David’s Lamp

Read 2 Samuel 22-23
 
2 Samuel 22:29-30 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD  turns my darkness into light. 30 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
 
2 Samuel 22 is a remarkable praise to God. Please read it and meditate on it. See how powerfully David, the psalmist, the songwriter, has portrayed the LORD God.
    As one pastor has said, 2 Samuel could be called “David” as it portrays David’s victories, sins, opposition and power. David has just come through the “valley of the Shadow of Death”. Absalom, his son, has killed another of David’s sons. Absalom has rebelled against his father, driving David out of Israel. Absalom is killed in battle. Thousands of soldiers have died. David grieves his sons and almost loses his troops. Sheba led a second rebellion against David and the tribe of Judah. The Philistines once again opposed Israel. Warfare rages within Israel and from without, within David’s soul and from his opponents. It has been, I’m sure, a most wearisome, fearful time.
    Does David respond to these troubles with, “Why, God? Why, me? What’s wrong with you, LORD? Why don’t you come and help me? Where are you when I need you?” No. David does not say such sinful words against his Holy Father in heaven. Instead, David praises God. His worship illustrates how our hearts are to continually respond to God in all circumstances. He praises God, rich in mercy, who is still with him to strengthen him.
    It’s true, isn’t it, that people reject God when life doesn’t go as they please? They prefer to be distant from him and angry with him because he doesn’t give them what they want. Our sin nature causes us to believe we deserve only good things. We cry, “Give me!” and expect God to comply.
    Our desires, though, should be for God. God wants us to understand that he “turns my darkness into light”, so we see our way out of the dark cells of sin that imprison us.
    Yes, God is freedom. He is your lamp in the darkness. He is your lamp out in the darkness. See him in all things. Worship God to joyfully live in his comforting light and sure strength.
 
2 Samuel 22:2-3 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior –  from violent men you save me.