Psalm 71 Part 4
It is interesting to acknowledge that what we feel at times does not change the nature of God. But having said that as I consider my lifetime there have been times when I have felt that God was a long way from me and was not interested in me. This just highlights how careful we have to be in controlling our thoughts. This is where it is essential to bring our thoughts into captivity and not let them aimlessly wander. David was no different for he wrote in Verse 12&13 “O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let them be confounded and consumed, who are the adversaries of my life; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour who seek my hurt”. When he was under extreme pressure his feelings told him that God had abanded him, Then David acknowledged his wrong feelings and although people were still trying to kill him, he did not want his enemies to die but to be found out and dishonoured for the action they had taken. This displays the nature of a ‘man after God’s own heart’. When we feel down we mustn’t stay there, so listen to what David said in Verse 14 &15 “But I hope continually and will praise you more and more, my mouth shall tell of your righteousness and your salvation all the day”. David’s attitude reminds me of the words of a hymn which are “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done”. All of us have been blessed and it is good to remind ourselves of the goodness of God in our lives. David did not deserve to be hunted like an enemy especially since he was the King, even though what had happened was not right, when he got over the initial shock he declared his belief in his God. He said that he would praise his Lord more and more. This is such a word of encouragement to us in this season in which we are now living. Because we have been through a season that we have never experienced before. The church has been under such attack, trying to make it ineffective but that attack has failed for we are experiencing the Lord rebuilding His church and moving in a new way. David continued in Verse 16 “I will go in the strength the Lord God; I will mention of your righteousness, of you only”. I am encouraged by the decision that David makes and I am reminded that I am a product of the choices that I have made, I have decided to continue to live with Jesus. I do not apologise for this because I have found living with Jesus over my lifetime has been so good. David states in this verse “I will go”, he was not going to stay in the situation forced upon him, but he was living in the strength of his God. David had loved his God since being a shepherd boy and he was not going to change. I am saddened that when people become older they do not express their passion for their Lord to other people. I believe because I have experienced the goodness of God over my lifetime, now is the time to encourage the next generation to be passionate about the Lord.