Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“ When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a container of wine. The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink.” The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’” Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.” When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came. He cast stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and wicked fellow! Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!””
(2 Samuel 16:1-8)

“Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased!
    Many are those who rise up against me.
Many there are who say of my soul,
    “There is no help for him in God.” Selah.
But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,
    my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.”
(Psalm 3:1-3)

“Hurry, God, to deliver me.
    Come quickly to help me, Yahweh.
Let them be disappointed and confounded who seek my soul.
    Let those who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
Let them be turned because of their shame
    who say, “Aha! Aha!””
(Psalm 70:1-3)

“I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God.
    I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.
My lips shall shout for joy!
    My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!
My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long,
    for they are disappointed, and they are confounded,
    who want to harm me.”
(Psalm 71:22-24)

David’s own son was setting up rebellion against him. David’s trusted counsellor had gone over to Absalom. Jonathan’s son seems to have turned against him (spoiler: he hasn’t, but the servant was portraying him that way to get an advantage). Another man was calling curses out on David’s head for his past actions. David was forced to flee from his royal city with his family and personal servants. He was tired. He was on the run. He was being hunted. Strife on every side. Upheaval. But David didn’t despair. He planted men where he could. He made provision for being kept in the loop. And he didn’t take the Ark away from the people. He left them a way to interact with God. He did that because he didn’t blame God nor did He try to corner the market on God. Whatever God wanted to happen, David would accept. He would be brought back by the Lord or kept away by the Lord. He knew that despite his errors along the way, he was the rightful king because God had appointed him that. Only God could take it away from David. So David humbled himself and prepared to accept whatever God’s will was.

David’s songs at this time were cries out to God. Pleas for help. But they were also acknowledgement of God’s goodness, God’s strength, and God’s protection. Regardless of how it was going to turn out, David would still praise the Lord. Not just for his eager expectation to return to Jerusalem and his throne. Praise because God was God. Because God was good. Because God was mighty, in control, and the Almighty. Because God was worthy of praise simply because He WAS God. David never forgot that. His heart was for the Lord.

Summary

When we are innocent and bad things happen, we can yell out ‘why’ like Job did. When we have done wrong, but repented, and are walking through the consequences of our actions, we can yell out ‘praise the Lord’ like David did. David never aggrandized himself. He never forgot who he was and why he was where he was. He missed some things and made some mistakes, but he never let go of who God was and what God could do. Many of his songs are odes to the goodness, majesty, and wonder of the Lord. It is a great place to live and a good attitude to have. No matter what is going on, no matter why it is going on, and regardless of whether we ever get an answer, the Lord is worthy of praise. He is GOOD. He is GOD. He IS.