The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 30:6,
"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God."
David was a man of faith. Of him, God is quoted as saying, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22. He is listed among those of faith in Hebrews 11:33-34 who, "through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."
Often times, over the years, I have heard sermons, I have heard on religious broadcasting, I have read in books and Christian periodicals that because God loves us, he wants to bless us. If we but put our faith in him, will will have an abundant life here (defined as affluence and personal peace, the very same goals as the world pursues.) However, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say in 11:39-40, "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
The heroes of faith did not find the kind of lifestyle so often offered in the name of the gospel. Certainly David experienced extreme hardship in this life, as demonstrated in my verse today, as a man of great faith. Here is a sampling of David's emotions and frame of mind as a godly man of faith, as noted in Psalm 142,
"I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord;
I say, 'You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.'
Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me."
In this psalm I read of this man of faith that:
He felt faint because of his enemies.
He sought the Lord's mercy.
He had his complaint.
He had trouble.
He was in danger from his enemies.
He was in desperate need.
He was pursued by his enemies and they were stronger than he was.
He felt as if he were in a prison.
When it comes to what life in this age is like for people of faith, we need to face truth. We need to scour the Scriptures and learn for ourselves what they teach us this life is all about for those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, what life is like, what we can expect between today and the day we leave this life. Heaven awaits us, until then we live in a lost and fallen world filled with evil.
Why deceive ourselves with the peddling of silly child-like ideas which have no foundation in the Scriptures? Pastors who offer potential followers a life of ease, peace and prosperity - if they would join up and contribute financially, are charlatans and deceivers.
"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God."
David was a man of faith. Of him, God is quoted as saying, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22. He is listed among those of faith in Hebrews 11:33-34 who, "through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."
Often times, over the years, I have heard sermons, I have heard on religious broadcasting, I have read in books and Christian periodicals that because God loves us, he wants to bless us. If we but put our faith in him, will will have an abundant life here (defined as affluence and personal peace, the very same goals as the world pursues.) However, the writer of Hebrews goes on to say in 11:39-40, "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
The heroes of faith did not find the kind of lifestyle so often offered in the name of the gospel. Certainly David experienced extreme hardship in this life, as demonstrated in my verse today, as a man of great faith. Here is a sampling of David's emotions and frame of mind as a godly man of faith, as noted in Psalm 142,
"I cry aloud to the Lord;
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord;
I say, 'You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.'
Listen to my cry,
for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me."
In this psalm I read of this man of faith that:
He felt faint because of his enemies.
He sought the Lord's mercy.
He had his complaint.
He had trouble.
He was in danger from his enemies.
He was in desperate need.
He was pursued by his enemies and they were stronger than he was.
He felt as if he were in a prison.
When it comes to what life in this age is like for people of faith, we need to face truth. We need to scour the Scriptures and learn for ourselves what they teach us this life is all about for those of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, what life is like, what we can expect between today and the day we leave this life. Heaven awaits us, until then we live in a lost and fallen world filled with evil.
Why deceive ourselves with the peddling of silly child-like ideas which have no foundation in the Scriptures? Pastors who offer potential followers a life of ease, peace and prosperity - if they would join up and contribute financially, are charlatans and deceivers.
Read the Scriptures and find out for yourself!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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