“I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” - Psalm 91:2 (NIV).
King David had just been overthrown by his son in a long chain of a life beset with unfortunate events (2 Sam 15). Once King Saul had sought to kill him by hurling a spear at him (1 Sam 19). But when that failed he dispatched him to the battle field hoping he would fall to the sword, “Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines” (1 Sam 18:24).
David lost his best friend Jonathan in a fierce battle against the Philistines that took also King Saul’s life (1 Sam 31). Once tragedy befell him when he lost a son (2 Sam 12:18). And here his kingdom had now been overran by his own son.
As David fled from the rout of Absalom, a “man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei and he cursed as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel” (2 Sam 16:6-7). Talk of hitting someone when there are down.
Sometimes in times of trouble there is a temptation to seek escape short cuts to apparent victory. One might be tempted to even blame God for all his woes. There is never short of advice, some of which has poison hidden within. The lure to start consuming addictive substances that can suppress the pain at least momentarily is ever present. But what is instructive in all these pitfalls, David had no hesitation where to run.
This was best characterized in Psalm 46, which he wrote, “God is our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Prayer for today: Lord father God of creation, of heaven and earth, through whatever difficulties, may I like David know where to run, for you are my refuge, my hope and trust!
Related upcoming events
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
