Discover His heart: He shelters me from all harm and places a song in my heart
When I was a very little girl, I used to run to my mom’s billowy skirt when I was afraid, embarrassed or shy. Just like June Cleaver, mothers years ago actually wore dresses or skirts all day long at home, and my mom’s skirt often offered the security I needed. I remember hiding within its folds as it wrapped itself around me. She would reach down with a hand and caress me to let me know she was there and everything was just fine. As the years went on, I found an even greater place of safety during troubled times, a place well known to our Psalmist.
As he did through much of his life. David was living through some difficult times in these three Psalms. In them, we see his humanity, frustration and anger at the deeds of his enemies. We can identify with him, whether on a personal basis or in our disgust with societal evils. David’s ability to tell God precisely how he felt without embarrassment or fear of retribution reveals how intimate his relationship with God truly was. Psalm 58 shows David fiercely angry with evil justices and rulers, calling for God’s judgment on them; but before long he, too, was judged for his evil deeds. Yes, David was very human. However, in all his troubles, he knew that God was his only hope.
@ Psalm 57
David was in a cave hiding from King Saul, his one-time mentor, who was now hunting for him in a jealous rage. Even when given opportunity to kill his enemy, David had chosen to hide rather than touch God’s anointed one. In our challenges, sometimes we fight, and sometimes we wait and trust. David often referred in Psalms to his hiding place, the shelter of God’s wings: “I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.” (1) Just like David, I sometimes run to shelter myself beneath the shadow of His wings as His billowy garments wrap themselves around me. I feel His caress and know that everything will be just fine.
Although David was surrounded by his enemies who devoured their prey and whose words cut like a sword, he proclaimed, “My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up my heart!….I will wake the dawn with my song.” (7-8) If he was able to wake the dawn, then David must have known some sleepless nights. What a victorious way to welcome the dawn, with a song from his heart! His mind would advise him to quake with fear, to fret away the sleepless hours, but his heart was filled with a song of confident trust in God.
While I’m not so sure that hearing my early morning vocals is the way my husband wants to start his day, I’m determined to sing through those sleepless hours that I face from time to time and wake the dawn with a song of confident trust in Him. Knowing my husband like I do, I’m fairly certain he’ll sing right along.
Moving Forward: In the challenges I face today, whether called to fight or to shelter, I will run to Him for help. From early morning I will sing the song of confident trust in Him. What a great day!
Tomorrow @ Job 39-40
Phyllis Benigas 