In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me.--Psalm 31:1-3
Dear Girls,
David knew where to go in times of trouble. Job 5:8 tells us this:
"But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause--
Job's "comforters" did not give him much good advice...this was the exception though. This is good advice! In times of trouble go to Him who does great and unsearchable things...marvelous things without number. Why would you go anywhere else? Let the storms rage, our refuge is in Him...to Him do I run.
The psalm starts off with David doing just this. David knows where to go. He flees to His God and begins his trial and his prayer with an avowal of faith. What a great example for us. Start off strong and place your trust in Him, knowing that He will work in it for your good and His glory. Declare your trust in Him, BEFORE you are in the midst of the really deep waters and forget His promises. Cry His promises aloud...Remind your troubled heart that He has been there in the past and will see you through even this! Remind your heart that God does not forsake those who place their trust in Him and depend on Him alone. He is a God of truth and will honor His word. Trust in God must bring consolation and deliverance because He says it will! Your faith will not be in vain! He will not deliver us because we are anything, He will deliver because of who He is. He will be true to His name. He will be true to His promises.
"Thou are not unjust to desert a trustful soul or to break thy promises." --Spurgeon
Look to the cross. Behold Him who died for you. The promise of the Father is yea and amen through the Son and stands revealed in Jesus crucified.
In verse 2 we find David asking God to bow down His ear to him and to deliver him speedily. He asks Him to be his rock of refuge and a fortress of defense to save him. I so love David and am forever grateful for the psalms! David is spoken of in the Word as a man after God's own heart. David's flesh might have been weak at times but his Spirit desired always to follow his Lord. It is so helpful to me to pray and speak to God as David does. It personalizes my relationship and draws me nigh unto Him. My God graciously and kindly comes down to me!!! TO MY LEVEL AND STOOPS TO LISTEN ATTENTIVELY AS ONE WHO REALLY DESIRES TO HEAR MY EVERY WORD!!!! Meditate on that!!! David asks for speedy deliverance...what I always want in a trial but feel I shouldn't ask. David did, so I will also. Yes, I must wait on His timing but there is nothing wrong with praying for swift deliverance and abundant mercy. Lord, you know my frame...I am but dust is a frequent prayer of mine.
David asks God to be his rock of refuge....his large, immovable, impenetrable fortress. It is here that he wants to abide continually and not just in times of trouble, but always. God is a fortress of defense to save us...He is our eternal refuge. Resort to Him continually throughout your day with whatever you are facing. Allow Him always to be at your right hand. Allow Him always to uphold you. He has become such a comforting presence in my life! So much so that when the moments come that I forget and am walking without Him, so to speak, I feel as one does who is walking along a steep precipice with no guard rails. This place of comfort did not come easy. It came through going through very high waters and allowing Him to be my support. It came from placing my trust in Him continually and learning with heart knowledge as David did that He is faithful!
Because David placed his trust in His God, He would lead and direct his path. Again not because David was anything but because God is true to His word. Those who trust in Him will not perish! Lead speaks to his hand as you walk through your journey here on earth. Guide speaks more to His word that will be a light to your path and His provision for you as you walk in the way. He not only shows you the way but provides all you need as you journey along it.
David knew all this about his God. Why? Because David had spent time with His God. He knew his character. He remembered that His God was gracious, abounding in lovingkindness, tender and faithful. He had trusted Him to deliver him in the past and was trusting Him again. Do what David did all his life. Look to Him always but especially when your eyes fill with tears and trouble. He will not forsake you. He is faithful. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If you don't feel His presence today, recall that He was with you yesterday. Remember his favor toward you in the past. Stay in His presence, meditate on His character and dwell in His mercy. Our help comes from Him. Wait for it.
He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.--Job 5:19
Love
Mom
