BEFORE THE SCRIPTURES:
Last week we read a portion of David’s life that seemed like a soap opera. This week is like an episode of “The Fugitive.” It’s the lowest point in David’s life. We’ll see David is cut off from virtually every good thing in his life. He’s all alone and on the run for his life – because King Saul wants to kill him. In chapter 19, Saul sent a guard to watch his house and kill him. But, his wife Michal, Saul’s own daughter caught whiff of the plot and helped David escape. He went to Ramah, where the venerable Samuel was, but Saul pursued him and he had to leave Samuel. In chapter 20, David meets up with his dear friend Jonathan – the story we read last Sunday. But, once again, David has to flee for his life because of Saul. Now, we turn to I Samuel 21 and beyond, to observe the fugitive in flight… [Read I Sam. 21:1-4;10-14; 22:1-2]
OK, so David has had to flee happy home – his wife, Michal, and best friend, Jonathan. He can’t stay with his spiritual mentor Samuel. So he decides to go to Gath, of all places. This was the home of Goliath, the giant warrior whom he killed. So, David was deep into enemy territory. What was he thinking. They realize who he is right away and take him to the king. So, David pretends to be insane, and this enables him to get out of town with his shirt on his back. Finally, David winds up in a cave. It is truly the lowest point in his colorful life. He’s all alone, and out of breath – if not physically, at least emotionally. Fortunately, David’s left us a sort of spiritual diary of this period on his life. Several of his psalms are attributed to this precise stage in his life. Let’s look at how David handled this incredible stress and turmoil, and gain insight for handling the trials and tribulations that we face. Charles Swindoll suggests that we look at three of these psalms as three postures of David – first, David on his face before God, then on his knees, and finally on his feet. Let’s turn to David’s spiritual diary…
1. Psalm 142 David on his face
In this psalm, David certainly seems to be on his face. He’s hit rock bottom. He begins with simply crying out to the Lord in search of mercy. “I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble. [Lord!] there’s absolutely no one here with me. I’m all alone and no one is even concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. So I cry to you, Lord; YOU are my refuge, my portion…” Now David might have been exaggerating just a bit. But, don’t we usually do the same when the chips are down? Don’t we paint the picture of our plight in the starkest colors – overstating the case. It’s wasn’t that no one cared for David – but at the moment those who did care couldn’t be with him. David was physically all alone, alone that is with the Lord. And so he turns to the Lord for help. Where do you turn when the going gets tough? Where do you go when even your family and friends can’t be with you? Proverbs 18:24 states: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Jesus is that Friend. Do you call upon him when the lights go out and you are all alone? He is there, always and everywhere. David calls the Lord a refuge – a safe place, like a fortress. In the same chapter of Proverbs, we read: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe” (18:10). Do you know who wrote those proverbs? It was Solomon, David’s son. It’s no wonder where he learned these things; his father surely told him how the Lord delivered him time and again. OK, so much for David flat on his face.
2. Psalm 56 David on his knees
Let’s turn to the second psalm in this morning’s trifecta. Psalm 56 tells us it was written when the Philistine’s had seized David in Gath. There he was right in the heart of enemy territory. They realized who he was and could have killed him on the spot, but for some timely and creative acting.
In this psalm, David is even more specific about his plight: “Be merciful to me, O God; for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack.” Saul was tracking him like a wounded deer at home, and now he’s in the hands of the Philistines. What was he thinking when he ventured there? At this point, David lets on that he is afraid. So he prays earnestly: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you… In God I trust, [and when I do] I’m no longer afraid. [In fact, when I’m in God’s hands, I’m convinced] mere mortals can’t do anything to me!”
A pretty awesome faith this David has! How about you? Do you get afraid sometimes – maybe it’s simply not knowing what’s around the corner after the doctor’s diagnosis, or maybe it’s for your kids who’ve gone off to college; or your parents who’re not getting on as they used to. Whatever it may be, there’s no shame in feeling fear or anxiety. Even David did. The key is knowing what to do when we’re afraid – whom to turn to.
In the psalm immediately preceding this one, David describes a desperate situation. “My insides are turned inside out; I am shaking with fear, shuddering from head to toe. ‘Who will give me wings like a dove?’ I just want to fly out of here to some place where there’s peace and quiet… I want a cabin in the woods.” Ever feel that way? With every fiber of your being you just want to get away from whatever mess you’re in. In this case, as you might expect, David calls upon God: “[I know] God will help me. He hears, he rescues. Morning, noon and evening I cry out in distress and he hears my voice… Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. He won’t let you fall!” When we’re in a fix, we need to get down on our knees, day and night, because the Lord hears our prayers.
3. Psalm 34 David on his feet again
The beautiful part of this story is that the Lord really heard David’s cry in that dark cave. First his father and brothers come to give him aid and comfort. Then a motley crew of cast-offs appear as well. They were men who were “in distress or in debt or discontented.” What a group! But, what better bunch to form an army with – fellows who have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The Lord knew that David would need an army. And this crew was part of the divine answer to his prayers.
It’s not long before David feel himself back on his feet. And Psalm 34 is his testimony to God’s goodness and mercy. Note the change in his tone:
“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be in my mouth. [Join me,] let’s exalt his name together. ” Right from the start, David is different. He not all alone, but speaking to a group. And he’s not lamenting his plight, but praising his Deliverer: “[Let me tell you, friends:] I sought the Lord, and he answered me. [You guys are part of that answer!] The Lord has delivered me from all my fears! This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”
Now, just for the record, David’s troubles were far from over. He was going to face one challenge after another before Saul was finally defeated and David took the throne. But, from his perspective, the Lord had already delivered him from his dilemma. David felt strongly that “the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and that angel delivers! So, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him!”
This brings us full circle, back to the theme of God as our refuge – our mighty fortress, our strong tower wherein we find safety. This is certainly one of the most recurring and most significant themes in David’s life. In Psalm 18, he penned: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” These triumphant words of David prompted Martin Luther to compose the hymn that we love to sing, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
I want to ask you, each of you, is the Lord your rock and your fortress? Is Jesus Christ the One in whom you take refuge when you are weary or perplexed? Is he your shield and stronghold, when you feel that others are attacking you? When you are sick, fed up or depressed, is Jesus your deliverer? Friends, Jesus loves you. He says, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” He did for David. He’s been there time and again for me, and He is there for you!