May 26th, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Up Close and Personal

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord, may I look at the past with thanksgiving, at the present with faith and at the future with hope.

Read Psalm 18:1-50

[1] For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, LORD, my strength. [2] The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. [3] I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. [4] The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. [5] The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. [6] In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. [7] The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. [8] Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. [9] He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. [10] He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. [11] He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him- the dark rain clouds of the sky. [12] Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. [13] The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. [14] He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. [15] The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, LORD, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. [16] He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. [17] He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. [18] They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. [19] He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. [20] The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. [21] For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God. [22] All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. [23] I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. [24] The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. [25] To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, [26] to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. [27] You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. [28] You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. [29] With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. [30] As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. [31] For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? [32] It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. [33] He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. [34] He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. [35] You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. [36] You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. [37] I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. [38] I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. [39] You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. [40] You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. [41] They cried for help, but there was no one to save them- to the LORD, but he did not answer. [42] I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them like mud in the streets. [43] You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, [44] foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. [45] They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. [46] The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! [47] He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, [48] who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. [49] Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. [50] He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

Here, God came in power and deliverance, and King David was saved from his enemies. Sometimes that happens for us and sometimes it doesn’t. But God is with us always.

Think Further

This psalm appears originally in 2 Samuel 22 where David, coming to the end of his life, praises God for his faithfulness in all the vicissitudes of his experience. The reasons for David’s profound happiness (1) are readily evident. Even though powerful enemies had surrounded him and death seemed imminent (4,5), he did more than merely survive. He was victorious (37,38), and he knew that this triumph was not the result of his military prowess. It had to be God’s work; no other explanation made sense. When all was lost and David descended into despair, he cried out to God for delivery (6). The victory was God’s (36,40,43). That is why he sang “The Lord lives!” (46). It’s an exultant, thankful cry, and the climax of Psalm 18. David’s experience was of a living God, not a disinterested or distant being, nor a lifeless image carved in stone or wood, but a living, caring, personal and responsive God. 

I’m no king and my life is very different from David’s, but I can still confidently declare that my Lord lives! No doubt the same is true for you. Just like Israel’s greatest king, we know that he who has created all that exists is also our shepherd. We have our own experiences to share of God’s gentle shepherding in our lives. 

Like David, too, we have stories of times when it feels like God has forgotten us forever. For days on end, even months, we long for an unmistakable indication of God’s presence and care. During such times, God requires of us a patient trust. As we trust him, he will fill our hearts with confident love and praise to enable us to sing this wonderful psalm with assurance and hope.

Apply

A praising, thankful heart puts life’s perplexities in perspective. Spend some time thanking and praising God now.

Closing prayer

Lord God, although I may not know what life will bring, I offer my praise to You. I claim the promise that whatever the circumstance, You are always with me.

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