Day 105
Reflection
Elisha becomes God's spokesman to a disintegrating nation, and God performs amazing miracles through the prophet as he meets the needs of his people. But despite some bright spots in her history, Israel finally falls under God's judgment, leaving Judah to continue precariously to survive, until her deportation to Babylonia follows.
It's a sad story, and yet it's not surprising given humanity's bent toward self and away from God. Turn your own heart toward heaven today by pausing to praise the Lord who loves you. He can take our fears and doubts and melt them with his joy, as David reminds us in Psalm 34.
It's a sad story, and yet it's not surprising given humanity's bent toward self and away from God. Turn your own heart toward heaven today by pausing to praise the Lord who loves you. He can take our fears and doubts and melt them with his joy, as David reminds us in Psalm 34.
Have Great Faith!
The book of Psalms was not written in a vacuum. Rather, it was penned by godly Old Testament characters who wrestled with the same day-to-day struggles we face today: fear, guilt, loneliness, anxiety, frustration.
Though many of the psalms are anonymous and their historical background unknown, in others we are given a "peek behind the scenes." Psalm 34 is one example, for the context is found in 1 Samuel 21. David anointed but not yet inaugurated as Israel's second king, finds himself the object of King Saul's jealous rage. Forced to flee for his life, David jumps "from the frying pan into the fire" by running to Philistia where he is captured and immediately recognized as the enemy who had killed Goliath! Brought before the Philistine king and fearing for his life, David fakes insanity by drooling in his beard and scrawling on the city walls. Out of pity or impatience, the king drives David out of the country, and as chapter 22 opens we are shown an incredible scene: David, the anointed king of Israel, hiding alone in a deserted cave, hated, forsaken, frustrated, and fearful for his life.
Where do we turn when emotionally we have hit rock bottom? When our friends have become our enemies? When it seems it's "us against the world"? David was there, and found his God big enough for the assignment. Whatever fears we are wrestling with today we can take it with us to Psalm 34 and leave it with God.
Though many of the psalms are anonymous and their historical background unknown, in others we are given a "peek behind the scenes." Psalm 34 is one example, for the context is found in 1 Samuel 21. David anointed but not yet inaugurated as Israel's second king, finds himself the object of King Saul's jealous rage. Forced to flee for his life, David jumps "from the frying pan into the fire" by running to Philistia where he is captured and immediately recognized as the enemy who had killed Goliath! Brought before the Philistine king and fearing for his life, David fakes insanity by drooling in his beard and scrawling on the city walls. Out of pity or impatience, the king drives David out of the country, and as chapter 22 opens we are shown an incredible scene: David, the anointed king of Israel, hiding alone in a deserted cave, hated, forsaken, frustrated, and fearful for his life.
Where do we turn when emotionally we have hit rock bottom? When our friends have become our enemies? When it seems it's "us against the world"? David was there, and found his God big enough for the assignment. Whatever fears we are wrestling with today we can take it with us to Psalm 34 and leave it with God.
Prayer
Lord God, we take comfort in your promise that you will care for us who take refuge in you. You are big enough for our needs and then some. Let us rest in that fact. And let us take David's thought as our own today: I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. Thank you, Jesus for rescuing us. Amen.
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| From the Cave to the Crown! |
