Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. 2 My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride. 3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? 5 All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. 6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life. 7 On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations. 8 Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll--are they not in your record? 9 Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise-- 11 in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. 13 For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

If you have not done so recently, turn to the book of 1 Samuel and read the plight and problems of David. Saul was king and became jealous of David. Because of his own wickedness, the Spirit of God left Saul. Because of his faithfulness, the Spirit of God came upon David. Saul pursued David as though he were some wild animal and tried every way possible to kill him. God was always with David and delivered him from his enemies. One of the things we see is how David would never avenge himself against Saul because he was the Lord’s anointed. In fact, David never did anything but good to and for Saul. He always treated him with kindness and respect.

The amazing thing (considering how most of us are) is how David never lost his trust in God. We don’t know for sure how many of the Psalms were written during this time of flight but as we read all of them we see one who had real problems but left the solutions up to God. Most of us will never see anything close to what David faced and yet we give in so easily to our doubts and fears. Not only did he never doubt that God would take care of him and give him deliverance but he continually offered up praise and thanksgiving, even while hiding among the rocks and in the caves.

Lord God, please help me to see the faith and courage of David and know that you never deserted him, even when all others seemingly turned against him. Help me to use his faith to strengthen my own so that no matter what I face I will continually offer up praise and thanksgiving to you. Open my heart to your love. Convict me of any wrong of which I am guilty so that I will change my life to conform to your will. Forgive me. In Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we trust and obey him.