Valley Steps: 1 Samuel 21 and Psalm 34
Sometimes, I think it takes more faith to persevere than to start something new. The grass can appear greener on the other side. Or life was better before I started this.... Ditch this. Turn back. I'm tired. The downhill treading in the valley can be more tiring than the climbing up the mountain. Or, things are just turning uphill, but the summit seems so far away....
If I remember right, it was sixteen years between the time David was told he would be king and when he was actually enthroned. Most of the time in between was in a valley.... 1 Sam. 21 recounts an especially low time: in the presence of his enemies he pretended to be mad, insane, spitting on himself and all over.
Faith? Perseverance? Hope? Granted, unlike some of us, he didn't have many places to turn back to. Perhaps he didn't have the temptation to give up--but he had to have faith to persevere.
Psalm 34 is, traditionally, his reflection on this time.
He still praised, "I will bless the Lord at all times...." (v. 1).
He remembered the Lord's promises (v. 4-7).
Easier said than done....But David's counsel is not done.
"Taste" and "see" that the Lord is good--he called for a very substantial, physical, tangible, real reminder. "Lord, I need to feel you now in a real way. I don't have the strength to go on; give me an experience of your goodness" (v. 8).
Furthermore, he knew that faith and perseverance are, in part, learned. "Listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord" (v. 11). Paul, too, emphasizes he learned to be content in all circumstances. It is not easy; it is learned. Each time we put a foot forward, it strengthens our learning. I say in part, because they are also a gift from the Lord. He gives us faith; he gives us strength and perseverance, something David continues to unpack.
He knew the Lord was near to him, the brokenhearted (v. 18). And the Lord's presence meant salvation. The Lord acts. He doesn't just give sentimental feelings or maudlin comfort. He acts. His presence means his might, his power, his for-us-ness. His name, titles, presence listed here are all followed by verbs. We persevere, but we are not the only ones active in the situation. In fact, we are called to be the least active, the passive--the verbs David calls us to here are praise (v. 1-3); seeking and looking to the Lord (v. 4-5); tasting and seeing the Lord's goodness (v. 8); taking refuge in him (v. 8), fearing him (v. 9-14); crying out to the Lord (v. 15-22). Active? Yes, but in a waiting way. To the Lord belong the great verbs of salvation in the valleys, when we need to persevere, when strength seems far away. Truly, he is our strength when those valley-steps lag.
If I remember right, it was sixteen years between the time David was told he would be king and when he was actually enthroned. Most of the time in between was in a valley.... 1 Sam. 21 recounts an especially low time: in the presence of his enemies he pretended to be mad, insane, spitting on himself and all over.
Faith? Perseverance? Hope? Granted, unlike some of us, he didn't have many places to turn back to. Perhaps he didn't have the temptation to give up--but he had to have faith to persevere.
Psalm 34 is, traditionally, his reflection on this time.
He still praised, "I will bless the Lord at all times...." (v. 1).
He remembered the Lord's promises (v. 4-7).
Easier said than done....But David's counsel is not done.
"Taste" and "see" that the Lord is good--he called for a very substantial, physical, tangible, real reminder. "Lord, I need to feel you now in a real way. I don't have the strength to go on; give me an experience of your goodness" (v. 8).
Furthermore, he knew that faith and perseverance are, in part, learned. "Listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord" (v. 11). Paul, too, emphasizes he learned to be content in all circumstances. It is not easy; it is learned. Each time we put a foot forward, it strengthens our learning. I say in part, because they are also a gift from the Lord. He gives us faith; he gives us strength and perseverance, something David continues to unpack.
He knew the Lord was near to him, the brokenhearted (v. 18). And the Lord's presence meant salvation. The Lord acts. He doesn't just give sentimental feelings or maudlin comfort. He acts. His presence means his might, his power, his for-us-ness. His name, titles, presence listed here are all followed by verbs. We persevere, but we are not the only ones active in the situation. In fact, we are called to be the least active, the passive--the verbs David calls us to here are praise (v. 1-3); seeking and looking to the Lord (v. 4-5); tasting and seeing the Lord's goodness (v. 8); taking refuge in him (v. 8), fearing him (v. 9-14); crying out to the Lord (v. 15-22). Active? Yes, but in a waiting way. To the Lord belong the great verbs of salvation in the valleys, when we need to persevere, when strength seems far away. Truly, he is our strength when those valley-steps lag.
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