Danger is an unwelcome foe that in certain seasons invades our lives. To insulate ourselves from its invasion, we make decisions about our habits, finances, living conditions, etc… to shield us as much as possible from its ruinous effects. We endeavor daily to procure and secure as much peace and safety in our lives as humanly possible. When the foundations of our earthly fortress are shaken, we instinctively fight to preserve what we have. As children of God, there will be some challenges that we face that we can neither (a) depend on the walls of safety we have built for ourselves, nor (b) fight the perils at our gate because they are too large and strong for us. Worst, we have those in our lives that do not share in the benefits of the faith we have in Christ and would encourage us to abandon such dependency and find some other safe self-reliant way to protect ourselves from the evil at our doors.
This is what David is experiencing in our focus Psalm. His life is in jeopardy and there are those around him that are tempting him to flee from danger, thus David’s repudiation of their counsel, “In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain?’” David refused to lay aside the most important weapon he had against such danger…..his faith in God. In what other ways was faith a rescue aid to David?
By faith, God grants him insight into his enemies’ hidden plans of attack. When we focus on God, (who is our Light), he will open our eyes to our adversary’s game plan against us. It is believed the danger that David speaks to in this Psalm is his enemies slanderous words used as a piercing ammunition to destroy him, thus David says, “for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart…” Remember, when you and I are being slandered and reviled for our witness and testimony of Jesus, God will not only expose their strategies, but he will also vindicate us in his timing. It is not a matter of “if” we will be vilified, but “when” according to Peter, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (14) But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, (15) but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who ask you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (16) having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Pt 3:13-16).
By faith, God enabled him to hold fast to a heaven’s view of his earthly circumstances. When our faith is functioning on life support, we can be easily overcome with despair as we look upon the destructive nature of lawlessness in the world. Questions we ponder in our hearts will begin to fuel dread within us such as fear of the possibility that our earthly existence could be fatally threatened much like the impacts a earthquake has on the lives of its victims as the very ground they walked on is shaken and they are swallowed in. These tempters in fear say to David, “if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Such a mindset is earthly and a faith that is informed by personal experience rather than sovereignty of God. This is why Paul exhorts us to focus our hope on Christ since we are new creations and citizens of above, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:1-2). To treasure in our hearts the glory of God preserves our faith in bleak seasons of present reality. We look upon heaven with confident assurance that the answer and response to our problems lives only with God.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com