David's Life Assurance

Read 1 Samuel 21-22, Psalm 34, Psalm 56, Psalm 142

Psalm 56:3-4, 8 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?... 8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
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Psalm 34:18, 20 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed…20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!
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Psalm 142:5 Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.”


THE Daily Bible incorporates these psalms of David with David’s story. David wrote and sang these psalms in the midst of Saul’s persecution and the other challenges he face. They become more personal and meaningful to us when we glimpse David’s emotional struggles, striving to trust God while his life is in mortal danger. You know that living with complete assurance of God’s love and care for you is not easy. Try to imagine David’s feelings as he looked to God while looking for Saul’s deadly assaults. 
   We can learn from David because David needed what we all need – a life in a full assurance God is our God. We want to trust that I AM, the eternal God, personally loves, guides, strengthens and protects us even in the “valley of the shadow of death”. How many times have you needed and received such words as are written in these psalms? When you didn’t know what to do have you confessed to God, “When I am afraid I put my trust in you.” Have you spoken strength into a friend’s life, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”  Certainly you’ve needed to pray for others and for yourself, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” How good to have such assurance for your life. Even as you speak such words, your faith will grow.
   The Holy Spirit is good to give us such assuring words. We can read, know and use them, for example, to turn away disappointment and destroy doubt. Saying to El Shaddai, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” will comfort your heart. Such a faithful confession will teach your mind of God’s compassion to love you and his power to protect you.
   David’s life under Saul’s jealous rule was one of extraordinary challenges. We read how his brothers ridiculed him before his battle with Goliath. King Saul revealed his sinful heart when he repeatedly assured Jonathan he would not harm David but then turned to pursue him. David pretended he was insane to protect his life amid the Philistines. At one point, David’s own men threatened to stone him. People died protecting the LORD’s anointed. There were likely many days when David would confess, “For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!” Then did he wonder, “Is that true?”
   To have a living assurance of God’s personal care over your life requires you commit to a journey through the opposition toward God. You know there will be trials. You know God will be silent at times. Still, with a living assurance in God’s promises, you will confess, “I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?”