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April 16th
Our Bible reading today is also in the songs of David...written in the years of his banishment from his home in Bethlehem and service to Saul in Gibeah.
Psalms 56, 120, 140-142.
David has been brought very low during his fleeing from Saul’s hatred. David has his family with him. He has his loyal men and their families with him. Now they are in Philistia...under the watchful eye of their long time nemesis. No real trust is here. No settled security here...just a break from running. Yes, in times of great distress David’s prayers and songs have wings to God’s throne with great earnestness. May our distresses give serious flight to our prayers to God, dear friends.
The Hebrew introduction to these songs gives interesting insight. David is in the territory of the Philistines...hiding from Saul’s 3000. David calls himself “The silent dove in distant places” ...apparently the title of Psalm 56.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “the Philistines took him in Gath...David was like a “dove” in strangers’ hands.
David had shed much Philistine blood over the years in protecting Israel from their cruel and ambitious neighbors. Now David is there, not for blood, but for peace. David was trading one enemy for another. He was committed to “not fight” his King...Saul. And if he had to fight anyone for a “safe and peaceful” retreat, then let it be a Philistine stranger.
This is a segway to our text...“Be gracious to me O God...” Psalm 56:1
David, in a distant place away from home, in need of God more than ever starts his prayer with the plea for God’s mercy...God’s grace.
And when would a man beg for God’s mercy and grace? When he was feeling guilty and needing forgiveness for his own transgressions...his own sin.
David begins his conversation with God by wrestling with his own conscience. Was it some daily sinning that was bothering him? Or was he feeling guilty for the fact that he chose to seek shelter among the enemies of his people?
Maybe both...back to the text. “All day long many attack me...the fighting is daily...” I believe that David was saying...” there is not a morning that I can awake to the thought that no one is coming against me today.” I believe that David was saying...” there is not a night season that I can lay my head down with the confidence that no one can get to me and mine here.”
Oh, friends, I'm reminded of Jesus and His daily battles with the scribes and Pharisees. I'm reminded of the constant attacks of the devil, day and night, ...temptations and tormentors. His battles were not over until He cried “It is finished” and won our salvation with His death on the cross.
Fellow followers of Jesus, our lives in and with Christ mean opposition and trials and temptations and daily fighting the good fight for the sake of the gospel...even unto death. It’s what we have been called to in Jesus...crucified with Christ, nevertheless, we live, yet not us but Christ lives in us!
In the reading today, David said that as bad as it got he would not be afraid...for God was with Him...what could man do to him...even if he did his worst. To live, to fight, to struggle, to die...all of it for the glory of God. Amen...sing on soldiers of the cross...fight on...rest... on Jesus...He won for us!
Have a great day
