Psalm 142: 3 When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me…5 Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.[1]
David was on overload because his life had changed drastically. He had been a famous, successful commander in the army. He was married to king’s daughter and best friends with the king’s son. But he ended up on the run from King Saul who was jealous and trying to kill him. David had tried to hide in the country of Philistia, Israel’s enemy. But he was spotted and had to feign madness to escape. When he wrote this Psalm He was hiding in a cave at a low point in his life.
Many people now are on overload because of the pandemic and the orders to stay in our homes and away from other people. We, like David, can ask the Lord for mercy. David had his fame, fortune, and relationships taken away from him. Did God do this to him? No.
God has set up this world so that we can have a choice to follow Him or not. True love can’t be forced, and He desires that we love Him with all our hearts. God took a chance that humans would refuse to follow. Saul had refused to follow God when he didn’t follow God’s commands in battle (1 Samuel 13). The nation of Israel had rejected God as their leader when they requested a king (1 Samuel 8). David was experiencing the consequences of other people’s sin. But God, the good Father that He is, allowed this situation to build David’s faith. David had only God to turn to and God showed that He is the God of Refuge.
We can be sure that God is a God of refuge for us today, also. Disease itself is a consequence of the fall into sin. As this pandemic proceeds, people may have made poor choices in communication and treatment of the pandemic. This is what happens in a sinful world. But be assured that God knows what is happening. Turn to God like David did when he was overwhelmed. David realized that God was his refuge and all he really wanted in life. Can you say the same? If not, read over our new believer section. God desires a relationship with each of us and provided Jesus as the one who makes that possible. To hear more about David, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/david-and-his-songs-the-early-years/the-god-of-refuge
[1] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.