“Stuck?”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Monday, June 6, 2022
Psalm 56 (Forward, p. 39) CEV p. 587
The future King David has a choice, a choice not so much in terms of action, in terms of behaviour, what he should or should not do, but in terms of belief, in terms of his mental framing of events. He is on the run from King Saul, a desperate fugitive with a price on his head. It would seem that there is no place where he can find a secure and lasting refuge. He had ‘bailed out’ the people of Keilah when they were being attacked by the Philistines (1 Samuel 23:1-5), and yet even they, in a seeming total lack of gratitude, were prepared to ‘sell him over’ to King Saul (see verses 6-13). Later, on a couple of occasions, he takes refuge with foreigners, namely Israel’s enemies, the Philistines, knowing fully well that Saul won’t go after him there. But even there, he is not safe from the innuendoes, suspicions and threats, and is forced to leave. And then, even in the barren and treacherous desert wilds of En Gedi and the Dead Sea, he is not safe from the predations of King Saul.
So, what is David to do? How is he to ‘see’ his situation? As one of futility and hopeless and eventual failure? Certainly, that is how the events are conspiring to seem. But, is that the final outcome, God’s ultimate plan? Not, in the least. David has been promised that he would one day be king and so he holds on to that, remote and impossible as it might seem at this present juncture. So, it is that promise that he holds on to, that he clings, that he trusts. In verse 3 he says, “but even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you.” And twice (verses 4 and 10-11), he says,
“I praise your promises! I trust you and am not afraid. No one can harm me”.
So, what about us? Are there promises that we can hold on to, that we can trust, with the same kind of certainty—especially in times of difficulty, trouble or uncertainty? A particular ‘brand’ of Christian practitioners espouse rather outlandish and sketchy claims that God promises health and prosperity to anyone who follows Him, the so-called ‘Health and Wealth’ Gospel. That claim, however, does not stand up to any close or sustained scrutiny and can only be supported by the selective use of Scriptural portions. These passages are often taken entirely out of context, and often employ a questionable translation or reading of the original Greek or Hebrew words.
However, on a more positive and demonstratively accurate side, there are many passages that promise salvation, forgiveness and eternal life among our many spiritual blessings. And, certainly, God does promise to work out all things for good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). And certainly, we know the nothing, even the Gates of Hell, can prevail against God’s divinely appointed church (see Matthew 16:18).
However, what are to me even more incredible promises is that He understands us and our perils and temptations (Hebrews 4:15-16), will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and will indeed be with us to the very end (Matthew 28:20). And so, for me, I can most definitely be like the future King David, knowing that God is on our side, and is with us, and will help us, no matter what! And so, I don’t have to be ‘stuck’, perplexed, wondering what will happen. I can simply trust God, and then let Him take care of the rest. Amen.
Forward notes: ”You have noted my lamentation; put my tears in your bottle; are they not recorded in your book?” (verse 8)
“My mother died suddenly, half a world away, during Holy Week. On Maundy Thursday, I was on a plane to Malaysia. I officiated at her funeral on Easter Sunday. A few days later, I flew home, her ashes stowed under the seat in front of me.
“My faith was shattered. I went through the motions at church. I barely prayed. It was a long time before I trusted God again.
“Yet with some perspective, I now know I was not abandoned. No one tried to talk me out of my grief or my mistrust, but instead they allowed me the space to not be okay. What I could not believe at the time, the church believed on my behalf until I was ready for a renewed relationship with our God, who is so intimately acquainted with sorrow.”
Moving Forward: “Do you have someone in your life for whom you need to believe on their behalf? Lift them in prayer each day this week.”