Tag Archive | King David

Hiding From The World

Dec5

childhidingPsalm 55: 6-7 —  “I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest– I would flee far away and stay in the desert” (NIV)

Psalm 32:7 — You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (NIV)

As soon as I finish my coffee, I think I’ll run away! Or build a cave of sofa cushions and hide from the world. There is so much going on, so much I want to do, and I am feeling overwhelmed and somewhat defeated. I recently saw a sign on a social media site that said “I have thought of running away more as an adult than I ever did as a child.” I totally identify with that statement because that’s where I am right now!! Mentally, my bags are packed and my get-outta-here shoes are laced. Things are getting more and more difficult to plan, and everyone knows I love a good plan! I have tried to do all that was expected of me. I have tried to accommodate everyone’s preferences. When things didn’t work, I have tired to fix it. I have tried all I know to do. Obviously, the only clear answer is to run away somewhere – I don’t know where — somewhere that isn’t here — and that will fix everything!! I have been told that people have a flight-or-fight response. I don’t like to fight so flight seems like the perfect plan! Lord, as I look in my Bible, I see that King David felt these same feelings. In Psalm 55: 6-7, he wants out! He doesn’t want get-outta-here shoes; he wants wings, and his GPS is already set for the “somewhere that isn’t here” destination. Lord, I know that running away is not a viable option. I don’t have a wood and stone hiding place to run to, but Lord, I have a hiding place in You. Psalm 32:7 tells me that not only are You my hiding place but that You will protect me and surround me with songs.   Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra said “He who sings scares away his woes.” Like David in Psalm 104:33, I will sing; I will sing praise to You as long as I live. Instead of running away I will run to You. Psalm 119:114 tells me that You are my shelter and my shield and that I should put my hope in Your word.  I guess it’s time to put the cushions back on the sofa!

Target Practice

May12

Psalm 55 :12-14 — Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him. But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend! We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God. (HCSB)

 

Lord, I’m sitting here with my coffee this morning feeling very beaten down and discouraged. As I was speaking to a group about being encouraging and welcoming to people, I felt that a church member in the audience was almost heckling me. What was meant to be “discussion time” seemed to become “target hit targetpractice time” as verbal arrows began coming my way, and they were hitting their target’s bull’s-eye. The comments were neither encouraging nor welcoming! I have spent many hours revisiting what was said and the manner in which it was presented, and I can only quote King David from Psalm 55 – “my thoughts trouble me and I am distraught” (v.2) and “my heart is in anguish within me” (v.4a). I know that my words are not without error and I don’t even pretend that everyone will always agree with me or always like what I say, but this attack was a total shock. Like with David (vv.12-14), it was unexpected, and I felt “sucker punched” because it came from a church member. Lord, I know that as believers we need to hold each other accountable, but sometimes fellow church members can take that as permission to go to extremes with criticism. I know that Proverbs 27:17 says that iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another (HCSB), but this feels more like being hit with the iron! Unlike David’s pleas in v.15, I am not plotting revenge or asking for You to bury this person alive (although a bad case of laryngitis would have been nice!). No, I am questioning myself – what I said as opposed to what I could have said; how I handled the situation as opposed to how I could have handled the situation. In verses 6-8, David wants to run away – that’s how I feel right now too. Maybe I shouldn’t speak to groups…..maybe I shouldn’t speak at all …..maybe I should just run away to the desert! Or, maybe I should give my hurt and frustration to You. Maybe I should take the advice David gives in verse 22 and go forth in full knowledge that You will take care of it. Lord, I feel very beaten down. I’m discouraged. My confidence has been shaken. But, my help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:2 HCSB), and I will conclude this situation just as David concluded Psalm 55 — I will trust You (v.23).