No matter how real the danger, we need not doubt our protection

By Dean Collins

The danger was real, but so was the protection.

David described the danger this way:

“I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by”
“My soul is in the midst of lions”
“I lie down amid fiery beasts—the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords”

David’s description leads us to believe those who were pursuing him were intent on physical damage and were already inflicting psychological and emotional damage. His situation or risk was real, and he needed real protection.  Earlier in his life, David took down Goliath with one shot, a one-on-one battle. Now David had platoons of men trying to find him.

Calling on God

You have probably noticed in life that while we sometimes have only one challenge or difficulty, often we face multiple challenges.  If you are a leader, then there is a multiplication factor as you have responsibilities that include the well-being of others and their families.  Years ago when working as an HR executive in a public company, I was preparing remarks with the CEO for the next morning’s announcement to the employees of a company our company was purchasing.

I reminded the CEO that there would be a lot of anxious employees in the room. He asked why I thought that. I explained that many would fear— and it would likely come true—that they would lose their jobs. It was a sobering moment for both of us as we considered that what we were about to do impacted hundreds of employees and their families.

David had a sense that what could happen to him would also impact others. As he faced his threats, he knew his best defense was to call out to God. We can almost feel the desperation in David’s words:

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge“
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me”
“They set a net for my steps”
“They dug a pit in my way”

The danger was real, so real that David had hidden in a cave. It is natural for us to find and hide in a safe place when facing danger. Just last week my wife and I huddled in an interior bathroom of our house because a tornado had been spotted just a few miles away and was headed our direction. When there is danger, you should absolutely find a refuge of safety.

The problem we often have is that once we have experienced a threat we can easily become obsessed with fear.  It is normal to have fear in moments of danger. God understands our fears and welcomes us to seek refuge in him. We never face a moment when God is not with us. However, in our fearful moments we often forget to call upon him to settle the storms going on in our heads.

Used for his purposes

Psalm 57 gives us a wonderful example of how to face danger and how not to become overwhelmed. The first step we must learn to follow is to ask God, even cry out to God, for his mercy and his help. Before David finished his cry for help, he made a declaration to God and to himself: “In you my soul takes refuge.” The moment we announce to God that we are choosing to take refuge in him is the very moment we begin to shift our focus off of the sources of our fear and onto our solution.

David comes at his desperation a second time: “I cry out to God most High,” and he follows that cry with another declaration, “to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” It is important to remember that God does indeed have a purpose for all of us. We are his creation. We are his children. We are a part of his kingdom on earth, and he has plans for our role in his kingdom. No matter what we go through, God can and will use it for a greater purpose. He will simply never abandon us or the purposes he has for each of us.

Confident in our challenges

You and I will continue to face challenges. We may even have to deal with enemies. We may face tough financial moments, work stress, and health challenges. And just like David, we can take refuge in the rock of our salvation, Jesus our Savior.  All of our problems will ultimately resolve when we meet him in Heaven. And while we wait for his return and our transition, we can confidently turn to our Father in Heaven.

 David’s example of how to do that comes in the last few verses of this psalm. The best way to drive out fear and to find refuge comes as we worship the Lord in word and song. Take a minute and read David’s song of praise:

“I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!”

And better yet, take another moment and sing a song of worship.  Click here for a dynamic possibility to help you “raise a hallelujah.” It is amazing how much more peaceful we become when we shift our focus from our problems to God’s glory!

Your time with God’s Word
Psalm‬ ‭57‬:‭1‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV

Photo by Josh Hild at Pexels.com

To receive daily posts delivered directly to your inbox, complete the form at the bottom of our home page.