Published 12/23/19
Read Psalm 27:9-10
"Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in."
Reflect
What are all things the LORD does for David? What's the one thing that David asks? Why does David ask this?
There's an old joke that asks, "What happens when you play a country song backwards?" Answer: "You get your truck back, you get dog back, and you get your girl back." Actually a lot of popular music of all genres deal with coping with loss. Some songs express a quiet understanding, others a defiant rage against a society of "have's" and "have-not's". Maybe the saddest are those where the singer has just given up all hope.
Did you know songs like this have existed for thousands of years? Let's look at one written by singer/songwriter/king David. The song has a simple title: Psalm 27.
Though we mentioned that David was at one time a king, his life was by no means easy. As the youngest of many brothers he often got overlooked and forgotten. At one point he performed a great service for the kingdom, and as a result earned the undying hate of the current king. This king, Saul, pursued David all over the countryside.
And if you think becoming king makes you safe, think again. David had many children, and many sons who had their eye on the throne. Near the end of his life David faced a coup where some of his friends joined forces against him. David's wasn't an easy life.
Yet, to read this song that he wrote, it's evident that life hadn't beaten him down. Though there is a lot of mention of enemies and foes, there's an overwhelming note of hope all through the song.
"Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear. Even if they attack me, I remain confident" (27:3). Wow! We've already seen that these aren't hypothetical situations for David, so where did his confidence come from. The very first words of his song tell us:
"The LORD is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The LORD protects me from danger--so why should I tremble?" (27:1). And later he says, "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close" (27:10).
Only a relationship with God, like David had, could ever hope to bring joy and hope to a life like David's. And whatever you're going through today, add some joy and hope to it by adding a relationship with God.
Pray
Lord, help me to see people and circumstances from Your perspective. Amen.