WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN TIGHT SPOTS OF LIFE, GOD IS THERE
SCRIPTURE:
“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.” (Psalms 34:1—9)
OBSERVATION:
David penned these words about his experience with King Saul, who was seeking to destroy and kill him. David ran for his life from the presence of King Saul only to find himself in the presence of King Abimelech. One of King Abimelech’s men recognized David and said to his master, Isn’t this David whom the people of Israel sang about? Saul killed a thousand, and David killed ten thousand. David was fearful that King Abimelech could send him back to King Saul.
So David acted like a crazy madman, letting his saliva drip all over his beard and himself. King Abimelech did not know what to do with David after seeing that he was not a normal person, so he let him go. I can only wonder if King Abimelech knew David was acting to fool him, see beyond the action, and send him back to Saul. That would have spelled disaster for David.
Thus, he wrote this great Psalm of praise. I will extol the Lord at ALL times; his praises will ALWAYS be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. Who wouldn’t give thanks and praise God for delivering them from what would’ve been a disastrous moment? How many times have we found ourselves in LIFE’s TIGHT SPOTS? When we face panic moments and do not know what to do, how would we react, and what would we do? Are you good at thinking on your feet? Many don’t have that ability when panic mode kicks in.
Thus, David thinks quickly on his feet. God gave him the ability to think quickly on his feet. He acted like a madman, and it saved him. Lessons from David today when we face TIGHT SPOTS in life;
- Always seek the Lord no matter how tight a place we find ourselves in.
- Always believe that the Lord is there to deliver us from all our fears.
- Always keep our eyes on the Lord. Those who keep their eyes on him will be radiant and shining even in the darkest of times, and their faces are never covered with shame.
- Always know that when we call on the Lord, he has already heard us.
- Always believe that God will save us from ALL our troubles.
- Always believe that God sends his angels to encamp around us who fear him, and he will deliver us.
This is the greatest assurance of God, who has always involved himself in the affairs of our lives. This is why David was so happy when he wrote these words. He was overjoyed knowing that His God would never ever leave him nor forsake him. He is a God who hears. Our God is a God who acts on our behalf. Our God is a God who delivers us from ALL troubles. David said; TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD. We don’t just taste the goodness of God, but we also see the goodness of God.
APPLICATION:
I am grateful to know that my God hears me when I call, and he heard me before I called. I have tasted and seen the goodness of my God since the day he saved me from my sins and put me in the right relationship with him. I will continue to choose God over anything else. I want to continue to taste and see his goodness daily as I journey with him.
PRAYER:
Father, I thank you for being a God who hears. You heard me even before I uttered a prayer to you. Thank you for delivering me from my sins and fears. I am grateful for your mercy and grace daily. Thank you that you send your angels to encamp around me and your children. Thank you that I can taste and see your goodness in my lifetime. I look to you daily. Amen!
