Nougat 17

David’s life is a lesson for us all. After being overlooked by his father when the prophet asked of his father’s sons, he was anointed by God. But the time between the anointing by Samuel and his official reign was forty years. Yet, he never lost Hope. His secret?

Total Reliance on God. (See his acrostic psalm 119.)

Today’s Holy Nougat offers another perspective (and perhaps lesser known text) on David’s total reliance on God.

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Total Reliance

‘Trust … Delight in … Commit … Trust’ – those are David’s words of wisdom and encouragement to his people in despair. The psalm begins with the quote, ’Don’t worry about the wicked or envy wrong-doers’. That’s as attention-grabbing as it gets. David wasn’t being idealistic: he knew what he was talking about. He dispensed that wisdom from his personal experience of God’s providence.

Having been discounted by his brother Eliab (see 1 Samuel 17:12-30, especially verse 28); he overthrew Goliath.

Having overthrown Goliath, he earned the people’s favor.

Having won the people’s favor, he earned Saul’s jealousy. Saul’s depression became manic attacks, and only David’s harp music soothed him.

Having the gift of worship, David landed in Saul’s chambers – with the perfect opportunity to help Saul AND become his understudy.

Having garnered all the skills needed from Saul, David had to flee for his life.

Having become a fugitive, David learned even more about his enemy, including the Philistines.

All because David relied on God.

In the face of grave danger, David saw beyond the ordinary. His total reliance on God saw him journalling, resulting in him writing several of the psalms we know and love. His life in constant jeopardy, even during his shepherding days, David feared neither beast nor human. He feared only God, and that Godly fear kept David reliant on God for his safety.

He could thus encourage the people to Trust God’s ability to provide for them in the rough moments. He had lived it. David’s worship life remains legendary. He delighted in his Lord, even when ‘afraid’.

David committed himself to God’s service and readily repented when called out on his wrongs. And having (re)/committed himself to God, David trusted God’s grace and mercy would effect his forgiveness.

Relying on God didn’t render him sinless, relying on God helped him to sin less. Siblings, it can be the same for us. We also can opt to commit our entire path and life to God’s care. We also can delight ourselves in God’s direction, protection and compassion. We have to trust God’s Word and God’s track record that God WILL DO what God has promised; starting with our own experiences.

Total Reliance: Delight in God, Trusting God, Commit ourselves to God, Trust God – even in the presence of evil.

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May all we seek be found in Christ