My Stronghold and Refuge

David said the words of this song to Adonai on the day Adonai delivered him from the power of all his enemies and from the power of Saul. He said:

“Adonai is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer,
3 the God who is my Rock, in whom I find shelter,
my shield, the power that saves me,
my stronghold and my refuge.
My savior, you have saved me from violence.
4 I call on Adonai, who is worthy of praise;
and I am saved from my enemies." - 2 Samuel 22:2-4

There are 2 interesting words that stand out from these reading today.

Stronghold - this is a place that is difficult for our enemies to access. In David's time this would have been a physical place, but it can also be a spiritual castle. God is our Stronghold!

Refuge - this is obviously a place of safety and where we can escape to. This place offers us a chance to hide away, but also to recoup and gather our strength for the next battle ahead. 

May God be your Stronghold and Refuge today. 

Living in Grace

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Remembering that God will help us to face all obstacles

Hudson Taylor – “All God’s giants have been weak people who did great things for God because they reckoned on God being with them.”

As these words began to sink into my mind, I thought of all the 'spiritual giants' in the Bible and realised that Hudson Taylor is right. The reason why they all did great things for the Lord is because they remembered that God was always with them. This doesn't mean that they didn't encounter tough times, but their faith's foundation was built on the promises of God. 

Do you know that God is with you? What stops you believing this?

We note the confidence in young David when he stood up to Goliath. He knew God would deliver him from the hands of the giant. 

"The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” - 1 Samuel 17:37

Living in Grace

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Please Remember and then please Forget!

"Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good." - Psalm 25:7-8

These words of David are beautifully honest but may also seem a little confusing at first. He is asking God to remember, but then he is asking God to forget. What is going on in his mind?

In truth, we imagine David standing before the Lord, about to be scrutinized and judged. David begs God to remember God's love and mercy - to focus on all the compassionate elements of his nature. 

And then at the same time he asks God to forget David's sins, especially the sins of his youth. Not to hold them against them and to offer his unfailing love towards him. 

Thought: I am grateful that God chooses to forget our sins, because of the work of the Cross. God looks upon his Son, Jesus and chooses mercy.

"Remember your compassion and grace, Adonai;
for these are ages old.
7 Don’t remember my youthful sins or transgressions;
but remember me according to your grace
for the sake of your goodness, Adonai." - Complete Jewish Bible

Living in Grace

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The importance of a name - Jesse

In the season of Advent, we re-read the stories of Christ's birth and the fulfillment of many prophecies. There is much hope and wonderful anticipation hidden in these special pages of the Bible. One of the passages that often gets brushed over is Matthew 1 (and Luke 3), which includes the Genealogy of Jesus. 

I think the reason it gets skipped past is because we are confused by the many names. Some of the people mentioned we recognise, but many of the names don't ring a bell for us. However, we must remember that they are all included for a specific reason, and we would do well to understand the significance of each person - after all, they are all ancestors of Jesus Christ.

During Advent this year, I will try and shed a little light on some of these people and it is my prayer that this will help us understand the magnitude of the birth of Christ.

In Matthew 1:6 we come across arguably three of the most recognizable names in the bunch - "Jesse the father of King David. David the father of Solomon..." Each of these men has their own powerful story and legacy, but to note that they are ancestors of Jesus is remarkable.

Jesse is a unique man in that he is also surrounded by famous family members. He is the grandson of Ruth and Boaz, and then the father (and grandfather) of the greatest Kings of Israel. He was obviously some special guy and even his name alludes to this: Jesse means 'God's gift.'

Isaiah writes of him:

"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; .." (Isaiah 11)

As we slowly focus our attention on the Christmas season, let us not overlook the deep significance of the people involved in our Lord's life.

Living in Grace

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God's purpose fulfilled

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. (Psalm 138:6-8)

When the Psalmist remembers the favour of God, he is adamant that the Lord will fulfil his purpose in his life. He even goes on to plead with the Lord not to forsake the 'work of his hands.' 

Do you still believe that the Lord has a purpose for your life? What is that purpose and how are you allowing God to work in your life?

How does the last line of the reading make you feel?

“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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Tables turned

"Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.

They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals." - Psalm 63:9-10

In these verses David reminds his listeners (and his enemies) that those who plot against the Lord will end up on the losing end. This reminds me that even when it seems that evil is winning, we must remain hopeful and remember that God has already won the battle for us.

Who is seeking to hurt you at the moment? Does today's scripture give you any hope?

Living in Grace

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Better than life

"I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." - Psalm 63:2-3

In calling out to God for help David reminds himself (and the Lord) that he has already experience the power and glory of God in the sanctuary. This could be a way of reassuring himself that God is 'alive' and able to make himself known to his people. When you feel all alone and you struggle to see when God will show up, it is good to look back and be reminded that God is always present with us. This can in the temple or in the desert. Anyway, actually. 

Verse 3 is David's way of saying that knowing the unfailing love of God is worth more to him than surviving his current ordeal. This knowledge would allow David to push through the pain of his trials. Or as one author states: 

"Life without God is worse than death itself" (A. Anderson)

Living in Grace

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Longing for God - Psalm 63

"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1

There is a part of us that resonates with David's cry for God. We sometimes feel dry or barren in our spirit and we long for an experience of God. It feels as if there is no water in sight and that we may die of spiritual thirst. 

This can happen when we go through difficult times or face big disappointments in our lives. It can even happen out of the blue or when things are going fine. I believe we shouldn't beat ourselves up over this, but rather cry out to the Lord and trust that he will quench our thirst in time.

It is thought that David was actually hiding out in the desert while he wrote these words, so he is comparing his thirst for God with his actual thirst in the desert. 

It is interesting how our personal experiences can help us see God in a new light.

Living in Grace

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Don't lose heart

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Samuel 17:32)

It is a reality that most of us face on a weekly basis - we face up to something that seems bigger than us and we start to lose heart. It could a tricky situation, a person, an issue, our health or something similar. Suddenly we become afraid and our 'Goliath' seems to taunt us from across the valley. This is when we need to be reminded of the words of David to Saul...

...let no one lose heart.

Why?

Because someone is willing to fight for us. And his name is Jesus.

Let us always remember this. It is true for today, tomorrow and the future!

Living in Grace

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Breaking through

 

“From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Our God comes and will not be silent.” – Psalm 50:2-3

There can be few great sights than to watch the glorious sunshine break through the gloom of the storm clouds. I find it life-giving and extremely hopeful to see the sunlight push back the grey army of clouds. If you are blessed to witness this, you will notice how your mood changes and you suddenly feel more alive. 

Asaph, who was one of David’s chief musicians, creates this same picture in our minds, as he reminds us that ‘in perfect beauty, God shines forth.’ We could put this another way – Nothing can hold God back! There is nothing in all creation that can contain the Light of Jesus and God will have the final word.

If you are feeling as if the clouds have gathered around you and that you are feeling a little strangled by your current situation, then I encourage you to remember the good news from today’s verse.

Our God comes…

Our God will not remain silent!

Reflection: Picture your current situation as clouds in the sky – how many clouds are there and how dark are they? Now picture the glory of Jesus Christ shining into those situations and ask God to shed light on your way.

Living in Grace

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What are you Restless about?

 

Restlessness can be a good thing.
(Of course, it can equally be a debilitating ache that drains all emotional energy from our lives.) However, today, I want to focus on the positive aspect of becoming RESTLESS. When we discover that we are feeling restless about something it can drive us towards action. Take a look at Psalm 132 and note David's restlessness and the language he uses to respond to his feelings:



Psalm 132.

² He swore an oath to the Lord,
    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
³ “I will not enter my house
    or go to my bed,
⁴ I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
⁵ till I find a place for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

He was restless because the Ark of the Covenant had no 'home'. David had built himself a beautiful palace, but he realised he had neglected to provide for the Lord and the Ark. His restlessness lead to him acting and starting to build the Temple.

What is making you restless today? Can you do something about it?

Living in Grace
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Complete Opposites

 

Surrounded by evil people, a band of violent men and narrow minded religious folk, King David felt totally alone. Yet, in the midst of his predicament he remembered that God was still faithful and that God's character was completely opposite to that of his enemies. In his prayer, David proclaims:

"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
    slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy on me;
    show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
    just as my mother did.
¹⁷ Give me a sign of your goodness,
    that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,    for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me." - Psalm 86:15-17

Remember this today - God is Gracious and Compassionate.

Living in Grace
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1 Chronicles - A song of thanks

Sometimes a song says it best! There is incredible emotion in the melody of a song and when the lyrics compliment the music, then the song becomes deeply meaningful. In order to thank God for the amazing blessings he had received David wrote many songs. We know that most of them are recorded in the Psalms, but there are a few scattered throughout other parts of the Old Testament.

The words of today's song are found in the book of 1 Chronicles. As you read them I pray that they would make your heart glad and that you would be moved to offer your own praise to the Lord.

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
    Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
³² Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
    Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
³³ Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.

³⁴ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
³⁵ Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation!
    Gather and rescue us from among the nations,
so we can thank your holy name
    and rejoice and praise you. - 1 Chronicles 16

Living in Grace

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2 Samuel - David's kindness

For all his many faults King David also had many great qualities. In today's passage we see his incredible act of kindness shown towards Mephibosheth.

"So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. ⁶ His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.”
Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”
⁷ “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” - 2 Samuel 9:5-9

We should remember that David didn't have to do this, but he wanted to honour the promise he had made to Jonathan. David's act of kindness revealed his generous nature and his heart of love. 

Even though none of us is perfect, we still have the ability to show KINDNESS to others. 

Living in Grace
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Get up, God!

Wow, either David is very stupid or he knows that God appreciates his honesty! I mean, who in their right mind tells God to "wake up!" The thing I love about King David is his complete vulnerability before God. He leaves nothing to chance or pretense. He tells God exactly how he feels, because he has come to trust in the AWESOMENESS of his God. David allows his thoughts to spill over in his prayers, and it is a sign of his Faith in God, NOT in his disbelief.

I think that David knows God intimately, so when he questions God, it is because he knows that God can make a plan. He trusts in God's providence and care, even though he is not witnessing it in the present.

When you and I pray, are we too polite with God (out of fear) or are we totally honest with him?

Get up, God! Are you going to sleep all day?
    Wake up! Don’t you care what happens to us?
Why do you bury your face in the pillow?
    Why pretend things are just fine with us?
And here we are—flat on our faces in the dirt,
    held down with a boot on our necks.
Get up and come to our rescue.
    If you love us so much, Help us! - Psalm 44 (Message)

Living in Grace
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God will not reject ...

Many people have this notion of God as someone who is mean and nasty or as a Divine Overlord. I have to confess that there was a time in my faith where I wondered if God was playing games with my soul, but I have thankfully come to understand that God is not like that. In his song of confession, David makes an powerful statement of God's gracious nature, when he writes:

"The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit, 
You will NOT REJECT a broken and repentant heart, O God." - Psalm 51:17

In other words - David sees God as someone who is compassionate and willing to embrace us, especially when we show remorse for our sins. If we come to the Lord, acknowledging our need of forgiveness and mercy, then God will display grace and love to us.

Don't be afraid to come into the presence of Jesus today. God knows your heart and he will welcome you back into his arms.

Living in Grace
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It sucks being Goliath!

In the context of Sport we often encounter the comparison between David versus Goliath. You will have one team, that is considered the underdog or the 'David' and then you have the favourites (Goliath) who are expected to be victorious.

However, just as the original story plays out in 1 Samuel 17, so we witnessed this past weekend another David versus Goliath moment. No one gave Japan a chance of beating the Springboks, but they played such an amazing game of Rugby that they pulled off the biggest shock in Rugby history. David beats Goliath again.
But let's be honest, it sucks being on Goliath's team at the moment doesn't? Now I know how the Philistines felt when their Champion warrior and been defeated by a teenager!

As we begin another week I invite you to remember that in God's kingdom, 'bigger' is not always better. God honours the humble and the small. God empowers the weak and comforts the broken. God is always full of surprises.

1 Samuel 17:48-49 -As Goliath approached, David ran out to meet him and, reaching into his shepherd’s bag, took out a stone, hurled it from his sling, and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and the man fell on his face to the ground.

Living in Grace

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