3/8/2012 9:24:34 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: Trust in the Lord
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 55:6-
Message of the verses: We will continue to look at Psalm 55 in today’s SD and just a reminder of the outline that Warren Wiersbe has in order to help us understand this psalm. He writes these words at the end of his introduction, “The psalm reveals four possible approaches to handling the painful problems and battles of life.” We looked at the first way in yesterday’s SD; “We Can Look Within at Our Feelings” which covered verses 1-5.
“We Can Look Beyond for a Safe Refuge” (vv. 6-8): “6 I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 "Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah. 8 "I would hasten to my place of refuge From the stormy wind and tempest.’”
These verses tell what David finally did in order to get away from Absalom, as he went across the Jordan River and lodged in the wilderness of Mahanaim where he would stay until the battle was over.
As believers we sometimes desire to run away from our troubles, and that is not always the right thing to do. When we look at the book of Job we see that Job could not run from his troubles because of the physical shape that he was in and in the end he finally learned what it was that God wanted him to learn, and because we have this great book in our Bible we too can learn that there are times when we as believers will suffer without a reason. David knew the truth of this from his wilderness wonderings as he ran from Saul. Michael Card, who writes all the music that he sings, wrote a song “In The Wilderness,” which was from the wilderness wonderings of the children of Israel and the song talks of what we can learn when we are own wilderness journeys.
Dr. Wiersbe points out that “When we find ourselves in the midst of trouble, our first thought is ‘How can I get out of this?’ But the dedicated believer needs to ask, “What can I get out of this.” One more point from his writings, “But we don’t need wings like a dove so we can fly away from the storm. We need wings like an eagle so we can fly above the storm (Isa. 40:30-31)”
“We Can Look Around at the Circumstances” (vv. 9-15): “9 ¶ Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go around her upon her walls, And iniquity and mischief are in her midst. 11 Destruction is in her midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets. 12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. 13 But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend; 14 We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng. 15 Let death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
“20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has violated his covenant. 21 His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.” As we look at these verses we can see the situation that was going on in Jerusalem with David and with his son Absalom. There was strife that was going on in the city and David knew this. He knew that it would come to a head and that there would have to be something done about it. David was a very intelligent man and prayed that the Lord would confuse those who were against him, namely Absalom and also Ahithophel who was David’s trusted counselor who now had gone over to the side of Absalom.
The important thing that happened was that Satan was trying to stop what the Lord had told David and that is that David’s reign would be a dynasty and the Lord had already told David that Solomon would be the next king in Israel so Satan was trying to stop all of this. We mentioned in yesterday’s SD that Ahithophel was a type of Judas in that as he betrayed David so Judas betrayed the Lord and as Ahithophel hanged himself, so Judas hanged himself. It was difficult for David to be betrayed by his friend, yet we see Satan involved in this situation to stop the Dynasty, but Satan is no match for the Lord.
“We Can Look up to God and Trust Him” (vv. 16-19, 22-23): “16 ¶ As for me, I shall call upon God, And the LORD will save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice. 18 He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, For they are many who strive with me. 19 God will hear and answer them-Even the one who sits enthroned from of old- Selah. With whom there is no change, And who do not fear God.
“22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. 23 But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.”
David was older at the time of Absalom’s uprising against him, which meant that David would not be able to go out and led his army as he did when he was young, but David could pray and he did pray all day long, which is what it means when he stated that he prayed morning, noon, and evening. David uses the covenant name for God in verse sixteen which is Jehovah. David knew that his throne was in trouble, but he also knew that the Lord’s throne was never in trouble and so he prayed and expected an answer, and the answer came. David would morn for a long time when Absalom was killed, but if he had not been killed then the whole thing could have started over again. There would be more trouble ahead for David, but David was a man of prayer and had great faith in the Lord.
Dr. Wiersbe writes something interesting that goes along with situations that are now happening in our country today: During his difficult years of preparation, David had experienced many changes, and this taught him to trust the God who never changes (Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). Absalom and his friends had lived in luxury and ease and knew very little about the challenge of changing circumstances, so they had no faith in God or fear of God. A prosperous life is an easy life until you find yourself in the midst of the storm, and then you discover how ill-prepared you are; for what life does to us depends on what life finds in us.”
Let us take a look at verse twenty-two for that verse is used by Peter in 1Peter 5:7 and Dr. Wiersbe states, “The word translated ‘burden’ (‘cares,’ NIV) means ‘that which he has given you,’ reminding us that even the burdens of life come from the loving heart of God (Ps. 33:11; Rom. 8:28). When David’s lot was a happy one, it came from the Lord (16:5-6), and when he experienced times of pain and sorrow, the Lord was still in control.”
David ends the psalm by speaking to the Lord and affirming his faith and he was confident that God would judge his enemies. It is unclear whether or not David expected the suicide of Ahithophel.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I have read in Warren Wiersbe’s writing before the statement “for what life does to us depends on what life finds in us.” That statement is so true and that is why it is important to have good character, character that is built upon the truths of Scripture. This is needed when times of trouble come and as I have mentioned on many occasions I need to learn contentment, and it is the times that Dr. Wiersbe is speaking of that help to learn contentment. Contentment to me, knowing that God is in complete control of whatever happens in my life, knowing that He will word all thing out for my good and for His glory even though many times those things do not seem good to me at the time.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Continue to learn contentment through the circumstances that God is allowing and controlling to come into my life.
2. Remember that what life does to me will depend on what life finds in me.
3/8/2012 10:26:21 AM
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