Psalm 55 – Argument & Anguish

It’s Holy Week. Some call it Passion Week. Today (Tuesday) is known as the “Day of Argument”. It was the day when Jesus’ authority was challenged in the temple. It was the day he confronted the Jewish leaders, the day of the Olivet Discourse (The Great Eschatological Discourse), and the day Judas agreed to betray Jesus.

I can’t help but think about these confrontations as I read David’s words about the “stares of the wicked” and those who revile him in their anger:

At the voice of the enemy,
at the stares of the wicked; 

for they bring down suffering upon me 

and revile me in their anger.

My heart is in anguish within me; 

the terrors of death assail me.

Fear and trembling have beset me; 

horror has overwhelmed me.

I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! 

I would fly away and be at rest.

Psalm 55:1-6

For David, there was much anguish and terror in this season. For Jesus, we know there was much anguish as he considered the gravity of his journey later in the garden. And just as there was a moment of surrender for Jesus when He submitted to God’s will, we see David’s surrender to the reality of resting in God’s rescue and peace (vs.6)

Then in verse 22, David reminds us again of God’s “upholding” and sustaining power:

Cast your cares on the LORD 

and he will sustain you; 

he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22

On the cross, what might have seemed to an observer, to be the greatest fall… of the one we know to be the most righteous… to those who believe, became the greatest victory.

David knew this truth. Not yet framed with the exact path in which Christ would give up his life, but certainly with the surrender and trust that it represents. The full absorbing of the reality that even in death, we find victory.

David understood the paradox in our journey. The one that we so easily forget… that in our worst moment, thru our greatest trial, at the time of our most horrifying fear, we can find peace. Most of what we know, feel, and see is temporal. God is sovereign, His love is eternal, and His grace is enough.

Psalm 23 - Want

This might be the most well known psalm of all. It’s used in a variety of ways. Jews might traditionally sing the Psalm in Hebrew at the third meal of their weekly Sabbath. Most Orthodox Christians recite the Psalm prior to taking communion. And we’re probably most familiar with it being read at the burial site of a funeral.

The verse that stands out to me today is the very first.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” - Psalm 23:1

It’s an easy jump to think about Jesus as shepherd. There is not only authority in the role of shepherd, but a responsibility and ownership of care. A shepherd leads to pasture, keeps the sheep from harm, and stays with the sheep at all times. It’s the “shall not want” part that probably throws most of us off.

Here’s the problem: We want. We struggle with contentment. We so often look for what’s next that many times we don’t even see what’s now. Our want easily turns to need. And needs, when provided for, feel like entitlements. I think this has a lot to do with our starting point.

The phrase “I shall not want” comes from the Hebrew word “chacer”. It literally means, “to lack or be abated, bereave, decrease, fail, to make lower, want.”

In it’s definition we find that it’s not talking about our desire for “stuff”. Instead it’s talking about the provision of the Shepherd. And it's not just the physical. It's the spiritual, the emotional, and the relational. And what he provides is not less than what we need. It is sufficient. It is not “less than”. It is not lacking. It’s saying that we will not be IN want.

And how does this happen? Scripture reminds us that He walks us through the journey. He leads us to pasture. He leads us to waters (vs.2), down paths (vs.3), and through valleys (vs.4), in every season and in every circumstance he is there. In Him, we can know we have what we need. We do not lack. In simply having confidence of His presence, we can find comfort.

And here’s a comforting thought. In the final verse it says that, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me, all the days of my life.” The word goodness literally means good in the “wildest sense” and mercy meaning more obviously “kindness” or love. But the less obvious word “follow” (the Hebrew “radaph”) can be translated “to run after, to chase, or hunt”. What an aggressive promise.

Father, thanks for hunting me down with your goodness and mercy. Thank you for pursuing me, even when I run. Thank you that you are there. As David reminds us in Psalm 23, thank you for restoring my soul, thank you for being my comfort. Amen.

2 Sam 5 - Too Young

I used to think “30” was old. Didn’t we all? Now, as I stare down 36, I still feel like a pup. I know that’s not young, but when I think about all that others have done throughout their life and the wisdom that comes from being 50 or 60 years old… I know I have much to learn and much to experience.

“David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. – 2 Samuel 5:1-2, 4-5

This chapter reminds us that “30” is not too young. It was obviously a prime age for David. It was a prime age for Jesus as well. My wife titled a chapter “30 is the new 50” in her most recent book, “Ms. Understood”. What she meant by that was that we’re not too young to start making a difference. There seems to be a special call on our generation like never before. Consider current educational methods, communication, technology, and combine them with our passion to make a difference… it’s an amazing time to be alive, especially as a follower of Christ.

As Paul put it in his first letter to Timothy, Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” No matter our age, as we seek to make a difference, let’s remember the “how” is just as important as the “what”.

1 Sam 27 - Back to Gath

Apparently this is a highly debated chapter in scripture. Many believe David had given up and made a bad (or at least selfish) decision here to head back to Gath. And that he was giving up. I just don’t see evidence of that. And it seems like weird timing to do that after such a cool scene and seemingly victorious effort in chapter 26. Instead I see some great insight to the heart and mind of David… and even more so, the fruit of a journey of faith.

“But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand." (1 Sam 27:1)

It didn’t say God led him or told him. It simply tells us David “thought to himself” (more closely translated ‘said in his heart’). And he was right, Saul stopped his pursuit. Verse four says, “When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.”

Typically when I hear that inner voice, especially when it turns out to be right, I attribute it directly to hearing God. I wonder if in this scripture we don’t see the result of David being so close to God, so used to hearing His leading, and knowing His heart so well, that he began to think and in this moment choose His way without even hearing it. Maybe that’s the journey. Maybe it’s ours too.

Weird thought that is not a theological claim, simply a weird thought: It makes me wonder that if we don’t make the right decisions or have the right faith attitudes, if God doesn’t always take us the way of some form of trial until we eventually learn the right things that increase our decision making ability and/or faith attitudes. Each time David waited on God, it left him inches from Saul, which was a part of His refining plan. Once his faith was at a place in which he intuitively made the right decision, he found peace. If we remember, Gath was the place God led David in the first place. But then, instead of acting civil and being the man God he was, he acted insane.

He had now come full circle. Physically and Spiritually.

This time, David was armed with a greater level of God’s wisdom. And his faith was stronger. Immediately he took a humble posture before Achich. He let him know he was no threat to him and his intentions were pure.

“Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” vs. 5

And Achish gave David what he requested. Once at a place and under an authority in which David felt he must act crazy. Now, under a different strategy, he lives as a welcomed citizen. I’m not going to take this so far as to wonder if he’d of acted this way the first time if all the following experiences were unnecessary, but it most certainly makes me think about God’s refining through our experiences.

I’m so encouraged today to see God’s leading and David’s maturing as he literally learned to “flee” eminent danger in the Lord, take major risks in the Lord, remain faithful under any circumstance in the Lord, and eventually find a season of peace through it.

David went through it all. He experienced it all. God took him there. He didn’t become bitter or negative, never expressed (to our knowledge) confusion instead he held the banner high and led others through his trial. Oh yeah, and eventually he would become King of Israel and his lineage would be that of Jesus.

Lord, I say often that I know your plan is bigger than mine. I’m reminded this morning how true that really is. I know that it’s not about me. Literally nothing is. Nothing corporate and nothing personal. If our pursuits are right, it’s always about you and your Glory, not ours. You are amazing. Your ways are divine. Thank you for your greatness. Amen.

1 Sam 21 - Overreacting

“David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.” 1 Samuel 21:12-13

What were the words that David took to heart? I guess they were the words of the song that was sung:

“But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances:" 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?" 1 Samuel 21:11

Apparently it wasn’t so much their words as it was what the words were revealing. David had just dealt with the ego of Saul. It was the same song that pushed him over the edge and made him so threatened by David. He feared the same could happen for Achish.

I don’t know if it was wise or cowardly for David to act insane. Either way it worked out for now.

The thing I’m reminded of today is in how we respond to situations or a perceived threat. One comes down to perception and the other comes down to reality. Unfortunately as humans, they are typically one and the same. There was obviously a concern that Achish could have been threatened by David and would responded harshly. He certainly could have quickly jumped into the chase after David’s life as well. Might have even been a good political move for him in the eyes of Saul. But would that be an appropriate response? Certainly not. David did not care for his throne. He was no threat. Yet the reaction would be very real and do much damage.

So here’s my strange connection. I’ve been working on how I “react” to things. It’s no surprise to those who know me well that I get pretty intense too easily. I like to call it “passion”, because it lessons my responsibility to deal with it (wink). But reality is it’s overreacting, maybe a lack of discipline, and probably exposes some areas of personal insecurity. Fortunately, no one has lost life because of it yet. And while it still rears it’s ugly head every now and then, I think I’m getting better at it. I’m glad 1 Samuel 21 is here today. Good stuff for me personally. I know there is other truth found throughout this chapter as well… and that God did not inspire these words to be written to deal with my personal issues, but that’s the thing God put on my heart today. Quite a journey, eh?