Valentines from God Series – February 2019
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. —Psalm 23:6 NLT
He was a man of contrasts. He loved God deeply. He valued honor in battle and twice spared the life of his enemy the king. He was fearless when facing a giant. Yet, he loved too many women. He was apathetic the year he decided not to lead his army into battle. He lusted. Committed adultery and arranged for a murder in order to cover his sin. Victorious in battles, he was defeated at home. He neglected to discipline his many, many children. He was passive when one of his sons raped one of his daughters, and he had to flee for his life when another son tried to usurp the throne. He was David, the shepherd boy who became king. If he were alive today he would be constantly followed by paparazzi. His life was filled with fodder for gossip and drama at every stage. David was so good and so bad. He was a lot like all of us.
Psalm 23, King David’s most famous psalm, was likely written toward the end of his life. Bible expositor, Alexander MacLaren, writes:
We do not know at what period of David’s life [Psalm 23] was written, but it sounds as if it were the work of his later years. There is a fulness of experience about it, and a tone of subdued, quiet confidence which speaks of a heart mellowed by years, and of a faith made sober by many a trial. A young man would not write so calmly, and a life which was just opening would not afford material for such a record of God’s guardianship in all changing circumstances.
—Alexander MacLaren’s Expositions of Holy Scripture, Psalm 23:1-6, The Shepherd King of Israel
If this is the case, we have a man seasoned by joy and sorrow, trials of his own making, heartache and glory, failure and rescue still declaring firmly that “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever” (vs. 6). David was confident that God’s goodness and unfailing love were His. Always. Not just here on earth, but also in Heaven. Basically Forever. How wonderful is that?
Can we echo this belief? Do we believe that no matter how hard our trials, no matter how dark our days, God’s goodness and unfailing love are right there in the midst? What a difference it makes when we trust in that. You see, trials will come. Dark days will happen even to those with the sunniest of temperaments. We have a choice in those hard places. Do we despair? Or do we trust that God is, indeed, still with us and still good? When we know He walks with us through the dark places, they become less dark. Hope accompanies us. We are not alone. God’s Word is sure. Let’s grab hold of this truth and believe it as we journey through life.
Lord, thank You for being the faithful, good Shepherd of our souls. Help us to know You so well that we trust, like David, that surely Your goodness and Your unfailing love are always with us. No matter what. Oh, Father God, thank You for loving us! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
You are loved,
Sharon
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision
To encourage a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth that stillness and knowing God matter most—
and will be reflected in more effective work and service
Mission
To offer resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
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