful in spite of all the harm that Doeg meant to bring on his head. Doeg represents all those who do not turn to God, but choose to seek their refuge elsewhere. "Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness" (Psalm 52:7 NLT). Doeg was putting his hope in Saul. He wanted to find favor with the king and was willing to turn his back on God to do so. He was probably hoping to get some kind of reward from Saul for squealing on David. His desire for wealth and recognition drove him to do things that were directly opposed to God. But David puts his confidence in God. He acknowledges that God is in control of his life, regardless of how things may look at the moment. What is amazing is that David is writing all this while he is running and hiding from Saul. He is not writing this from the comfort of his palace, long after Saul is dead and gone and any threat to his life is over. No, he is penning these words in the middle of the mess that is his life. Yet he is able to say, "I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it" (Psalm 52:9 NASB). God is prospering David even in the midst of all that is going on. Doeg can't stop the hand of God. Neither can Saul. David knew that the blessings of God were not circumstantial. He knew that he couldn't just look at his surroundings and assume that he was either blessed or not blessed based on what was going on at the time. Like an olive tree, David was going to go through his fair share of storms, dark nights, cold spells, droughts, and days of difficulty. But he would remain green and prosperous because God was with him. We want the prosperity without the pain. We want the fruitfulness without having to remain faithful when the fruit doesn't come as expected. The betrayal of Doeg was readily apparent, but the blessings of God are not always as easy to see. It takes faith to wait on the Lord and trust that He will bless in His time and in His way.

Father, I want to learn to see myself as a green olive tree, growing old and prospering under Your care – regardless of what I see happening around me. I want to be like David, and see Your hand at work in my life even when things don't appear to be going the way I think they should. Give me eyes to see behind the scenes that dominate my life and see You in the background, faithfully working Your plan to perfection. Amen

Rock. Refuge. Redeemer.

Psalms 31; 34

Disciples so often get into trouble; still, GOD is there every time. ­– Psalm 34:19 MSG

The Psalms are not pleasant-sounding platitudes written by some theologian sitting in the comfort of his study. They are the open and honest thoughts of a man who has seen his world fall apart. David is writing on the run. He is living in caves and hiding from Saul, who is out to kill him. Little has gone right for him lately. He is a fugitive with a bounty on his head and no place to call home. He's got more enemies than friends and more than enough reasons to be miffed at God for his circumstances. Yet what does David say?

"I trust in the LORD." – Psalm 31:6 NLT

"I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love." – Psalm 31:7 NLT

"But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, 'You are my God!'" – Psalm 31:14 NLT

"How great is Your goodness…" – Psalm 31:19 NASB

"Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his!" – Psalm 31:23 NET

In the midst of all the suffering and sorrow he was experiencing, David was learning to trust God. His affliction was actually increasing his affection for God. To David, God was a rock, a stronghold, a fortress, and a source of strength. Why? Because that is what he needed at this point in his life. He needed all those things and he was discovering that God could deliver them all. Had it not been for this period of his life, as difficult as it was, he would not be learning these truths about his God. David was in God's advanced program for leadership development. He was transforming David from being a shepherd of sheep to being a shepherd of a nation. Over in Psalm 78 we read that God "chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens. He took David from tending the ewes and lambs and made him the shepherd of Jacob’s descendants – God’s own people, Israel" (Psalm 78:70-71 NLT). David was learning to be a shepherd. But to do so, he first had to learn about the shepherding qualities of God Himself. And he would learn that best by being shepherded by God.

The more David experienced the grace, mercy, care, concern, and strong, steady hand of God in his life, the more he came to praise Him. "I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. I live and breathe GOD; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out" (Psalm 34:1-3 MSG). David's experiences were expanding his knowledge of God. "By experience you will see that the Lord is good; happy is the man who has faith in him" (Psalm 34:8 BBE). A cave in the wilderness had become David's cathedral. His pain was transformed into praise. In the process of hiding from Saul, he had found God. His pain had resulted in great gain! His life was anything but easy, but it was resulting in a deeper relationship with God that he would have found in no other way. That's why he could say, "Disciples so often get into trouble; still, GOD is there every time" (Psalm 34:19 MSG). What about you? Can you say that same thing? Do you sense God's affection in the midst of your affliction? Does your pain result in praise? Have you discovered God to be your rock, your refuge, and your redeemer? David knew his life was in God's hands. We need to discover and embrace that same truth. Yet we doubt it daily. Why? Because we look at our circumstances and determine that whatever it is we are going through CANNOT be from God. We let difficulty deter us from God instead of drive us to Him. David saw his difficulties as God's opportunity to act on his behalf. His weakness was simply a chance for God to reveal His strength. And He still wants to show Himself strong today.

Father, too often I let what I see as negative circumstances drive me away from You instead of to You. I fail to see You in the midst of life's problems. Rather than turn to You, I try to figure out a way to get rid of my problem myself. I seek comfort rather than a relationship with You. Today Lord, may I learn to lean on You. May I see past the problem and look at the solution – You. Amen