Note: The word Selah. This is the first of 71 times it is used in the Book of Psalms. Every commentary I looked at said something about this word with all covering all of the possible meanings and settling in various places as to its actual application. I included Calvin’s commentary alone because it made the most sense to me in the context of the passage. Strong’s (5542) lists this as a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption; and limits it in my newer version as merely a pause in music. Calvin prefers it to mean a rise in the pitch of the music, and the voice accordingly, making emphasis on one point or another. I suppose a pause might accomplish the same thing and it is favored by Henry and Spurgeon. And I would say that it may even be more accurately used that way in other passages, but contextually I think Calvin is right here. David is making a point of what they have said and done and is ending it with an exclamation point. It is as if he is saying, “Lord look at what they are saying about me and blasphemously about you!” This wouldn’t have the same effect if He said, “Lord look at what they are saying about me and blasphemously about you.” But all seem to readily admit that no-one knows exactly what it means.
“Many say to my soul”
• […] David here intended to express… that his heart was in a manner pierced with the mockery of his enemies. David teaches us by his own example, that although the whole world, with one voice, should attempt to drive us to despair, instead of listening to it, we ought rather to give ear to God alone, and always cherish within us the hope of the salvation which He has promised; and as the ungodly use their endeavors to destroy our souls, we ought to defend them by our prayers. JC
• The following cutting words, which touched to the quick, reached his very heart, and like a sword pierced through it. JG
• David complains before his loving God of the worst weapon of his enemies’ attacks, and the bitterest drop of his distress. CHS
• They put a spiteful and invidious construction upon his troubles, as Job’s friends did upon him, concluding that because his servants and subjects forsook him thus and did not help him, God had deserted him and abandoned his cause, and he was therefore to be looked on, or rather to be looked off, as a hypocrite and wicked man. MH
“There is no help for Him in God”
• The ungodly, when they rise up to destroy us, may not openly break forth into such daring presumption as to maintain it to be impossible for us to derive and advantage from the favor of God; yet, as they either ascribe everything to fortune, or hold the opinion that a man’s success will be in proportion to his strength, and therefore fearlessly rush forward to gain their object, by all means, whether right or wrong, as if it would be equally the same, whether God is angry with or favorable towards them, it is evident that they set no value whatever upon the favor of God, and mock at the faithful as if it would avail them nothing to be under the care and protection of God. JC
• David's enemies looked upon his case to be desperate; that it was impossible he should ever extricate himself from it; yea, that God himself either could not or would not save him. And in like manner did the enemies of Christ say, when they had put Him upon the cross; and how frequent is it for the men of the world to represent the saints as in a damnable state! And to call them a damned set and generation of men, as if there was no salvation for them? And how often does Satan suggest unto them, that there is no hope for them, and they may as well indulge themselves in all sinful lusts and pleasures? And how often do their own unbelieving hearts say to them, that there is no salvation in Christ for them, though there is for others; and that they have no interest in the favor of God, and shall be eternally lost and perish? JG
• Of all soul distresses that certainly is the greatest, when the enemy and our own unbelieving would tempt us to suppose God hath forsaken us. Here the child of God is sadly put to it, when the enemies of our salvation thus reproach. Oh! Lord, suffer not my soul to fall under this heaviest of all sorrows. While Jesus looks on my affliction, and speaks peace, all is well. Let Jesus but smile, I care not who frowns. But if I begin to despond of His favor; if it could be so, that there really was no help for me in my God, then I should be ruined indeed. RH
• Some of his distrustful friends said this sorrowfully, but his enemies boasted of it, and longed to see their words proved by his total destruction. This was the unkindest cut of all, when they declared that his God has forsaken him. Yet David new in his own conscience that he had given them some ground for this exclamation, for he had committed sin against God in the very light of day. They flung his crime with Bathsheba into his face, and they said, “Go up, thou bloody man; God hath forsaken thee and left thee.” Doubtless David felt this internal suggestion to be staggering to his faith. It is the most bitter of all afflictions to be led to fear that there is no help for us in God. CHS
• When the believer questions the power of God, or his interest in it, his joy gusheth out as blood out of a broken vein. This verse is a sore stab indeed. William Gurnall
• They blasphemously looked upon God as unable to relieve him. It is strange that so great unbelief should be found in any, especially in many, in Israel, as to think any party of men too strong for Omnipotence to deal with. They endeavored to shake his confidence in God and drive him to despair of relief from Him. This grieved him worst of all, that they had so bad an opinion of him as to think it possible to take him off from that foundation. The mere temptation was buffeting to him. Note, a child of God startles at the very thought of despairing of help in God; you cannot vex him with anything so much as if you offer to persuade him that there is no help for him in God.
“Selah”
• […] it denotes the lifting up of the voice in harmony in the exercise of singing… the music was adapted to the sentiment, and so the harmony was in unison with the character or subject matter of the song; just as David here… fixes the attention on this blasphemy, which severely wounded his heart. JC
Personal Summary:
What an accusation we see leveled here. To add insult to injury David is now being accused of losing God’s favor; that God has abandoned him. Undoubtedly at some point these words were felt beyond some slanderous accusation. At some point he may have indeed even asked himself this question. I don’t think it was for long; but, it may have found a home in him which caused these words to sting all the more. For at some point we are all filled with doubt just as God’s people have been throughout the ages. God stands true to His promises; but stained with sin we doubt. We think that the sin we have committed is so atrocious that God could not possibly look down on us with favor any longer. When we feel the sting of His divine rod in discipline we shutter and our confidence is shaken.
But David does what all of us should do when our faith is tested: he takes it to the Lord. We too must cast our complaint before Him and allow Him to deal with it. For the Spirit is our seal both for us and to God. He assures us that we are His no matter what we do. And oh how the world loves to plant seeds of doubt amongst God’s children! They mock us and argue with us with science, with philosophy and with false religion; they are utterly enamored with their own idea of what wisdom is. And they try to use it against us every chance they get. They assail us to defeat us, to hope that our confidence is shaken to the point that we concede their sinful logic and join their miserable ranks. But we are on guard against them, are we not? We see them coming a mile away and we put on the whole armor of God and we fight the good fight of faith! We may lose a battle here and there but we are fully convinced of the outcome of the war and whatever wavering we do it is but a temporary pause in our walk; thus we fight the good fight of faith.
Yet we are assailed still further. The church is not only under attack from the world but from within its own ranks. The more insidious attack, the more dangerous attack, the one that has led many sheep astray is the one we are least on guard for. For there are plenty of churches, I might guess a large majority of modern churches, that are teaching people they may lose their salvation! They do not have the assurance and confidence David has here because they are being told within their local bodies the same thing David’s enemies have told him! Christian! Stand strong! If your church is telling you this move on! It is not true. If you are a child of God you are a true son and you are His. It doesn’t depend on you or me or anyone on this earth; it depends on Christ, who purchased you with His blood and will never leave you nor forsake you! There are a plethora of passages telling us this and it is there so that when we doubt we may call them to mind and be freed from our self-imposed doubt. God doesn’t doubt that we are his, why should we? He chose us! Do we fear that He made a mistake? That our immutable God has now changed His mind? Perhaps my favorite passage concerning this is found in John 10:26-30, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” What sweet, sweet, beautiful words! And in case you didn’t get the point let us not forget Rom. 8:37-39, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Whether the assault comes from the world, or comes from your own self-doubt, or even from within the church itself, stand strong; for our God is greater than all and He will be faithful when nothing else will, including yourself. Christians, be assured. He sees all and is in control over all and your seat is secured in heaven where He will call you and where you will spend the rest of eternity under His protective wing, never to doubt again. Enemies may come and go; we will sin, be convicted of and disciplined for that sin; we will have our confidence attacked by ourselves, the world and even the church; but in the end we know with David, with Moses, with Joshua, with Paul and all the saints of all the ages that Christ will “also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8; for, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:9. Amen!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Psalm 3:1
Note: The commentators I respect most, Calvin and Henry, do not give any application (with only one small exception from Henry) of this psalm as pertaining to Christ. All of the others I have available to me do make such an application. I can see where they draw the parallels because of the connection between this psalm and 2 Sam. 15-18 as well as David’s path as he fled, even his similar circumstance, being compared to Christ who apparently took the same path (brook Kedron and mount of Olives) before Judas betrayed Him. With all of that said, I think Calvin and Henry got it right and the others are not entirely correct. I leave room for the fact that there is some reasonable correlation to be drawn between the two betrayals; but, as I think this study will show, this Psalm is about David’s trust in God and God’s faithfulness and deliverance for His people. I will include the notes where it is reasonable to do so, but if the commentary is just too far off base it will not be included. I have, though, included in the introductory notes their reasoning behind the exegesis of this psalm.
Introduction
• David driven forth of his kingdom, was greatly tormented in mind for his sins against God: And therefore calleth upon God, and waxeth bold through His promises, against the great railings of his enemies, yea against death itself, which he saw present before his eyes. Finally, he rejoiceth for the good success that God gave him and all the church. 1599 GB
• David, although driven from his kingdom, and pressed down with utter despair of relief from every earthly quarter, ceases not to call upon God, and supports himself from his promise against the greatest terrors, against the mockery and cruel assaults of his enemies; and, finally, against death itself, which then forced itself upon his consideration. In the end of the psalm, he congratulates himself and the whole church on the happy issue of all. JC
• David was the composer of this psalm, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, occasioned by his flight from Absalom; who, having stolen away the hearts of the people of Israel, entered into a conspiracy with them to dethrone his father and place himself in his stead; and the people so increased continually with him, that David thought it advisable to flee from Jerusalem. Now was fulfilled what God had said, by Nathan the prophet, should befall him, because of the affair of Bathsheba and Uriah. David was an eminent type of Christ, and so he was in his troubles, and in these; as one of his sons conspired against him to dethrone him, and take away his life; so Judas, one of Christ's disciples or children, for disciples were called children, His familiar friend, that did eat of His bread, lifted up his heel against Him, and sought to betray Him, and did; and who, though He knew the designs of Judas against Him, and did not flee from him, but rather went to meet him, yet it is easy to observe that He took the same route from Jerusalem as David did. At this time He went over the brook Kidron, and to the Mount of Olives. Indeed the whole psalm may be applied to Christ; and so as the second psalm sets forth the dignity of Christ's person, as the Son of God, and the stability and enlargement of His kingdom, notwithstanding the opposition made to Him; this expresses His troubles from His enemies, His death and resurrection from the dead, His victory over His enemies, and the salvation He wrought out for His people. JG
• You will remember the sad story of David’s flight from his own palace, when, in the dead of the night, he forded the brook Kedron, and went with a few faithful followers to hide himself for awhile from the fury of his rebellious son. Remember that David in this was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He, too, fled; he, too, passed over the brook Kedron when His own people were in rebellion against Him, and with a feeble band of followers He went to the garden of Gethsemane. CHS
• The title of this psalm best leads to the contents of it. The first and literal sense on this psalm should seem to refer wholly to David; but, to an enlightened eye, there is much to be seen in it of Christ. Amidst the afflictions here complained of, there is much of the consolations of Jesus, and His great salvation. RH
• As the foregoing psalm, in the type of David in preferment, showed us the royal dignity of the Redeemer, so this, by example of David in distress, shows us the peace and holy security of the redeemed, how safe they really are, and think themselves to be, under the divine protection. Those speak best of the truths of God who speak experimentally; so David here speaks of the power and goodness of God, and of the safety and tranquility of the godly. MH
3:1
“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!”
• David was not only dethroned, but forsaken by almost all men; so that he had well nigh as many enemies as he had subjects. It is therefore not wonderful though he was affrighted by the great numbers who were opposed to him, for nothing could have taken place more unlooked for, on his part, than so sudden a rebellion. It was a mark of uncommon faith, when smitten with so great consternation, to venture freely to make his complaint to God, and, as it were, to pour out his soul into his bosom. And certainly the only remedy for allaying our fears is this, to cast upon Him all the cares which trouble us; as, on the other hand, those who have the conviction that they are not the objects of His regard, must be prostrated and overwhelmed by the calamities which befall them. JC
• David's enemies increased in the conspiracy against him, the hearts of the men of Israel were after Absalom, and against him. Christ's enemies increased when Judas with a multitude came to take Him; when the body of the common people cried out, “crucify Him”; when the assembly of the wicked enclosed Him, and pierced His hands and His feet. And the enemies of God's people are many; the men of this world are against them; legions of devils oppose them; and they have swarms of sins in their own hearts; and all these give trouble. David's enemies troubled him… to think that his own son should seek to destroy him; that his subjects, whom he had ruled so long with clemency, and had hazarded his person in war for their defense, and to protect them in their civil and religious rights, should rebel against him. Christ's enemies troubled Him, when they bound and led Him away as a malefactor; when they spit upon Him, smote and buffeted Him; when they scourged and crucified Him, and mocked at Him. The enemies of the saints are troublers of them; in the world, and from the men of it, they have tribulation; Satan's temptations give them much uneasiness and distress. JG
• David was now under the chastening hand of God. And what tended greatly to aggravate it, was the consciousness which he could not but have in his own mind, that it was for sin. God had said concerning his transgression in the case of Uriah, that the sword should not depart from his house; so that David could not but eye God’s hand, in the natural usurpation of his son Absalom. RH
• The poor broken-hearted father complains of the multitude of his enemies. CHS
• That they were very many… beyond what they were at first, and beyond whatever he thought they would have been. Absalom’s faction, like a snowball, strangely gathered in its motion. He speaks of it as one amazed. And how little fidelity and constancy are to be found among men! David had had the hearts of his subjects as much as ever any king had, and yet now, of a sudden, he had lost them. MH
“Many are they who rise up against me”
• Many in quantity… such as Ahithophel and others, who rose up against David in a hostile manner, to dispossess him of his kingdom, and to destroy his life. And many were they that rose up against Christ; the multitude came against Him as a thief, with clubs and staves: the men of this world rise up against the saints with their tongues, and sometimes with open force and violence; Satan, like a roaring lion, seeks to devour them, and their own fleshly lusts war against them. JG
• Christ, the Son of David, had many enemies. When the great multitude came to seize Him, when the crowd cried, Crucify Him! Crucify Him, how were those then increased that troubled Him. Even good people must not think it strange if the stream be against them and the powers that threaten them grow more and more formidable. MH
Personal Summary:
How many of us have been in a circumstance where it felt like the whole world was stacked up against us? The weight of it pressing us down into a deep despair; at its worst, it seems like our very lives are about to collapse and whither away into nothing. I have been there multiple times in my life and I am reasonably sure that many, if not all, of you have been there too. The difference here is that David really was in such a circumstance. Can you imagine the despair; not only of what was going on, but that it was being driven along and facilitated by his own son? I can imagine that between his broken heart and the stress of death pursuing him constantly that David’s life was a mess. Perhaps to aggravate the matter more is the guilt that must’ve have been at the forefront of his mind knowing that his sin caused this and that God was disciplining him for that sin. David had not only been an adulterer but a murderer and now the Lord was disciplining him. But the picture grows dimmer still; for David’s son, born to him by Bathsheba, was killed by the Lord as part of his punishment. What a bleak picture! You sin, Nathan the prophet is sent by the Lord to convict you of your sin, your son dies as a direct result of your sin, then another son turns your people against you and you have to flee your kingdom and hide lest he and his followers kill you. Wow! In our worst moments I would guess that we have not been in this most unenviable position. If we felt crushed under the weight of our moment, imagine how crushed David must’ve been.
Yet, in the face of utter ruin what was David’s response? Did he curse God? Did he lose faith? Did he complain about the severity of God’s wrath against his sin? No, no, and no… he did none of those things. He drew closer to God, he repented, he cast his cares upon God and had faith that the Lord would deliver him. In Hebrews 11:32 the faith of David is one of those listed as an example for all of Christianity to follow for all of time. His faith was great and this psalm tells us about that faith in the face of great adversity. What an example we have for our own lives! As Henry says, “Is any afflicted? Let him pray, nay, let him sing psalms, let him sing this psalm. Perils and frights should drive us to God, not drive us from Him. Even our sorrow for sin must not hinder either our joy in God or our hope in God.” I can say that in times of great despair, specifically despair brought on by sin, that I have mulled over the idea of hiding from God. I have made feeble attempts at avoiding Him in my shame. Yet where am I to go to escape so great a God? What would I achieve should He allow me to escape? Surely I have known no ruin or despair like I would feel if that were to happen.
But, God is more faithful than I am, or, for that matter, any man ever to have lived on this earth. What are we running from? Was the blood of Christ not a sufficient propitiation for the sins of the elect? God loves me and I may have to endure His discipline as Pr 3:12 says, “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” But, I am not going to lose Him! I am not going to be cast from Him! I am eternally secured by Christ. I am justified! Do we know what that means? I am, through the imputed righteousness of Christ, found not guilty. Notice in Rom. 8:30 it is written in the past tense. Do we think the bible made a mistake here and forgot to account for sins that we were yet to commit? No! Of course it didn’t. The redemptive work of Christ stands just as sure with sin number one as it does with the very last sin we will ever commit before the Lord takes us home. Yes, we must repent and we must confess our sins to God. But, when we do we are told, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9).
So what are we hiding from? What discipline have we not deserved? What trial is not put here for our good? We have a faithful God who is infinitely greater than you or I. Like David, regardless of the cause for our troubles and despair, we cannot run from God. We must draw ever closer to Him and in complete surrender depend upon Him to care for His children. The promise stands true which Christ Himself said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Jn 10:28) Do not allow sinful logic to convince you that you have done something that will separate you from the Lord, you have not. Draw near to God, no matter the circumstance, and your life will be more beautiful than you ever have imagined it to be. Under no circumstance can the child of God sever himself from his God and hope to achieve that which is good or fruitful. Our well being, every single aspect of our lives, every detail of our salvation and our passing into eternity has always been, and always will be, dependent on God, not you or I. Thanks be to Him for that! For if the opposite were true we would all be awaiting damnation. Praise be to God!
Introduction
• David driven forth of his kingdom, was greatly tormented in mind for his sins against God: And therefore calleth upon God, and waxeth bold through His promises, against the great railings of his enemies, yea against death itself, which he saw present before his eyes. Finally, he rejoiceth for the good success that God gave him and all the church. 1599 GB
• David, although driven from his kingdom, and pressed down with utter despair of relief from every earthly quarter, ceases not to call upon God, and supports himself from his promise against the greatest terrors, against the mockery and cruel assaults of his enemies; and, finally, against death itself, which then forced itself upon his consideration. In the end of the psalm, he congratulates himself and the whole church on the happy issue of all. JC
• David was the composer of this psalm, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, occasioned by his flight from Absalom; who, having stolen away the hearts of the people of Israel, entered into a conspiracy with them to dethrone his father and place himself in his stead; and the people so increased continually with him, that David thought it advisable to flee from Jerusalem. Now was fulfilled what God had said, by Nathan the prophet, should befall him, because of the affair of Bathsheba and Uriah. David was an eminent type of Christ, and so he was in his troubles, and in these; as one of his sons conspired against him to dethrone him, and take away his life; so Judas, one of Christ's disciples or children, for disciples were called children, His familiar friend, that did eat of His bread, lifted up his heel against Him, and sought to betray Him, and did; and who, though He knew the designs of Judas against Him, and did not flee from him, but rather went to meet him, yet it is easy to observe that He took the same route from Jerusalem as David did. At this time He went over the brook Kidron, and to the Mount of Olives. Indeed the whole psalm may be applied to Christ; and so as the second psalm sets forth the dignity of Christ's person, as the Son of God, and the stability and enlargement of His kingdom, notwithstanding the opposition made to Him; this expresses His troubles from His enemies, His death and resurrection from the dead, His victory over His enemies, and the salvation He wrought out for His people. JG
• You will remember the sad story of David’s flight from his own palace, when, in the dead of the night, he forded the brook Kedron, and went with a few faithful followers to hide himself for awhile from the fury of his rebellious son. Remember that David in this was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. He, too, fled; he, too, passed over the brook Kedron when His own people were in rebellion against Him, and with a feeble band of followers He went to the garden of Gethsemane. CHS
• The title of this psalm best leads to the contents of it. The first and literal sense on this psalm should seem to refer wholly to David; but, to an enlightened eye, there is much to be seen in it of Christ. Amidst the afflictions here complained of, there is much of the consolations of Jesus, and His great salvation. RH
• As the foregoing psalm, in the type of David in preferment, showed us the royal dignity of the Redeemer, so this, by example of David in distress, shows us the peace and holy security of the redeemed, how safe they really are, and think themselves to be, under the divine protection. Those speak best of the truths of God who speak experimentally; so David here speaks of the power and goodness of God, and of the safety and tranquility of the godly. MH
3:1
“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!”
• David was not only dethroned, but forsaken by almost all men; so that he had well nigh as many enemies as he had subjects. It is therefore not wonderful though he was affrighted by the great numbers who were opposed to him, for nothing could have taken place more unlooked for, on his part, than so sudden a rebellion. It was a mark of uncommon faith, when smitten with so great consternation, to venture freely to make his complaint to God, and, as it were, to pour out his soul into his bosom. And certainly the only remedy for allaying our fears is this, to cast upon Him all the cares which trouble us; as, on the other hand, those who have the conviction that they are not the objects of His regard, must be prostrated and overwhelmed by the calamities which befall them. JC
• David's enemies increased in the conspiracy against him, the hearts of the men of Israel were after Absalom, and against him. Christ's enemies increased when Judas with a multitude came to take Him; when the body of the common people cried out, “crucify Him”; when the assembly of the wicked enclosed Him, and pierced His hands and His feet. And the enemies of God's people are many; the men of this world are against them; legions of devils oppose them; and they have swarms of sins in their own hearts; and all these give trouble. David's enemies troubled him… to think that his own son should seek to destroy him; that his subjects, whom he had ruled so long with clemency, and had hazarded his person in war for their defense, and to protect them in their civil and religious rights, should rebel against him. Christ's enemies troubled Him, when they bound and led Him away as a malefactor; when they spit upon Him, smote and buffeted Him; when they scourged and crucified Him, and mocked at Him. The enemies of the saints are troublers of them; in the world, and from the men of it, they have tribulation; Satan's temptations give them much uneasiness and distress. JG
• David was now under the chastening hand of God. And what tended greatly to aggravate it, was the consciousness which he could not but have in his own mind, that it was for sin. God had said concerning his transgression in the case of Uriah, that the sword should not depart from his house; so that David could not but eye God’s hand, in the natural usurpation of his son Absalom. RH
• The poor broken-hearted father complains of the multitude of his enemies. CHS
• That they were very many… beyond what they were at first, and beyond whatever he thought they would have been. Absalom’s faction, like a snowball, strangely gathered in its motion. He speaks of it as one amazed. And how little fidelity and constancy are to be found among men! David had had the hearts of his subjects as much as ever any king had, and yet now, of a sudden, he had lost them. MH
“Many are they who rise up against me”
• Many in quantity… such as Ahithophel and others, who rose up against David in a hostile manner, to dispossess him of his kingdom, and to destroy his life. And many were they that rose up against Christ; the multitude came against Him as a thief, with clubs and staves: the men of this world rise up against the saints with their tongues, and sometimes with open force and violence; Satan, like a roaring lion, seeks to devour them, and their own fleshly lusts war against them. JG
• Christ, the Son of David, had many enemies. When the great multitude came to seize Him, when the crowd cried, Crucify Him! Crucify Him, how were those then increased that troubled Him. Even good people must not think it strange if the stream be against them and the powers that threaten them grow more and more formidable. MH
Personal Summary:
How many of us have been in a circumstance where it felt like the whole world was stacked up against us? The weight of it pressing us down into a deep despair; at its worst, it seems like our very lives are about to collapse and whither away into nothing. I have been there multiple times in my life and I am reasonably sure that many, if not all, of you have been there too. The difference here is that David really was in such a circumstance. Can you imagine the despair; not only of what was going on, but that it was being driven along and facilitated by his own son? I can imagine that between his broken heart and the stress of death pursuing him constantly that David’s life was a mess. Perhaps to aggravate the matter more is the guilt that must’ve have been at the forefront of his mind knowing that his sin caused this and that God was disciplining him for that sin. David had not only been an adulterer but a murderer and now the Lord was disciplining him. But the picture grows dimmer still; for David’s son, born to him by Bathsheba, was killed by the Lord as part of his punishment. What a bleak picture! You sin, Nathan the prophet is sent by the Lord to convict you of your sin, your son dies as a direct result of your sin, then another son turns your people against you and you have to flee your kingdom and hide lest he and his followers kill you. Wow! In our worst moments I would guess that we have not been in this most unenviable position. If we felt crushed under the weight of our moment, imagine how crushed David must’ve been.
Yet, in the face of utter ruin what was David’s response? Did he curse God? Did he lose faith? Did he complain about the severity of God’s wrath against his sin? No, no, and no… he did none of those things. He drew closer to God, he repented, he cast his cares upon God and had faith that the Lord would deliver him. In Hebrews 11:32 the faith of David is one of those listed as an example for all of Christianity to follow for all of time. His faith was great and this psalm tells us about that faith in the face of great adversity. What an example we have for our own lives! As Henry says, “Is any afflicted? Let him pray, nay, let him sing psalms, let him sing this psalm. Perils and frights should drive us to God, not drive us from Him. Even our sorrow for sin must not hinder either our joy in God or our hope in God.” I can say that in times of great despair, specifically despair brought on by sin, that I have mulled over the idea of hiding from God. I have made feeble attempts at avoiding Him in my shame. Yet where am I to go to escape so great a God? What would I achieve should He allow me to escape? Surely I have known no ruin or despair like I would feel if that were to happen.
But, God is more faithful than I am, or, for that matter, any man ever to have lived on this earth. What are we running from? Was the blood of Christ not a sufficient propitiation for the sins of the elect? God loves me and I may have to endure His discipline as Pr 3:12 says, “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” But, I am not going to lose Him! I am not going to be cast from Him! I am eternally secured by Christ. I am justified! Do we know what that means? I am, through the imputed righteousness of Christ, found not guilty. Notice in Rom. 8:30 it is written in the past tense. Do we think the bible made a mistake here and forgot to account for sins that we were yet to commit? No! Of course it didn’t. The redemptive work of Christ stands just as sure with sin number one as it does with the very last sin we will ever commit before the Lord takes us home. Yes, we must repent and we must confess our sins to God. But, when we do we are told, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9).
So what are we hiding from? What discipline have we not deserved? What trial is not put here for our good? We have a faithful God who is infinitely greater than you or I. Like David, regardless of the cause for our troubles and despair, we cannot run from God. We must draw ever closer to Him and in complete surrender depend upon Him to care for His children. The promise stands true which Christ Himself said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Jn 10:28) Do not allow sinful logic to convince you that you have done something that will separate you from the Lord, you have not. Draw near to God, no matter the circumstance, and your life will be more beautiful than you ever have imagined it to be. Under no circumstance can the child of God sever himself from his God and hope to achieve that which is good or fruitful. Our well being, every single aspect of our lives, every detail of our salvation and our passing into eternity has always been, and always will be, dependent on God, not you or I. Thanks be to Him for that! For if the opposite were true we would all be awaiting damnation. Praise be to God!
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