If David, the author of most of the Psalms, has recognized anything at this point in his life, it is that
there is greater promise in the Lord and His sovereign protection. Even if
emotional turmoil had to come David’s way to help him understand who is
ultimately in charge, David eventually stands confidently by his conclusion
about God. As Psalm 3 vividly points out, David is at a point of desperation,
and in that desperation, he finds that God is the key to the perfect resting
place. Still, one Psalm later, David cries out to God, demanding, “Answer me
when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in
distress…” (Psalm 4:1).
For several
verses after crying out to God, it is almost as if David is speaking for God:
“…how long shall my honor be turned into shame?” (Psalm 4:2) Translation: How long
shall God be put to shame by vain words and lies? Then, David reminds those who
suffer for the sake of Christ Jesus: “…know that the Lord has set apart the
godly for himself” (v. 2). God is everything we need (Psalm 1), and yet He still
chooses to set us apart for himself!
How can we
allow our lips to speak lies? How can we utter such obscene insults and lies?
The Lord is our righteousness, our source of joy, our lover, and our sunshine
that lights our way. He is our shelter, our refuge from war, and our healer –
yet he chooses us!
No wonder
David commands us to “ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent
(Read Psalm 46: 10)” (Psalm 4:4) We are “set apart” (Psalm 4:3) for Him; sinners, offenders,
and scoffers, undeserving of His presence. David understood this more than
anyone, after what he had done to sleep with another man’s wife. David realizes
God is offering him another chance, and because of this, he wants to make known
God’s gift of second chances.
Despite all
David has gone through (committing adultery with his best soldier’s wife, being
responsible for killing his best soldier, the death of Amnon (son #2) – Absalom
(son #1) murdering him, Absalom’s desire to take over with selfish pride and
power, and fleeing from his own son’s worldly desires), he has come to genuinely
believe that God is more than words will ever express. He begins this deep,
intimate, love relationship with God and therefore cannot stop expressing his
devotion to God.
Most
importantly, through fleeing, David submits to his true Authority. He sees the
second chance he is given and cannot stop rejoicing. Downcast and covered in
his own sin, David sees that there is hope, and he takes every opportunity to
glorify God through it.
And boy,
does it change his life.
Do we allow
God’s second chances in our lives effect the way we live again? Do we allow
ourselves to “ponder in [our] own hearts on [our] beds, and be silent”? When we
commit our lives to Christ, do we sing the way David does? Have we praised the
way David has? After all, he is our safety, our refuge, our everything.
David made
certain God received credit for all that was going on in His life. He had
developed a habit: praising God continually. Nothing could stop him from
singing and reflecting on the goodness of God. In fact, nothing can match the
joy he has felt when basking in the presence of the Lord: “You have put more
joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7).
God was
everything to David. And, if we are to “ponder…and be silent,” we will find
ourselves climbing back into the Father’s arms, taking in with awe the
indescribable and inspiring power that the Highest of Highs holds in so many
forms; reliever of stress, gracious King, personable and loving, listener, giver of joy, peace bringer, and refuge - a list of only a couple of his many attributes.
Do we give Him the credit He deserves, like David did?