“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” – (Psalms 27:13).
When David wrote the above Psalm it is clear that things were not well. Even though it might be difficult to determine the exact point in his life, we can be certain this was one of the many low moments he suffered.
From being anointed King when he was a boy and defeating Goliath (I Sam 16: 1-13), David would later on be pursued by King Saul who could not stand him. “David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh” (I Sam 23:15).
His troubles did not cease on the throne. In power David would lose his son as a consequence of causing the death of an innocent man. The prophet Nathan said, “…For this reason the son who was born to you will die” (2 Sam 12:14). Then as if that was not enough later David would be dethroned by his very son Absalom and forced into exile (2 Sam 15-19).
Sometimes we tend to picture the Christian life as one rosy experience. We even query where a Christian suffers some setbacks. Yet if anything the lives of many believers are characterized with low moments- just as David knew. What kept David’s head above the storm was the knowledge that in the end the Lord would deliver him, as He always does. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, when faced with low moments I look up to you to lift me up, for you are my Lord and Savior, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
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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!
