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“David replied, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”” 2 Samuel 12:22-23
Although he was called a man after God’s own heart, David was far from the stellar example of spiritual or political leadership that any of us would aspire to.
His statements above, come as a result of a scandal he caused that would rival any political or religious scandal today. David had an affair with a married woman who got pregnant. He murdered her husband to try to cover up his actions.
Then, when confronted by a prophet of God, David was informed that the baby would get sick eventually die. God keeps his word. When the baby became sick David went into a state of mourning. He fasted. He prayed. He wept. He begged God for mercy, grace and forgiveness in hopes that the baby would survive. But it didn’t happen. The baby died.
Sometimes we pray and God doesn’t answer as we’d like. We pray. We plead. We beg. We bargain. We may even implement a prayer team on our behalf, but nothing helps. Here David teaches us a valuable lesson. Even in those times God disappoints us, we need to move on trusting his wisdom and knowing that as a sovereign God his way is best.
As C. S. Lewis said, “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties but peace within difficulties.” God may not answer the way we like, but he will always answer in a way that is best for us if we trust him. Difficult as it may be, when God says no we need to get up, brush the dirt from our knees, and move forward knowing that his way is best.
By the way, just a reminder, God gave David another son from the same mother. His name is Solomon. The wisest and richest man in the known world at that time. And if you look at the genealogy following David‘s line, later on from the same genealogy Jesus is born! God knew what he was doing.
“From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me. Let all Israel repeat this: From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me, but they have never defeated me. My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows. But the Lord is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.” Psalms 129:1-4
Sometimes it seems like the whole world is against you and you can’t catch a break. You try to make a difference and you’re misunderstood. You live as best you can for Jesus only to be ridiculed. You may have even been thrown under the bus a few times by those you trusted.
You read the Bible. You pray. You do the very best you can to make a difference in other peoples lives and it seems like they don’t listen and they don’t care. In fact, sometimes they turn on you and call you all kinds of names or even attack you.
I wonder if that’s how the Psalmist felt when he wrote these verses. He bore the scars of an entire life of attack, pain and rejection. He didn’t play the victim card. He was a victim! I wonder if that’s not how Paul felt when he said we are beaten down, we are persecuted but we will prevail.
As a Jesus follower, life can be a a good news/bad news situation. Life will be full of a lot of disappointments. Life will be full of a lot of pain. We will be attacked for preaching the message of Godliness to the godless.
But as believers in Jesus we have this to look forward to. Ultimate victory is ours through Jesus. So hang in there. Don’t be discouraged. It may seem dark now but there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that light is Jesus.
The psalmist ends these verses with a promise to hang onto in the upcoming darkness of hatred.
“But the Lord is good; he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.”
“He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalms 23:3
One of the most well-known psalms is the 23rd Psalm. It’s been memorized by Sunday School classes and confirmation groups, put to music and had entire books written on it.
Unfortunately, many know this psalm as a funeral psalm. Virtually every funeral or celebration of life service includes the 23rd psalm somewhere in the service. That’s unfortunate because Psalm 23 has little to do with death and much to do with life and love!
Todays verse is a great example. There are times in our lives, like now, when the trials and fears of life weigh us down. One more news report, one more doctors visit, one more call from the bill collector, one more car breaking down. We need strength! We need the power to push through.
When life gets confusing, and people let us down, by nature we look for someplace to get our strength. God, as our good shepherd, does two things to help us move forward when we don’t think we can.
First of all, he renews our strength. Like a drink of fresh cold water he revives us. Like a strong hug, he encourages us. Like a reassuring word he comforts us. He strengthens us physically, emotionally and spiritually when we rest in his arms.
Secondly he guides us to the path that we should move forward on. The voices of society and culture scream at us and tell us where we should go. But their voices conflict. The way they tell us changes with the wind. There’s no stability, no trust, no truth in what they preach.
With the strength and guidance of our good shepherd we can be strong. We can see the path clearly, although He may only show us a few steps at a time. When we have direction, we feel good about ourselves. And when we feel good about ourselves God is glorified.
“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Psalms 94:19
Sometimes when we are challenged with something, difficult we move forward cautiously. There may become a time when we get to the point of no return. We doubt our ability to succeed and worry feeds our heart.
I see doubt and worry like driving into a tunnel. It can be dark and scary, you may question whether or not you’ll make it. And then you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Then you know you can make it to the end.
Jesus is like that light at the end of the tunnel. We may worry about the future. We may fear what is in the shadows. We may question our ability or the motives of others. We may even begin to doubt Gods presence.
But when we look to Jesus we find the comfort we need to move forward. When he was on earth, Jesus constantly reminded us that he would be with us always. He promised us a comforter in the Holy Spirit who empower us through the difficult times.
In the dark shadows of a tunnel, focus on the light at the end. He’ll see you through. He won’t take the darkness away, but he will assure you that you will make it through.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 