"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55: 8-9 ESV)?
Was thinking that sometimes people do know a lot, and do think BIG, yet with all that, God out thinks and out does any number of the greatest of great thinkers. So that thought can keep us all humble.
David, the Psalmist must have been thinking on that too. He "quilled" the words,
"O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me..." (Psalm 131:1 ESV).
I wonder what he was actually thinking about when he wrote those words. Was he in an agitated state of distress or stress? Was he kind of questioning God in some way because of what life had brought him, but then was contrite and said he wouldn't think too much?
I think he was stressed or distressed but then turned to the right direction. Look at the second verse of that Psalm,
"But I have calmed and quieted my soul..."
Perhaps David was longing to be back to the more uncomplicated shepherd boy days. Then he only had to worry about wild beasts attacking his sheep, finding enough grass and quiet waters for them, and looking for suitable places of shelter. He had had plenty of leisure to hone his sling-shot shot and become the most melodious of harpists.
When he became a harpist for King Saul, he then had the stress of playing as soothingly as possible, hoping for the best result, and then dodging javelins.
Turn that up a few notches when he began to play cat and mouse with King Saul (1 Samuel 21-31). He had to be on the move and hide away to avoid being killed by him during the nation wide manhunt for his life. Can you imagine the fear, anxiety and stress levels that would produce?
That was bad enough but then he became king himself...
All manner of stress-producing things happened amongst the benefits and privileges of kingship. He did bring on a major portion of that upon himself, however. He became an adulterer and a murderer. By right, he should have been stoned to death by the people or killed by the relatives of the victim Uriah, according to their Law (Leviticus 20:10). He didn't get away with it though. Four of his offspring died because of his gross sins. How would you feel about that! The guilt! Would it get you down? You were the one to perpetuate that death upon your own children!? That had to gnaw away at David's soul (2 Samuel 12:9-10).
Stemming from that, his own son Absalom wrested the kingdom away from his father King David by his charisma and cunning. Even one of David's most trusted advisers, Ahithophel, betrayed him and jumped into Absalom's camp (2 Samuel 15:12; 16:20-23). Frustration. Anger. Dismay. Disappointment. Hurt. So many negatives (2 Samuel 15-19).
Is this depressing you yet?
King David was on the run again. Such humiliation and that at the hand of a beloved son.
You might say that David had every right to question God about these things; especially when King Saul, and subsequently, Absalom, was scouring the country looking for him.
I like how the rest of Psalm 131 reads; verse 3,
"O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore."
David shares this with his people who he cares about as he once did his sheep. He wants them to know and have this confidence too.
Many of the other Psalms of David talk about God being his "refuge", "rock", "strength" and so on.
This is how he "calmed and quieted" himself. He put himself into God's care and protection and judgment, and realized that God's ways were too great for him to think of beyond a certain human limit. What could he do beyond that? He had to "let go, and let God", as many quip.
David's confidence in God is great and so he rests in Him; calms and quiets himself.
It is wonderful to know that because of God's great love for us too, we too can do the same. God proved that love to us by sending His one and only Son to die on the cross for us; to pay the penalty for our sins and make atonement for our souls. Due to Jesus' death and resurrection, we can also "hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore".
Jesus said,
"Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:2-30 ESV).
I share that verse often as well as this one,
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV).
Folks may have to humble themselves and ask for help. David was the King, the top man who had great successes in war; a war hero, loved by many. Yet, he had to acknowledge his need of God, his Helper. He had to depend upon Him for deliverance. When we too, make that admission, we will find God to be so gracious and caring and dependable. He keeps His promises. You do your part, "cast all your anxieties on Him", and He'll keep His part, "He'll exalt you" and "give you rest". You will find calm and quiet for your soul.
When we gather together on Lord's Day to remember Jesus in His death and resurrection for us, remember that we are privileged to be able to dip into His storehouse of rest, calm and quietness. This was made possible because of His sacrifice for us who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
So as you pass the bread and cup of wine one to another, meditate upon this rest we can appropriate for ourselves in the midst of the most distressing times of life. You can have calm. You can have quiet. You can have hope in the Lord; for now, and forevermore.
~ERC June 2019~
Further Scriptures to read: Numbers 35:16-21; Deuteronomy 19:11-13; 17:6; 19:15
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV).
Here's a song written by David Evans, called Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord
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