David was facing extreme anxiety on the run from the murderous King Saul. As David sought the protection of the Lord, he as likely aware of a prayer Moses had offered years earlier, as recorded in the book of Exodus.
13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight…14 And He (the Lord) said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” …17 So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:13-14, 17 (NKJV)
God had anointed David as the next King of Israel, but its current king, Saul, was determined not to let that happen. In a blatant defiance of God, Saul made a great effort to track David down to kill him.
David was forced to flee, seeking a trail of escape across large portions of southern Israel, Philistia, and Moab. After first fleeing to the prophet Samuel and temporarily returning to Saul, David was forced to flee again, this time to the tabernacle at Nob. Here he met with the high priest, Ahimelech, and obtained the showbread to eat and Goliath’s sword for his defense.
Things then became even more bizarre for David. He ended up in Gath of the Philistines, the home town of the giant Goliath, whom David had slain. When the king of Gath got suspicious of David’s true intentions, he was forced to pretend that he was mentally ill, and for awhile, David was considered harmless. But things heated up again, and David was forced to flee once more, ending up hiding in a cave in Adullam.
We know exactly what David was thinking and feeling in the cave, for it was here that his contemplations were recorded as he wrote Psalm 142:
5 I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I. Psalm 142:5-6 (NKJV)
David was at a very low point, helpless before God, and totally dependent upon Him for survival. In his powerlessness, David leaned on a powerful faith and reliance upon God, further strengthening his own character. God permitted this experience to occur to strengthen David’s most outstanding quality, his faith.
Like Moses before him and the apostle Paul after him, David’s special relationship with the Lord did not prevent him from enduring fiery trials. In fact, some people find that their trials in life may actually increase once they choose to follow the loving call of the Lord. But God is faithful, and will not allow us to take on trials or temptations beyond what we are able to bear. In this way, He is molding our character for use in a greater calling.
Both Moses and David had been tending sheep before God’s call. All was going “well” in that season of their life, but God called them to take on new and much more challenging roles of tremendous spiritual impact and eternal significance. Both Moses and David would find the cost of spiritual duty high, but God used each of their difficult experiences to build their faith and to strengthen them for greater service and effectiveness. Their ultimate rewards would be immeasurable.
There is spiritual opposition in all of God’s creation, and it may very well make its presence known in our lives. But as we see in these Biblical accounts, any threats will be countered by the much greater and stronger Presence of the Lord.
God holds us in His hand even if the arrows of evil are attacking us from every side. David certainly had times when he felt surrounded and alone – Psalm 142 spells that out. But the God Who Knows our Name will never leave us nor forsake us. He will bring us a peace and rest in His Presence. David’s spiritual joy can be seen throughout the many Psalms of praise that he wrote. These lift us up and bring us encouragement as we read them in the Bible, draw on them for our own encouragement and strength, and allow them to bring us into the Presence of God by the power of His Holy Spirit.
Reflection
When we make the time to be in God’s Presence, we know He will bring us to a place of peace, serenity, and freedom from our fears and anxieties. We begin to experience true joy in life as we surrender our needs to His loving care.
Father God, may the presence of the Lord Jesus richly bless, comfort, and bring us peace today in the power of the Holy Spirit, as we invite Him into our hearts. May we rest in His Presence today. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 