PSALM 55:22: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (ESV)
PSALM 56:8-11: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (ESV)
OBSERVATION: What do I do when I am faced with opposition in life? These two excerpts are from Psalms that David wrote while he was under attack. In the early years of his life, while Saul was still King, David faced attacks from various enemies, including Saul himself. On the run, David wrote these Psalms in the midst of his distress. When you read them in their entirety you will find that David was very much like us. He experienced times of fear, worry, and feelings of abandonment. There were times when his faith wavered and he wondered if God was still with him. Yet, in all of these things there was something that pulled David back to his position of faith and trust. What was it?
David knew God! He did not simply know Him from stories and accounts he had heard. David knew God in an intimate way. He knew God through hours of meditation and reflection. He knew God through his experiences of personal deliverance in times past. He had experienced the faithfulness of God in his life. This became an anchor for David. It can also become an anchor for us. We will face times when it seems like all of life is against us and God has forsaken us. It is in these times that we need to remember the past provisions and experiences of God’s faithfulness in our lives and – “Cast our burdens upon the Lord!” He will sustain us! He will not forsake us!
David also knew God’s Word! It is through God’s Word that David understood the nature of God. God was for him, not against him. God intimately cared for David, keeping record of all his tears and all of his prayers.. How did David know this? He proclaimed – “…In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.” It was through God’s Word that David gained his strength. The Word of God had been hidden in his heart and no one could steal this from David. We too can experience this strength and confidence as we hide God’s Word in our hearts. It is like laying up treasure and grain for a coming drought. When the drought comes – we will be sustained, for we have His storehouse in our hearts!
I have been young – and now I am old. In all the years I have been walking with the Lord He has never left me nor forsaken me. I do not receive “instant answers” every time I pray. However, I always receive “all sufficient grace” to trust Him, wait upon Him, know Him, and to overcome fear and doubt. When the victory comes, and it does come – I stand in awe of His love and faithfulness. His Word is strengthened and confirmed in my heart. I am lifted above my circumstances and united with Him in His Peace! This is the blessing and heritage of those who name the Name of Jesus, who call Him Lord! This is the blessing and heritage of faith in Christ!
Lord, thank You for Your Faithfulness in my life. Thank You that You are watching over all the cares and concerns of my life. You never leave me nor forsake me. You have stored all my tears in a bottle. You have recorded all my longings in Your book. You are watching over Your Word in my life to perform it. In Your Word I praise and will not be afraid. What can man do to me? I am secure in Your love. In Jesus Name!
