David’s Lessons for Life
Have you ever been in trouble for some problem you didn’t create? How did you resolve it? Did you thank God for helping you?
Psalms from Life experiences
The psalms David wrote often centered around an earlier occasion when God had helped him. I Samuel 21 tells the story behind Psalm 34. David frequently fell into troubles. This passage in I Samuel 21 highlights one of them. Looking back, Samuel the prophet had anointed David to be the next king of Israel. He had not taken office yet because Saul his father-in-law still held this position. Conflict arose between the two men, David and Saul. Now David had to flee to escape Saul’s wrath.
David life of war
David escaped to Gath and it became another nightmare. He had two strikes against him. First, Goliath the giant whom David had killed had made his home in Gath, a Philistine city. Second, David’s reputation spoke for itself. News traveled remarkably fast even then.The servants of Achish the king of Gath reminded the king of David’s identity. “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, ‘Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’” (I Samuel 21:11, I Samuel 18:7).
David’s Cleverness : Fakes Madness
To hear them talk, David could only be a spy trying to overthrow Gath and turn it into an Israeli city. No, he couldn’t stay here either. He would have to find some other place to hide from his jealous father-in-law. How to get out of Gath in a hurry became David’s immediate need. He decided to try something unexpected. He acted like a crazy man. It worked! Achish drove him out, not wanting to have around a man with such behavior.
David’s Early Life as a Shepherd
This last escapade of David’s could not hold a candle to what had happened earlier in his life when he still lived at home with his parents and siblings. It would be hard to forget the lion and the bear. As the family shepherd, David had once killed a bear that came too close to his father’s flock of sheep. On another occasion a lion had taken a lamb out of the flock. David had recovered the lamb and killed the lion (I Samuel 17:34-51).
David Remembered where his help came from
God had helped David survive the lion and bear attacks, and his encounter with Goliath the giant. God also had helped David escape from his jealous father-in-law who wanted to kill him, and from Gath and its king Achish. Remembering these traumatic times David now burst out with praise to God, “I will bless the LORD AT ALL TIMES” (Psalm 34:1).
David Trusted God’s Provision
How could David perform such feats? As he reflected on all his close calls, David wanted anyone reading this psalm to know a truth he had learned. God sends His angels to help those facing a crisis, particularly if they have reverence toward God in their hearts. As David put it, “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).
What David Learned
Having stated this, David also wanted his readers to understand what God had taught him about dealing with life on ordinary days. David learned God responds quickly to those having a broken heart and contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18). God listens for His children’s cries for help and keeps a watchful eye on them (Psalm 34:15). Then He meets their needs. “There is no want to them that fear Him” (Psalm 34:9). David found God had delivered him from his troubles when he asked Him for His help (Psalm 34:17). David felt God would do that for others too. God never abandons His children. “None of them that trust in Him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:22).
David’s Foundation was the fear of the Lord
David could accomplish either great feats or get the best out of an unremarkable day. Fearing the LORD became David’s foundation for life. He learned a valuable lesson. When fears overwhelmed him, David learned to turn this negative into a positive. Crying out to the LORD His God (the sooner the better) became David’s habit. God removed the weeds in his heart (His fears) and courage took root in him, producing the lasting spiritual fruit of righteousness. David would have his readers join with him and experience God for ourselves. How firm is your foundation?
Shirley Logsdon
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