S170P5 – Behind closed doors: David

Psa. 57:1-5

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.  I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.  He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me.  God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!  My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!  Let your glory be over all the earth!

David’s journey to the throne is interesting for many reasons. His life did not follow a linear trajectory from being the young man at home to the mature king over Israel. He was not born a prince or any other type of royalty who would reasonably aspire to that position, so the mechanism for getting him there would have to be more than ordinary. The dramatic tour de force that was David’s ascension to the throne is even more compelling when we consider Samuel’s prophetic words over him as a young man. We must consider whether David’s foreknowledge of his future title brought hope or confusion when it did not look like that would come to pass.

This prayer was offered up by David when he was hiding in the caves, running for his life from King Saul. He had received a prophecy that he himself would be king, and he had married the princess and been invited into the royal family. Now the king was trying to erase him from the face of the Earth. We might understand why someone in David’s position would have doubted that word or been confused because things looked so bad. However, David took this as an opportunity to continue to confess his faith in God completing that plan. In his private pleading, David seems to focus not on the preservation of his life but on the preservation of God’s plan, which is a valuable lesson.

Standing alone before God in the face of circumstances which seem insurmountable should bring us to a point of revelation. As much as we might plead for God to save us so we can live, we must understand that the point is his glory. If He saves us, it is about him being glorified. If He preserves us, it is because that is part of the plan. After all, this is the God who has numbered our days. [39:4] David trusted God to preserve his life because, in doing so, God would be able to fulfill his promised plan. The life of David mattered in light of the plan of God. Father, bring us to a place of close intimacy with You that would bring us revelation of what really matters and what glorifies You.