Image: an alley in the Old City of Jerusalem off Lion’s Gate street. Notice how time has worn down the ancient stone steps.
Little David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons, a nobody from a nobody-family. Then one day the prophet Samuel came to the home. Samuel instructed Jesse to round up his sons, one of whom would be anointed king. To everyone’s surprise, God chose the youngest, the no-account runt from the no-account family.
When David was anointed, “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward” 1 Samuel 16:13. Suddenly David began to experience favor and blessings. I’m convinced he noticed. When God gets involved in your life, you notice! David was no longer a nobody. He must have seen that he was blessed by God. (Even King Saul eventually came to see that God’s favor was resting on David, 1 Samuel 24:20.)
Soon David began moonlighting as a musician, learning the ways of court and crown as he played music to soothe the anxious king. Then the young shepherd killed both a lion and a bear while defending his father’s sheep. Not long after that, he killed Goliath and was swept into Saul’s army, where he proved to be the greatest military strategist Israel would ever see. In a short time, young David had married Saul’s daughter Michal, and had become best friends with Saul’s son Jonathan. And Saul knew God was going to take the crown from his family and place it on the head of David (1 Samuel 20:31).
Saul could not allow that; he was filled with jealousy and murderous hatred for a young man must have once loved.
And this is where David’s real education in the things of God began: while living on the run as a fugitive.
For years, King Saul pursued David. Some say David was on the run for four years. Others say he lived as a fugitive for as many as fifteen years. The point is, the psalmist and future king of Israel received a thorough schooling in the struggles of being hated, unjustly accused, and in constant danger of betrayal and murder. David knew how it felt to wake up every morning with a target on his back. And David knew where to go with his fear, his dread, his anxiety. He took it all to God.
The book of First Samuel records the story of the Ziphites. They knew David was hiding in their region and they went straight to King Saul and sold him out. Notice how specifically they guided Saul to the exact location:
“Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon? Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand” 1 Samuel 23:19-20.
David had ears everywhere. He was smart and savvy and had cultivated allies inside the palace. Everything was reported to him. And besides the ongoing feelings of rejection and hurt (after all that I have done for Saul, this is how he repays me?), David must have felt fear and dread too. And who are these Ziphites that think nothing of betraying the future king of Israel? But David took all of these difficult emotions to God.
“Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God, give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul. They have not set God before them. Behold, God is mine helper. The Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies, cut them off in thy truth. I will freely sacrifice to thee. I will praise thy name, O Lord, for it is good. For He hath delivered me out of all my trouble. And mine eye hath seen His desire upon mine enemies” Psalm 54:1-7.
There is a simplicity to this. You have bad feelings: take them to God in prayer. Give Him your emotions, your fear, your hurt, your anxiety and dread. Take all of it to the Lover of Your Soul.
And do the same with good feelings. When you are happy, grateful, thankful, and at peace–give that to God also. Talk to God about the good times. Give Him your gratitude, whether it is mild or overwhelming. Give Him credit for the joys. “Every good and perfect gift comes from above” James 1:17.
Talk to God about your life. Give Him your fears and your joys, your failures and your successes. Commune–and communicate— with God every day. Spend time with Him. Give Him thanks. Give Him praise. Give Him your hurts and fears. (Doesn’t that sound like David’s advice? Are these not the lessons of the psalms, half of which were written by King David?)
So much of the Bible points to this simple truth:
“Just as you have trusted Christ to save you, trust Him too with each day’s problems. Live in vital union with Him” Colossians 2:6.
AΩ.
Image from: https://jesswandering.com/10-beautiful-places-to-visit-in-israel/
Household Words: 