"Lord, how
my foes increase!
There are many
who attack me.”
Psalm 3:1
This Psalm was written by David at a time of perhaps
the greatest trial he ever faced. 2nd Samuel chapters 15 to18 tell the whole
story.
His favourite son, Absalom had started a rebellion against him and David was in danger of losing everything-his palace, his throne, his reputation, his life. Absalom even slept with all his father’s concubines in a tent on the palace rooftop (2nd Samuel 16:22). Can you imagine facing such ingratitude and impudent callousness blended with brazen public display of ungodliness by your own son? Absalom had also won over the hearts of the people (2nd Samuel 15:6, 13) and the same people who had just a few years before sung the praise of David when he defeated Goliath had now turned against him! He only had a few men supporting him.
His favourite son, Absalom had started a rebellion against him and David was in danger of losing everything-his palace, his throne, his reputation, his life. Absalom even slept with all his father’s concubines in a tent on the palace rooftop (2nd Samuel 16:22). Can you imagine facing such ingratitude and impudent callousness blended with brazen public display of ungodliness by your own son? Absalom had also won over the hearts of the people (2nd Samuel 15:6, 13) and the same people who had just a few years before sung the praise of David when he defeated Goliath had now turned against him! He only had a few men supporting him.
Those must have been very dark days for David. Fear.
Anguish. Turmoil. Heartbreak. Shame. Rejection. Disgrace. All of these would
have been the feelings David certainly would have been experiencing. There was
also a bleakness regarding his future, he had an uncertain future at best.
But in the midst of it all, David turned to God: “Lord,
how my foes increase…” He may have had other options. He had human allies like Hiram King of Tyre, one of his trading partners (2nd
Samuel 5:11) or some other Kings of some territories
around Israel whom he
could have summoned to come to his aid. David did not take those other
options. He turned to God, “Lord, how my foes increase…”
It wasn't only in this scenario in his life that David
displayed such an attitude of turning to God. He must have made it a practice
all the while when he was tending his father's sheep. Those must have been the
formative years of his relationship with God, times he spent in fellowship with
God. Remember even when he faced Goliath, David drew from the experiences he had
with God while tending the sheep (1st Samuel 17:34-37).
We must realize that only a practice of personal
communion with God helps us build confidence in Him and ensures that even in
our great trials, we have no other recourse but God Himself. The product is a
confident assurance that makes us able to say with the Psalmist:
“God is our
refuge and strength,
A helper who is
always found
In times of
trouble.
Therefore we will
not be afraid,
Though the earth
trembles
And the mountains
topple
Into the depths
of the seas,
Though its waters
roar and foam
And the mountains
quake with its turmoil.”
Psalm 46:1-3
Is this also your sincere confession? Does
your heart cry first to God in difficult circumstances rather than turning to
other options? Has personal communion with God produced in you such confident assurance
in His ability? Muse with me on the Psalms this week and practice personal
communion with God to reach a place of assurance in Him even in troubled times.