Wings of a Dove

Psalm 55

King David wrote Psalm 55 after his son Absalom usurped his kingdom.  Absalom did not seize his father’s kingdom by force, but rather by trickery.  

For four years Absalom stationed himself outside of the king’s gates and worked at capturing the hearts of the people.   Those, who approached the city gates in anticipation of an audience with the king, were met by Absalom instead.  

Absalom with (much) false humility would lie and sweetly manipulate until it was found (according to scripture) that he had won the hearts of the people.  

It was at this point that Absalom made his move to completely remove the kingdom from David.  

Enter Psalm 55:6-8.

“Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.  Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.  I would hasten to my place of refuge from the stormy wind and tempest."

David was so grieved and so distraught that all he wanted to do was fly away.  

He wanted to flee from his tumultuous situation to a place of rest.

He wanted to be far away from it all; out of the storm and the wind.

Don’t we have the same reaction to the storms of life?

Our first reaction to conflict and pain is a desire to fly away from it all.

Sometimes (maybe even the majority of times) physically fleeing is not in alignment with God’s plan and will for our lives.  

This is because, we all experience trials and hard times.  They work to test our faith.  The testing of our faith produces perseverance and if this perseverance is allowed to finish its work, someday it will leave us mature and complete, lacking nothing (James 1).

Still, it is natural for us to identify with David’s words.  “Oh that I had wings of a dove, I would fly away and be at rest.”

We want to be found in that place of protection from the wind and the storm.   We want to live in a perpetual state of rest and comfort with nothing to cause us heartache or pain.  

Here on earth, this is not possible, but the good news is that God does not leave us to brave the storm alone.

God is our shelter and place of refuge.

His word and the ability to go to Him and cast every care upon Him, provides a balm for every grievance.

Sometimes, like David, the only thing we can do is cover ourselves in the shelter of the most high and wait for Him to move and act on our behalf.  

He is faithful and He is worthy of our trust as we wait out the storms under the shelter of His wings.

          God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear....

                                                                      Psalm 46:1-2

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A Sacrificial Offering

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

  Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”   Mark 12: 41-43

Have there ever been days that you identify with this woman?  Not necessarily in a monetary sense, but in a ministry sense or in giving of yourself in ministry, life, etc.

Life gets busy and seasons become demanding and full. 

 Circumstances and even relationships can become draining and difficult. 

 Some days it feels as if we cannot take another step.  

On those days, remember that Jesus sees you.  He sees what you have left in your spiritual, emotional and physical bank account.  He sees the sacrifices you offer Him.  He knows when it is the last "mite" you have to offer.  

The prophet Elijah experienced physical and emotional poverty after a very successful period of ministry.    So much so, that God had to send an angel to prepare him food and drink to sustain him for his next journey.  All Elijah could do was sleep and he even had to be roused by the angel to accept the sustenance.  

When we go through times like this, we can take heart and remember what the psalmist wrote in Psalm 103:13-14

 “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.  For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. “

Also, we can rest assured that this season will someday pass.  Scripture promises that those who wait on the Lord will have their strength renewed.  

As we wait on the Lord for strength, He will provide us with all that we need (just as he did with the prophet Elijah).

Today, if you identify with the poor widow or with Elijah, remember:

The offering given out of a place of poverty, may be worth more in the eyes of Jesus than the offering given out of a place of richness and might.

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31

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Pressing On

1 Samuel 16

The apostle Paul compared the Christian life to a race in which we all participate.  Paul wrote that we should run in such a way as to gain the prize.  

Part of running a successful race is staying focused and looking ahead.  When a runner turns to see what is behind them, they run the risk of tripping or falling behind.

We as believers are wise if we heed this rule in our race of eternal pursuits.

Today, I was reading about the prophet Samuel.  God had just instructed him to anoint a new king because He had rejected King Saul.  

As soon as Samuel learned of this matter he began mourning, and the bible says he was angry and cried out to the Lord all night.

Nevertheless, God’s resolve was firm, and Samuel was instructed to anoint a new king.    

Samuel continued mourning and finally God had to get his attention with a question and a few instructions.

God said: 

“How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel?  Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

Samuel needed to be reminded that God’s plans were the best plans.  He needed to let go of what once was, and move forward with God leading the way.  

There are times in our lives when God may need to get our attention with that very same question.

“How long will you mourn for what once was?”  

“How long will you mourn for what may have been?”

“How long will you mourn for what cannot be?”

God desires that we would “fill our horns with oil and be on our way” (or rather His way).  

God has great things in store for those who walk after Him in obedience but,  if we do not stop looking behind us,  how will we see what lies ahead?

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  

 Philippians 3:13-14