May 1 - 2 Samuel 22:1-51 | Psalm 18

Good morning everyone,

Wow! Kind of an easy read today. Right? Essentially both poems are the same, the one from the psalms was used as prophecy while the one in 2 Samuel was used for history purposes.

Today as you read over the words David has written in these two books, I would encourage you to go them ever so slowly, dissect each line, ponder each stanza, embrace the love, the respect and the honor David had for his God, for our God. He calls God his Rock, his Fortress, his Protection, his Shield, his Power that Saves, his Place of Safety, his Refuge and Lamp. Stop and picture each one of those places. Feel what David felt, let the arms of God embrace you as David did in those times that he reflects on in his psalm. Experiencing God as our Rock means being aware that He is our Solid foundation, in every life circumstance and trial we face. 

David also points out the many characteristics of God. He is strong, worthy of praise, He rescues us from our enemies, He’s rewarding, revealing, shrewd, powerful, strong, perfect, pure, flawless, He’s giving, gentle, preserving, living and loving. Now these attributes do not come close to capturing all of who and what God is, however, they are significant and powerful ones and a good beginning. 

I love David, I love the heart he had for God. He really, really loved God and earnestly sought to please him, but what I find most encouraging is, more than once David blew it. I can so relate to that. Even in his old age, as we will see tomorrow, the enemy was still able to push him off track, trick him into sinning. David is not just character in a story, no,  David was a real person, living in a very real time many years ago. He walked, he talked, he got haircuts, he scratched his nose when it itched, he took his sandals off before climbing into bed, he sat and laughed out loud with his friends, he hung his head in shame or in disappointment and the tears he cried, well, they were real too, leaving his cheek moist while sorrow filled his heart. Yes, David is not different than me, not different that you.  

When Avery and Makenna were little, any time we were walking past a low wall, or anything narrow and walkable, I would tell them “Walk a wall” and like a tight rope walker they’d step onto this narrow strip of cement blocks and try to balance while putting one foot in front of the other. At first, for stability and confidence, they’d always demand that I hold their hand. As years went by, less and less of my “hands on” assistance was required. First it was “No, I don’t need to hold your hand, but stand right by me … close.” “Okay" I would say. Then “No, you don’t need to stand so close, I’ve got this handled.” “Awesome, I would tell them” and they would “Walk a wall” quite boldly. It got to be where they were SO confident and cocky that I thought “I am going to challenge them.” And so, as they walked the wall I would give a tiny push to their shoulder, trying to knock them off. The first time they fell instantly. “What?!!” They thought with a shocked look on their face, but found their way back up. The next time, recognizing there may be a challenge, they prepared for it and though they didn’t fall quite so easily, they did fall, but got right back up and on course again; much faster this time. It wasn’t long before they were able to maintain their balance on the narrow path despite my best efforts to derail them. 

Where am I going with this? Well, like David, our life is a series of getting knocked down, of derails, of the enemy always pushing us off track. We must be prepared for these, it is essential we have the confidence, the trust, the belief in our God, the conviction that He is right there waiting for us, to hold our hand if necessary, while we get back up on that wall. The Bible tells us if we will but repent of and turn away from our sins, in God’s eyes, it is as if they never happened. Psalm 103:12 says “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” I would encourage you to know, really know and believe in God’s character. Know He is the real deal and wants only what’s best for you, for me, for everyone. David did know God, he knew Him well enough to know that even if he had a backslide season, even if he slipped and fell off the wall, that God would hold his hand and help him back up. Amazing love! God is right there, ready to do the same for us. I love know it that.  Amen?

Have a great day, to God be the glory.

God bless you all …