“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” - Psalm 62:5-8 (NIV).
King’s David’s life was full of turmoil. Pursued by King Saul, who felt threatened by his early battle success he started out by being on the run. Pushed into exile, once David, for a cover, pretended to be insane; “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 21:13). When all appeared over, just as he was settling down, he was overthrown by his son in a palace coup.
David faced trials over and over again. Yet from all the headaches he faced, he would write, “May the name of the Lord answer you when you are in distress, may the name of the God of Jacob protect you” (Psalm 20:1). His faith was steadfast.
Psalm 23 is a testament of where David knew to find rest in the midst of turmoil. As he wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides quiet waters, he restores my soul” (vv 1-3).
Just as with David any of us may chance upon troubling situations that leave us restless. The life we live is not without challenges, which is the reality of living here on earth. The Lord clearly warned the disciples of the days ahead, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Through the life of David the Lord’s we see where to find rest in the midst of upheavals. “But I trust in you Lord, I say, You are my God…How great is your goodness which you have stored for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men of those what take refuge in you” (Psalm 31: 14-19).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, throughout all life’s trials and turmoil, my heart is steadfast, because I trust and find rest in you, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
Related upcoming events
-
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!
