Faith in Stressful Circumstances
Unless one reads the heading to this Psalm, one can never fully appreciate the depth of it. The heading to the Psalm is: "When David pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left."
David wrote this psalm at the start of one of the most daring and successful undercover operations in the Old Testament. He was on the run from Saul and took refuge with the Philistine King Abimelech (aka Achish). Because the Philistines were afraid of David's reputation and wanted to kill him, David feigned madness and was so convincing in his act that the king dismissed him as harmless.
Later on, as it became clear that David had become a "stench in Saul's nostrils", Abimelech began to hire David as a mercenary to raid Israel. David, however, only pretended to attack Israel and actually did harm to some of Israel's enemies. This was a very risky undertaking.
All of this background demonstrates David's courage, but also the enormity of the strain he was under and the risks he was taking. Many people feel similar levels of strain as we experience enormous uncertainty and volatility.
The verses below show us how David coped and how he experienced God's help.
Thankfully you and I can experience the same.
| I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. (Psalms34:1-7) |
