I cry to you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
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.
Psalms 142:5-7
I can just hear and feel the anguish of the psalmist here. Sometimes we can feel so bullied, so utterly defeated that we do not know where to look. Feeling desperate…with nowhere to go, it seems that our last resort is to call upon God for deliverance. But then, the psalmist motivates himself and suddenly knows that God will deliver him from his dilemma.
There is such trust in David’s words. Can you feel it? Can you almost feel God’s loving care ready to assist David through his trial? Often times, David found himself in difficult circumstances, either of his own making or by another’s jealousy. David could have blamed God for his situation, but when he cries out passionately to God for His divine intervention, we know that God will be there to rescue him.
Think of Peter, he was another passionate man that often spoke or reacted without thinking of consequences, but Jesus knew Peter’s heart and knew Peter would lead the disciples once He was gone. Jesus saw beyond the rash actions, the quickness to judge and this speaks to me! The Holy Spirit reveals different aspects of God in people to us when we are ready to accept them, when the revelation will have the most impact on our life. This is discernment, this is trusting in the gifts God has bestowed upon us.
To some of us He gives us faith. To others hospitality, teaching, encouragement, praise. We are not to have every one of them, nor are we to be jealous of other people’s gifts. Get rid of jealousy. It takes too much time away from us and from God. God is jealous for us to have a relationship with Him, not with social media, with our computers, with our televisions or whatever would take us away from time that is spent with Him. We are to use these things as tools to reach the lost and to reach those who have become lost along the way. We all have done this. We all have strayed away, and then we come back. Just as David had. God loved him no less, maybe even more, when he strayed, then came back.
David was not perfect in his life as a man, husband, father, son. But his love, faith, and trust in God was absolute. He knew when he could bargain with God and when God’s word was final. There is no denying the bond these two had. God loved His son, Solomon, as well. Before Solomon allowed his wives to corrupt him, he had a great relationship with God. Oh, for Solomon’s wisdom in our day! I am sure someone would find a way to interfere with his words.
My prayer for those who read this today is that no matter where you are in your walk—if you have not strayed recently or have strayed so far away—know that God loves YOU. God is standing at the door and knocking. He wants to keep His children safe and with Him. Are you one of His? If not, please pray this prayer with me…
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Heavenly Father, I choose Jesus as Lord of my life. I humble myself in repentance and turn away from ungodliness. I choose to forgive those who have wronged me. I offer myself as a servant of the living God. I rejoice that through the blood of Jesus all my sins are forgiven; through the blood of Jesus I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil; through the blood of Jesus I am sanctified, set a part to God. I rejoice in my Lord and my Redeemer, amen.
