Psalm 37: 39 - But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
David was a man who knew what it was like to be in trouble. From his youth he cared for his father's sheep. By his own testimony, he killed both a lion and a bear to protect his flock. Later on this experience served him well when he faced Goliath. He proclaimed that the same God who had delivered him from the mouth of the lion and the bear would deliver him from this Goliath who was defying his God. David trusted God for deliverance and the rest is history. Against all odds he killed Goliath with a sling and stone and led Israel into victory. Because of this victory King Saul became jealous of David and sought to kill him. David went from being a national hero to a hunted fugitive. Yet even while he was hiding in caves from Saul's army God was with him. More than once Saul's army came close to capturing him and he "barely" escaped. Once while Saul was sleeping David had the chance to rid himself of his enemy. The Bible tells us that God caused a deep sleep to come on Saul and his men (I Samuel 26:12.) David came upon them sleeping and knew he could kill Saul. Yet David feared to do anything to God's anointed. Instead he left the battle to God and God did not disappoint. Because David spared Saul's life, Saul left him alone and stopped pursuing him (at least for a while.) Eventually Saul died and David was made king.
Even after David's coronation, trouble continued to plague him. Absalom, his own son, turned against him and tried to take his throne, leaving David to flee for his life. After his throne was reestablished, he continued to fight bloody battles all his days to keep enemy armies out of his kingdom. And even as he was dying, his son Adonijah tried to take the kingdom from Solomon, David's choice to replace him as king. Yes, David knew what it was to be int trouble.
Yet if there was one thing David learned in all his years of trouble it was this: The Lord was his strength in times of trouble. It wasn't David's own strength that killed Goliath. It wasn't even David's strength that killed the lion and the bear. It certianly wasn't David's own strength that made him a king. His God did these things for him. The one time David forgot this was when he committed his sin with Bathsheba. We see how low this brought him. When David realized his error he quickly repented, acknowledging that it was only God who had prospered him so. Yes, David knew what it was to be in trouble. Yet he also knew what it was to trust in his God.
Is there any trouble in your life today? Do you have a problem you don't know how to handle? Remember the words of David. "The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He will be your strength in time of trouble" (Paraphrased). Whatever you need today you can find it in Jesus Christ; F He is the lion of the tribe of Judah, the God of David. He will most assuredly rescue you as he did David so long ago. Call on him today and see what he will do. Be encouraged! David's God is your God. He has never lost a battle and is not about to. You can depend on Him for he will never let you down! Not today, nor tomorrow! Never! His is your strength!
Trusting in Jesus,
Sullivan Jones
David was a man who knew what it was like to be in trouble. From his youth he cared for his father's sheep. By his own testimony, he killed both a lion and a bear to protect his flock. Later on this experience served him well when he faced Goliath. He proclaimed that the same God who had delivered him from the mouth of the lion and the bear would deliver him from this Goliath who was defying his God. David trusted God for deliverance and the rest is history. Against all odds he killed Goliath with a sling and stone and led Israel into victory. Because of this victory King Saul became jealous of David and sought to kill him. David went from being a national hero to a hunted fugitive. Yet even while he was hiding in caves from Saul's army God was with him. More than once Saul's army came close to capturing him and he "barely" escaped. Once while Saul was sleeping David had the chance to rid himself of his enemy. The Bible tells us that God caused a deep sleep to come on Saul and his men (I Samuel 26:12.) David came upon them sleeping and knew he could kill Saul. Yet David feared to do anything to God's anointed. Instead he left the battle to God and God did not disappoint. Because David spared Saul's life, Saul left him alone and stopped pursuing him (at least for a while.) Eventually Saul died and David was made king.
Even after David's coronation, trouble continued to plague him. Absalom, his own son, turned against him and tried to take his throne, leaving David to flee for his life. After his throne was reestablished, he continued to fight bloody battles all his days to keep enemy armies out of his kingdom. And even as he was dying, his son Adonijah tried to take the kingdom from Solomon, David's choice to replace him as king. Yes, David knew what it was to be int trouble.
Yet if there was one thing David learned in all his years of trouble it was this: The Lord was his strength in times of trouble. It wasn't David's own strength that killed Goliath. It wasn't even David's strength that killed the lion and the bear. It certianly wasn't David's own strength that made him a king. His God did these things for him. The one time David forgot this was when he committed his sin with Bathsheba. We see how low this brought him. When David realized his error he quickly repented, acknowledging that it was only God who had prospered him so. Yes, David knew what it was to be in trouble. Yet he also knew what it was to trust in his God.
Is there any trouble in your life today? Do you have a problem you don't know how to handle? Remember the words of David. "The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He will be your strength in time of trouble" (Paraphrased). Whatever you need today you can find it in Jesus Christ; F He is the lion of the tribe of Judah, the God of David. He will most assuredly rescue you as he did David so long ago. Call on him today and see what he will do. Be encouraged! David's God is your God. He has never lost a battle and is not about to. You can depend on Him for he will never let you down! Not today, nor tomorrow! Never! His is your strength!
Trusting in Jesus,
Sullivan Jones