THE LORD SPOKE (August 14)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 53-58

You could call it “David’s Declaration of Dependence”. It’s not the American thing to do. We glory in our independence as a nation but also as individuals. We’re proud to be a “self-made man”. “I can do it myself” and “I did it my way” are our watchwords.

Here is a man chosen by God for great things and he knew it from an early age. Here is the man already anointed by Samuel to be the next king. Here is the man who has already written, under the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit, extensive portions of Scripture - God’s Word recorded for man. Yet, he’s hiding in a smelly cave (I Sam. 24) with goat droppings, spider webs, and bat dung. He finds himself in a compromised situation. He probably doesn’t know how many of Saul’s warriors are outside the cave but on a similar occasion (I Sam. 26:3), Saul had 3000 to chase David. The En Gedi oasis had real lions back then (it still has four!) but David’s greatest danger came from “men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords” (Ps. 57:4).

Out of the depths, David cries out to El Elyon (“God Most High”). Abram (Gen. 14) had done so 1000 years earlier and Daniel (Dan. 7) was still doing so 500 years later. The reason men have cried out to Him is because He is in the business of...

• showering mercy (Ps. 57:1b)
• providing refuge (Ps. 57:1b)
• fulfilling His purpose in us (Ps. 57:2)
• saving us (Ps. 57:3a)
• stopping our enemies (Ps. 57:3a)
• loving us (Ps. 57:3b and 10a)
• and being faithful in all things (Ps. 57:3b & 10b)

Do you know him? Have you cast yourself upon Him like David? Have you ever made your own “declaration of dependence”? He will be your refuge and put a song in your heart (Ps. 57:7) that will raise your spirits right up to His throne room above the heavens. No more smelly caves!


New Testament: I Peter 4

You’d think it should end at some point. You’d think that once you get to a certain level it would slow down. You’d think that suffering for being a Christian would taper off with time. But Peter seems to indicate just the opposite. Indeed, if you look at the life of the Lord Jesus, it was the other way around. He began with everyone speaking well of Him but, before it was over, even some of his friends and closest associates turned against Him. It didn’t end until they ended His life.

One source of abuse comes from the world. In I Peter 4:1-6, the author says that they think us strange because we don’t or won’t enjoy the things they do. Because we won’t take part in their “debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry” they “heap abuse on us”. Maybe you wouldn’t even think to do such things but take care that you don’t participate vicariously in them - through TV!

Another source of suffering comes from other believers. In I Peter 4:7-11, Peter refers especially to how we need to treat “one another”. Our prayers are hindered when we do not clear our minds and control our selves. Love, hospitality, and the exercise of spiritual gifts should characterize our community with other believers. When our words and our motivation comes from God, we are able to “administer God’s grace” in its various forms to others. In this He is praised and receives the glory.

So, if you suffer for being a Christian, it’s not “as though something strange were happening to you” (I Pet. 4:12-19). It’s actually the will of God (see I Pet. 2:15; 3:17; 4:2,19) and is reason to praise Him because He has counted you worthy to bear the name of Christ (I Pet. 4:16). But what if it still hurts? The answer comes in the last verse. You must commit yourself to your faithful Creator and continue to do good” (I Pet. 4:19). Or, as Paul told the Galatians: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:19).