“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” - Psalm 34:4 (NIV).
Every life has a host of experiences that can be used to navigate it through difficult circumstances. A seasoned surgeon is one who has perfected his trade from carrying out many operations. Drawing upon past experiences such are used to manage new challenges.
Once when as a young lad David was called up by his father to deliver food to his seven brothers on the war front he was surprised when he discovered that their war plans had been frustrated by a Philistine General called Goliath ( I Sam 17). All of Israel stood frozen by the giant who was taunting her. “Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other. On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified” (1 Sam 17:10-11).
Now while tending after his father’s sheep David had had an experience where he battled with no less giants. God had rescued him then, and why would the same God not deliver Israel as well. Drawing on this experience he walked up to King Saul and pleaded to fight off the giant. Saul looked at David and how young he was and doubted. David was not swayed. “But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (verse 34-37).
Using his past experiences David took on and delivered a fatal blow to Goliath. Israel was saved. It deserves here to ask where David drew his courage from. As already narrated he had seen God before carry him through impossible situations. Why not this one!
Every life, that matters, has once faced a lion or bear. It could have been a lion that sought to throw one out of a job. It could have been a bear that sought to steal one’s property. There are many lions and bears we face in life. But then the Almighty God delivered one out of the terrifying paws of such.
Using this experience whatever the challenge any of us may be faced with let us be like David and recall how God rescued us from those paws. He will do it again. After all, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of creation, as you delivered David from the jaws of lions and bears, I look back and see how you have delivered me too through impossible situations, and so I pray that whatever situation is before me, I am not afraid for you will deliver and bring victory to your child, because of the faith I have in you, the living God of Israel!
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
