A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
I lay down and slept,
Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God!
My worst enemy comes from within
“It’s me O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer!” It's me I unknowingly ask you to slap around! I am my own worst enemy. And many of the other enemies in my life result from my own poor choices.
Samuel tells Absalom’s story in chapters 13 to 20 of his first book. This handsome and cunning prince murdered his half brother, Amnon, because King David had not brought him to justice after raping Absalom’s sister, Tamar. Unlike his response to the rape, David leaps into action over the murder, and Absalom flees. Later, because of his affection for this favored son, David allows him to return to the palace, but refuses to see him for two years.
Get the picture? This is one dysfunctional family! David’s paternal incompetence paved the way for Absalom’s rebellion. Just because people love God profoundly, like David did, doesn’t guarantee their effectiveness in other areas of life. And just because God welcomed and praised David, as a “man after my own heart,” does not mean God approved of David’s incompetent parenting.
As critical, just because David masterfully, if unwittingly, set the stage himself for this rebellion, God still cared about him and welcomed David’s psalm.
I can be just as clueless as David. I love God passionately. But learning competent parenting, marriage skills, qualities of lasting friendship, and relational keys in God’s family – these things take a lifetime of learning. These demand humbling confession, submission to God’s discipline, and trust in God’s continuing care for and patience with a man who is his own worst enemy.
Thank God he ignores my request to knock out my enemy's teeth without ignoring me!
God, I’m grateful that you are you. Only you have the wisdom and patience for we enemies of ourselves. And only you possess the ability to transform us by your unconditional and perfect love. I worship you today! - Mike Leamon
Lifted heads
Despair, depression, despondency all creep into our lives stealing our joy and robbing us of energy. Our enemy the devil knows simple discouragement is enough to keep us from Kingdom work. When we are walking in the strength of the Lord, Satan’s direct attacks do not deter us, so he plants silent thoughts to try and lure us away from God’s strength to thinking we can do life on our own.
When these thoughts begin to take root in our mind we begin to doubt the sufficiency of God to provide for us and protect us. We even begin to question why God would use us. Instead of looking through the eyes of faith and the grace of God, we see ourselves only as broken. Our head begins to droop and soon we are retreating from service, spending time with God in his word, and even prayer. We are listening to the wrong voice.
Instead, the Psalmist boldly declares God is the lifter of our heads. On our own, we are nothing, but in Christ we are the workmanship of God. God never makes junk. As Christ’s workmanship we are valued, loved, and ready for service in the Kingdom of God. God wants to lift our heads, to focus our attention, not on the ground beneath us, but on His face. Like Peter walking on the water, when we look at the waves, we sink; when our head is held up and we look at Jesus we walk on water.
Jesus, I ask for forgiveness for listening to the voice of discouragement and looking at the waves instead of focusing on your face. Lift my head today so my eyes are centered on you and your glory. - Dan Jones
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