Today’s Reflection:  Psalm 69:6   Let not them that wait on the, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

It would appear that David suffered reproach because of his zeal for The Lord, so much so that he would not wish it upon others who might follow The Lord at his lead.  Perhaps he is hoping that the reproach he suffers for Christ will shield those who follow his leadership in spiritual matters.  Perhaps he hopes that his suffering will be enough for him and them both.  

If so, this would not be surprising, coming from a leader.  In fact, all great leaders seek to pay great prices to pioneer a better way for generations to come.  They are called pioneers for a reason; for no one else before them stepped up and dared accomplish what they accomplished, nor were they willing to take the same risks, and pay the same costs in order to achieve what it is that they are trying to achieve.  

It is in this spirit, I believe, that David hopes that he is paving the way for his followers, and not simply introducing them to a way of life that leads them to bearing his burden of reproach with him.  Now, how great a reproach is this?  Among other things, we are sure that it alienated him from his own family according to verse eight.  

Because he was willing to go places with God no one else in his family was willing to go, he found himself somewhat isolated relationally.  As a king, he may have been surrounded by many people, but in this respect, he was alone as it related to the fellowship of his blood kin.  

Don’t get me wrong; David was as tough as they come, and he was not afraid of blood.  However, the silent pain of rejection among those of your own household are often the deepest wounds a man can endure.  He simply would not wish this price upon anyone else who might dare to be as zealous for The Lord as he himself.  

And yet, too numerous to count are those who, after the example of David, decided also to follow hard after God.  Too numerous to count are those who, like David, COMPLETELY understand what his is talking about in his prayer.  Having said that, the bottom line is, if one is to pay the price, it needs to be his or her choice for themselves, with full disclosure going in, and not just as a result of someone else’s decisions.  In short, we need to count the cost first, THEN go if we dare!

Today’s Reflection: Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

David’s warfare mode was a “Forever Faith” and a “Perpetual Praise”! In spite of the fact that he was getting older and feeling more vulnerable to the elements of war, he chose to never let his hope or his praise die.

David was trained that these were his true weapons and his true strength. If you read verses 13-18, you will see more of this context, and you will see where he said in verse 16, “I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD…” In fact, David had most always gone in the strength of his God, even when he was young; and yet, when old age started talking to him, he had to remind himself of that very truth.

Oh, what a wonder it is to know that according to 2 Cor. 4:16, though this outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed (to be changed into a new kind of life, given new strength and vigor) day by day. May this serve as a reminder to all of us that our true strength is not in our flesh, but in our spirit. When we realize this, we can then focus most of our energy on feeding our inner man, who can serve the strength we need to overcome any obstacle or enemy standing in our way.

I would like to encourage each of you to not allow the ever-changing and ever-eroding external conditions around you cause you to lose faith or stop praising God for His greatness and His goodness. You can be more feeble that you’ve ever been in your life externally, circumstantially, and physically, but if you go into “Forever Faith” and “Perpetual Praise” mode, you will never be disappointed with the results of God’s response in coming to your aid.

That’s why we must learn that spiritual warfare can only be fought and won in the spiritual realm. Remember that our weapons are not carnal (fleshly, physical, tangible, weak), but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds! So, in short, you can believe and praise your way through any season in life that creates chaos and destruction around you!

 

 

Today’s Reflection:  Psalm 72:4   He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

King David is praying prophetically for the future reign of his son Solomon.  In so doing, he is asking God to give his son the ability to judge righteously in the land.  After asking God to give his son righteousness, he then exclaims in prayer what the results of that righteousness will produce; “He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.”

David understands that to judge righteously is to judge rightly.  That is, to be equal in the enforcement of the law, and in the benefits of citizenship.  Here in America, we may call it liberty and justice for all.  Regardless, the point is this; righteous judgment gives everyone a voice in society, but makes a special point not to neglect the most vulnerable among us.

What business does a KING have with the POOR of the people?  Of what benefit is there in helping those who cannot help the king?  If truth be known, many governments, dictators, kings, & princes throughout world history have focused their energies on increasing their own strength and power by building alliances with other strong leaders, and by suppressing the weak to keep them weak.

But look at THIS King, praying for his son to judge with the righteousness of God.  Where did King David learn what righteous judgement looked like?  Why, from the heart of God…of course!

And it is to this end that we are reminded of just how strong and powerful our God (King of Kings and Lord of Lords) is, to humble Himself to the poorest of the poor, and the lowest of the low, not to increase His own strength (for He is already all powerful), but to lift us up and to bless us with His greatness!  Oh the wonder of His Majesty!

 

Today’s Reflection:  Psalm 74:20   Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

In this passage, David is praying to God about the spiritual state of his beloved nation.  The sanctuary, once magnificent and glorious, lay waste, as the enemies came in and destroyed what once was held as a national treasure.  David heard and saw first hand the devastating effects that sin had brought into his homeland, and how it gave way to the power of the enemy to destroy what at one point was the epicenter of Jewish culture and life.

There is even now a striking parallel between what David was concerned about, and what we as Americans are concerned about today.  A nation once built upon Judeo-Christian values, has essentially seen the “burning down” of what once was the epicenter of American culture and life; namely, the church.  What houses of worship have not been literally burned down, in many cases, have been burned down in practice and principle.

Will we like David see what a great loss this is to our nation, and ask God to remember His covenant that He has made with His people?  David is asking God to ACT against the enemies who have blasphemed His name and profaned His holy temple.  Furthermore, he points out in our text that the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

In short, he is saying to God that unless HE moves, the darkness will continue to prevail over the light.  And yet, David’s only hope (and ours too) is that God will “have respect” (or look to and consider) unto His covenant (aka His Word).  David says to God in verse 22, “Arise, O God, plead thine own cause…”

Dear friends, let us declare God’s promises of answering our prayers, and then hold Him to His word.  If not for our sake, for His own He will move to do mighty things among us, because He cannot lie!