Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
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Psalm 27
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1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold [refuge] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet [in this] I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire [meditate] in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Psalm 146:3
Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.
The Scriptures are not the Pollyanna films. This is life - the gnarled and the tangled.
Matthew 7:9-11
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Imagine - the prophet Samuel arrives at your house. This is a man who leads the Temple of God in Jerusalem. God is a mighty and active presence. A busy household of 8 boys -
1 Samuel 16 - anointed of God
2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”
What is David's father, Jesse's, reaction to his sons being presented to the Prophet of God? Not to get David. Not to allow David to be present in this momentous occasion. Not retrieving David to be consecrated by Samuel. How does Samuel react? He tells them not to sit down. How many times have you had someone tell you not to sit down, but to remain standing?
And Mary, the mother of God, her parents are not even recorded in the Scriptures. Joseph is the one who decided to give Mary compassion. Probably David's family is accorded more time in the Scriptures because when he fled from Saul - they came to him.
David knew where his trust was, even when his family ignored him or gave him ridicule.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
Psalm 37:3
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Psalm 44:6
I do not trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
Selah
Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
Isaiah 26:4
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
David never spent time being bitter. David spent time in caves, in wildernesses, in hills, feigning insanity, being hosts of kings, taken care of by priests, in battle, in loneliness, in fear, in despair, but he didn't spend time in bitterness. When he was finally given the Kingdom after Saul died, David welcomed the men to follow him as his own brothers, even if he could have asked them where they had been during the difficult part.
David loved the Lord, his Spirit of generosity came from God. David gave back the Grace of God.
Father God, help us to be like David, to find You, the rock that is higher. Only when we see beyond ourselves, do we see You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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