The incidents of his life kept repeating themselves, move for move, fight for fight, scar for scar.”
–Ernest Haycox (Sundown Jim)
“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
–Exodus 14:14 (NKJV)
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Troublesome times are all around us. Terror, riots, shootings and threats. How can we possibly keep stress and fear out of our lives in today’s world. David had Saul and his army looking for him wanting to kill him. When Saul’s spies found where he was hiding he called out to God. Psalm 54 is a psalm of faith and gratitude. So often these two attributes go hand in hand: faithfulness and thankfulness.
1 – Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength.
2 – Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 – For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah
4 – Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.
5 – He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.
6 – I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 – For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies. (NKJV)
Life is not fair. Get used to it. When things happen; when people attack us, our response should not be vengeance but a cry for the Lord to help. God intervened in the situation that David was facing by having the Philistines attack and Saul had to leave his pursuit of David to fight. There was a time when Saul was seeking David that Abishai slipped into Saul’s encampment taking his spear and water jug.
Many of our hurts come from other people, from the spitting forth of hurtful words to the actual taking of a life. Why are people so inconsiderate, so evil. People can be ruthless and they definitely do not portray the character of God. Notice that David saw his problem, those who were against him, those who were trying to kill him. However, look closely and notice that part of his focus is on God.
Remember, it is not wrong to be angry; it is wrong to sin. “Anger is appropriate. It is God’s built-in defense mechanism to rouse us from getting run over… David places his anger in the safest place possible–God’s hands.” (George O. Wood)
“Holy God, we praise your name,
Lord of all, we bow before you;
All on earth your scepter claim,
All in heaven above adore you;
Infinite your vast domain, everlasting is your reign.”
–Ignace Franz
Do not remove your eyes from your problems, that is not realistic. We must face the difficulties and obstacles of life. However, also focus your eyes upon the Lord. Recognize and believe that God is your helper. He is the one who sustains us, who keeps us alive, who takes up our fight. Trust in Him, believe in Him, have faith in Him, and be thankful for what He has done for you and is doing for you.