God Alone

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
Philippians 1	Philippians 2	Philippians 3	Philippians 4	Numbers 11	Numbers 12	Psalms 55

In Psalms 55, David called out to the Lord for help because he was being terrorized by those who were out to get him. They were trying to bring disaster down on him and "terrors of death" swept over him. (Psalms 55:4) He was gripped by fear continually at the threat they posed against him. David wished he could just fly away like a dove and escape the threats, but it didn't happen. Then he wanted to flee far away in the wilderness but that didn't happen. Next he wanted to be sheltered from the attacks but that didn't happen either.

When David couldn't escape his situation, he asked the Lord to defeat his enemies, confusing their speech so they couldn't make accusations against him and praying that death would "take them by surprise." (55:15) God did none of these things for David. Finally David realized that God, Himself, was sufficient. It wasn't escape nor defeat of his enemy that he needed most, but God's grace that he needed. He continually took his problem to the Lord and was comforted in that God heard him. He was comforted also in that in the end he would be exonerated and his enemies humiliated.

So David's counsel to us is to "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Though God may not remove us from our trouble and may not remove those who cause our trouble, we can be assured that God will keep us safe through the storm and in His timing will bring about justice with the wicked.

David's lesson from his experience was the same lesson Paul learned when he asked the Lord to remove the "thorn" in his flesh and it was not removed. The lesson was that God's grace is sufficient. That His power is perfected in our weakness. Paul concluded that, "I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)