Articles
Flee but Trust in God
Flee but Trust in God
Ps 3-4, 12-13, 28, 55
Following David's sin with Bathsheba, we watch as he must face trouble after trouble. In 2Sam. 15 we saw the conspiracy of Absalom against David. His own son began a coup. Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people. David again must flee for his life.
David had spent years fleeing from Saul. One of the things we saw in David then was his relationship with God. David protected himself WHILE he prayed to God for help. All the while he refused to take vengeance upon Saul. He had to go to some great lengths in protecting and providing for himself, yet the whole time he trusted that God would be with him in doing this.
Now, he must do this all again, and he does. This time, the 'enemy' is his own son and not the God-appointed king. As we read these prayers of David (Ps 3-4, 12-13, 28, and 55) we catch the mental and spiritual turmoil of David. He prays in the morning (Ps. 3) and the evening (Ps. 4). In these prayers, he reaffirms his confident trust in God.
In these Psalms, he calls upon God again and again for help at the same time that he flees from Absalom. Such was NOT a distrust of God. It would have been a testing of God to take no precaution and ask God to protect him. So, he flees and prays.
The chimney corner 'scripture' says that God helps those who help themselves. Such, while not stated this way in the bible, is the principle being shown in David's actions. People often make one of two mistakes in times of trouble: they either refuse to help themselves and yet pray that God would do it for them, or they leave God out of the plans and try to do it by themselves.
How does God fit into your life when you face difficult times? Hugh DeLong
