In the face of disaster

…Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them. 1 Samuel 23:26b

It didn’t look good; in fact, it was going from bad to worse. David, through no fault of his own, had riled the head of the government. He was being targeted for termination. The reason? Jealousy, pure and simple.

David had gotten some “breaks”; he’d made a lucky shot that brought down a giant; and now the entire nation was drawing to him. David’s new “privileged” status infuriated the king. David must die. Soon.

Several attempts to snare the man hadn’t succeeded. Even the king’s own son favored David and gave him a head’s up on the king’s latest scheme to do him in. David packed his bag and went into hiding, from wilderness to wilderness.

While bugging out in the hills of Ziph, the inhabitants ratted him out to the king. He escaped to the wilderness of Maon; the king found out; and soon David and his men were surrounded by government assassins. It didn’t look good.

In the middle of this mess, David turned to God. Psalm 54 was conceived in that tight place.

“Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your power. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me and violent men have sought my life; they have not set God before them” (verses 1-3).

David went to the Source; he didn’t embellish his need; he stated his case plainly.

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul. He will recompense the evil to my foes; destroy them [silence them] in Your faithfulness” (verses 4-5).

Instead of withering in fear, David proclaimed the Lord as his helper and sustainer. Instead of obsessing over the evil done against him, he looked in faith to the One who would silence those who were seeking to silence him.

“Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me from all trouble, and my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies” (verses 6-7).

David, surrounded by those who sought his death, stood firm on the unseen Bedrock he had grown to trust. In the face of certain doom, David proclaimed that his hope and future was in God: I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord.

He defiantly declared his end before it happened. He has delivered me from all trouble, and my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies. He chose to see salvation rather than defeat. I believe he would have uttered those words with his last breath, if need be.

First Samuel 24:26 sets the scene for this Psalm: …Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them.

And then, a seemingly unconnected interruption: But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.” So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape (verses 27-28).

David was delivered—not by a mighty sign or wonder; not by the power of his own bow or sling; not even by a spirit of confusion sent upon his enemies—David was delivered by a distraction!

• The king sought to kill David
• David hid
• David was ratted out
• David was surrounded
• David prayed
• David was delivered.

Whatever you are facing, remember that nothing—not jealousy, nor hatred, nor even governmental might—can squelch or defeat the one who fixes his faith on the living God.

Dorothy

This is the victory that has overcome the world: even our faith. 1 John 5:4b