One the great enemies of faith, is self-reliance. Sin is present when our hearts are lifted up in self-assurance in our possessions and abilities, which is not of the father, but of the world (cf. 1 Jn 2:16). Such pride turns our focus away from the Provider, and counts our provisions which cultivates a false sense of security within us. If this trend becomes a pattern of our hearts, our self-confidence will choke out trust in God like thorns growing among wheat. David succumbed to the enchantments of pride in the numbering (i.e. census) the people of Israel (2 Sam 24:2-3). While his commanding general (Joab) was reluctant to carry out these orders, he obeyed the king. At the end of 9 month period, he gave his report to David that there were about 1.3 million men who could serve in the army out of Israel and Judah. Here as some observations from the closing verses of this Psalm that emphasizes the importance of reliance on God and being mindful of who all the glory for our lives belongs to.
Dependency of God is our firm foundation (v6-10). The benefits of trusting in God is to experience his favor operating in our lives. No matter the winds of trial that travail us, we will be unmoved because our faith in God who preserves us, not human strength (cf. Mt 7:24-27). This is why David says, “By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong;” Due to his prideful act, he describes experiencing removal of God’s blessing and protection (favor), thus, “you hid your face; I was dismayed.” What should we learn from David’s here?
- The consequences of our sin does not impact us alone, but others in our lives. God disciplined David by sending a plague that wiped out 70,000 in Israel who had no vote in his prideful decision.
- Mercy through forgiveness is always available for God children……..always. One of the wonderful attributes of David that we should model was he practiced acknowledgement of his sin (confession) and sought mercy from God continually. After the census was completed, David was arrested by received by conviction, “But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly” (2 Sam 24:10). Genuine confession and repentance turns our affections from our provision and back towards our Provider which is life-giving (2 Cor 7:10). Even when we start to sink in the choppy waters of our sin, Christ is there to lift us up when we cry out for him, thus David’s plea, “To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy” (cf. Mt 14:28-31).
Trusting in God renews our hope and restores the joy of our salvation (v11-12). We are given this confidence by scripture that no matter how entangled and deep we are in sin, it is never too late to turn back to God. Why? Because it is HE who must pull us out of it and set our feet back on firm foundation (i.e., Christ). Our only role in the midst of it all is to cry out to God. Like the Prodigal Son, we (by Spirit) come to our senses, get up from the mud pit of shame and go back to our Father (with haste). Here is the good news: all the works of restoration are completed by God on our behalf. Our part in this process is to ask, seek, and knock……and the door of mercy through forgiveness is open to us. You see these truths shining in David’s rejoicing, “You have turned for my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, (12) that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Amen and Hallelujah!
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D.
www.springoflivingwaters.com