Do you ever wish to just have some stability in your life? Personally, I hate change. I prefer the status quo. I tend to be more methodical in life because then I tend to feel more secure. There are no unexpected surprises that way. I feel insecure when I do not know how to do something that is new to me. But as Francis Chan states, if life were stable, we would never need God’s help.
David in the Old Testament did not have stability in his life, when he had enemies pursuing him and trying to kill him. His opponents hated him. David had his life threatened more than once.
Saul was an anointed King of Israel, but ended up being rejected by God due to his disobedience in God’s instructions. Saul became self-centered, self-willed, and self-justified his actions rather than repenting to God for his disobedience. Saul became proud and infatuated with himself. Then his jealousy, insanity, anger and fear towards David grew in intensity due to David being anointed king by Samuel, replacing Saul as the king as stated in 1 Samuel 15:23: “For rebellion is as the sin of divination and presumption is in iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”
But God rescued David each time Saul and others tried to kill David, and protected his life. Psalm 18:1-15 and Psalm 144:1-8, both state about how God saved David from all of his enemies and Saul. Both of these Psalms are almost a duplicate of 2 Samuel 22, and are a song of praise to God for the safety He always provided David when he was in danger from various adversaries. David cried out to God for help, and God responded.
Psalm 18:1-2: “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and stronghold.”
Psalm 144:1: “Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
The word for love, used in Psalm 18:1, signifies tender intimacy. David’s choice of the word love in this instance expressed commitment, unswerving devotion, close fellowship, and supreme love for God. The Lord was not merely a genie in a bottle to just pull out and demand a wish when times were bad for David and he was no coward. David’s complete trust in God wiped out fear.
Don’t we all dislike the bumps in the road and want everyone to like us? We try so hard to please everyone and be everything to all people. When David was confronted by his enemies he used the descriptive word “calamity” (Psalm 18:18 ESV), which means a catastrophe, tragedy, affliction, and misfortune. The HCSB uses the word “distress.” The MSG uses the word “chaos.” But David says the LORD was his support.
God orchestrated events in order to keep David’s life safe and protected. David knew God would take Saul’s life at His appointed time. David had the opportunity to take his own revenge and take matters into his own hands, but didn’t out of obedience to God.
We find in 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 18, and Psalm 144, David proclaiming praise back to God for being his:
- Shield
- Strong refuge
- Deliverer
- Rock
- Stronghold
- Saving David from violence
David wasn’t always innocent, but in this instance, he was.
In 2 Samuel 22:41, David states: “You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them.”
How did David learn to be such a skilled soldier?
David said in Psalm 18:34: “He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” Psalm 144:1b stated: “. . . who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
God did the following for David to enable him to win in combat:
- God heard David’s cry for help – Psalm 18:3; 6-“. . . He heard my voice . . .”
- God caused an earthquake and storm to take place at just the exact and right moment. Psalm 18:7-15
- God rescued David. Psalm 18:3b; 17-19.
- God rewarded David for his righteousness, integrity, and faithfulness. Psalm 18:20-24.
- God trained David for war. Psalm 18:34
- God gave David the shield of salvation. Psalm 18:35
Priscilla Shirer has said: “Sometimes the greatest miracles God does are not in our circumstances, it is in our minds.”
I must own for myself David’s words in Psalm 18:30: “This God – his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”
I don’t always view stressful situations as another training ground God is sharpening my skills to learn. God’s school of endurance has come in many forms throughout my years of life. God’s purpose is always to make us draw deeper into His Word and to grow in tender intimacy with the Lord that gives testimony to His grace and mercy working in our life.
Question: Do you fully understand the stability you have in Christ?
Question: What song of praise can you sing back to God today, as David did in 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 18, and Psalm 144, for being your rock, fortress, deliver, shield, and stronghold?
Listen to Benton Brown’s “God My Rock” Lyric’s Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0b2GFdxuVk