1 O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him the desire of his heart
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah
3 You welcomed him with rich blessingsand placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—
length of days, for ever and ever.
5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
6 Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.
9 At the time of your appearing
you will make them like a fiery furnace.
In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up,
and his fire will consume them.
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.
11 Though they plot evil against you
and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;
12 for you will make them turn their backs
when you aim at them with drawn bow.
13 Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength;
we will sing and praise your might.
***
A story was told of a king who learned an important lesson of what it takes to have the heart of a true king.
Today, as I pondered over David's praise and rejoicing over God's blessings and protection over his kingship, I was reminded of how his ascend to the throne didnt come easy.
Why would God send the prophet Samuel to anoint David as king, when he was only a young man (ie youth, perhaps 14-18 years old, according to some bible scholars), only for him to go through many years of trials and Saul's persecution, before he can ascend the throne God prepared for him?
In summary this is the key events David went through before he was pronounced king. (1 Samuel 16 till 2 Samuel 1)
- Anointed by Samuel
- Became Saul's harpist
- Became Saul's chief commander
- Persecution by Saul out of his jealousy
- Wanderings in the desert
- Twice tested if he would take Saul's life
I can say that the final test of David's character was in 1 Samuel 26:9-10, when he refused to touch God's anointed (Saul, who was still king at that time), but trusted God to deal with Saul.
As a christian, God has a kingly anointing for us: an area of life where he has chosen for us to rule and reign. That, I believe, is a special calling God has for your life, regarding the place of work (or school) He has put you in.
But there are seasons of our lives God will put us through, to prepare us for this kingly role.
While I was working in social work, I often asked God why He closed the door to education when I was certain beyond doubt that's the calling He has for me, because of the circumstances whereby He confirmed it.
Right now as I stepped in to teaching in obedience to God's timing, and experienced God's hand and blessings with me, I knew now that the past season was a time for preparing my heart and character. Without that season of preparation, I may have been disillusioned or burnt out by now as a teacher.
Are you going through trials and testing now?
Do you feel lost at times, asking God why you are where you are now, or doing the things that you felt are meaningless?
King David asked of God too, in the many psalms that was written while he was a fugitive hiding from Saul.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.
Will you trust in God, going through the trials you are facing now, while waiting to step into the destiny He has prepared for you?
Labels: Journey Through Psalms
