How Long O LORD?
Today’s Reading: Psalm 13 (SOAP: Ps. 13:5)
But I have trusted in Your faithful love;
Psalm 13:5 HCSB
my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance.
When You Can’t See God’s Hand Trust His Heart
Whatever David’s situation it seems to have been around for a while. He’s feeling ignored, agitated, and a bit impatient. BUT … He doesn’t let these feelings shake his faith and resolve to trust God’s heart (who God is at His core) even when he can’t see His hand at work. The true beauty and evidence of this is displayed in the second statement of verse 5, “my heart will rejoice in Your deliverance”. So sure is David of God’s faithfulness he is already planning to rejoice when God delivers Him. Oh to have the Faith of David!
As I wrote the words above, I was reminded that David had demonstrated this faith when facing Goliath, the Philistine giant … I know you may remember the story – but do you remember why his faith was so strong in God or why he didn’t wear the armor Saul had given him? Take a minute to read the story again – and look at the essence of David’s faith as told by David in 1 Samuel 17:32-50.
His faith was strong because God had delivered him from the claws of the lion and the bear and he didn’t wear Saul’s armor, not because he trusted the sling and stones but because he trusted in the LORD who rescued him from the bear and the lion!
In response to Saul’s challenge that David couldn’t because he was only a boy – David replies, “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
And in response to Saul wanting David to wear his armor when facing the giant, David replies, I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:34-40
Walk by Faith
There will definitely be times of lament (disappointment, sorrow, frustration…) in our lives but we must not let them shake our faith in God. We must learn and resolve to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).
Prayer Prompt
Father, I trust in Your faithfulness and I have rejoiced many times over in Your deliverance. I will sing praises to You my God. I will magnify Your name and continually see Your face, Your help, and Your strength. In the name of Jesus my Savior – Amen!