Day 23

It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies : thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. (II Samuel 22:48-49).

David trusted God even through some of his greatest suffering. When David fled his home because Absalom sought to overthrow his father's throne, a man named Shimei came out to tuant and curse him on his way. He followed along side his party throwing dirt and rocks and cursing him. Davids party (Abishai) wanted to slay the man for this but David would have nothing to do with it. Instead he responded "So let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?" and "It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day."

David understood that nothing in his life could come to pass if it were not the will of God alone. His attitude was this: Who am I to question the workings of God. He trusted God's providence in all things, even to restore him back to the throne. He would not lay his hand to sword to defend himself. The Lord is his defense. 

How often do we seek to fight with our own strength when the trials of this life become to great. We will throw every resource available to us at a problem if we think it will even slightly ease our suffering. Remember, God's works of providence are "His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions." (WSC, q. 11). What can this world do to prevail against us?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things?If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:28-39)

Solus Christus,

Jay Silvas