“I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” – (Psalm 91:2).
If you talk of someone who in his life knew of woes there is one person. King David was once overthrown in a coup d’état by his son in a long chain of a life beset with unfortunate events (2 Sam 15). At one point King Saul sought to kill him by hurling a spear (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). In another instance tragedy befell him when he lost a son (2 Sam 12:18).
Just as he thought he was settled, his kingdom was overthrown and overrun 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.
How did David respond to all these upheavils? Sometimes in times of trouble there is a temptation to blame God for all our woes. For some, 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, here, is that David had no second guessing as to 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.”
Today, whatever troubles any might be facing, let us seek the refuge of the Lord, as was King David, who had more than a fair share of them.
Prayer for today: Lord father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, through whatever difficulties I face, may I like King David know where to run to, for you are my refuge, my hope and trust is in you, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
