"My soul shall make its boast in the LORD... I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him, there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing... The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry...The righteous cry and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
The description to this particular Psalm is "A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed." That comment makes this Psalm especially interesting because it's evident that David was in a tight spot that could have meant his life, but he ingeniously came up with a ruse that saved his life. No mention is made of this in the body of the Psalm itself. Most people would have drawn attention to their cleverness, but not so with David. He saw God in everything and says, "My soul shall make its boast in the LORD... I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." How different than the self-confident presentations, of one's self, being championed today. In the world of impressions, we're supposed to leave something that is supposed to make people think how unafraid, capable, educated, connected and experienced we are. Certainly, we should be the best we can be with what God has given us, but let's always remember that it's only with what God has given us. We cover up a lot of reality these days with our "show" of control and confidence. The reality is, most people are fearful of a lot of things they have to face in life, at work, or at home, with the many uncertainties, demands and expectations. Why not just say so? David unashamedly admits his fears and says "This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." This isn't a false or self-effacing humility. This is an honest humility that, in it's honesty, can bring great glory to God; for it exalts God and not man. We could certainly do with more of that these days.
The description to this particular Psalm is "A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed." That comment makes this Psalm especially interesting because it's evident that David was in a tight spot that could have meant his life, but he ingeniously came up with a ruse that saved his life. No mention is made of this in the body of the Psalm itself. Most people would have drawn attention to their cleverness, but not so with David. He saw God in everything and says, "My soul shall make its boast in the LORD... I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." How different than the self-confident presentations, of one's self, being championed today. In the world of impressions, we're supposed to leave something that is supposed to make people think how unafraid, capable, educated, connected and experienced we are. Certainly, we should be the best we can be with what God has given us, but let's always remember that it's only with what God has given us. We cover up a lot of reality these days with our "show" of control and confidence. The reality is, most people are fearful of a lot of things they have to face in life, at work, or at home, with the many uncertainties, demands and expectations. Why not just say so? David unashamedly admits his fears and says "This poor man cried and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." This isn't a false or self-effacing humility. This is an honest humility that, in it's honesty, can bring great glory to God; for it exalts God and not man. We could certainly do with more of that these days.
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