David
“The Lord is my shepherd. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. . .He prepares a table for me before mine enemies” (Psalm 23)
The Other People
They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in His ways, they turned back in the day of battle, they sinned yet more against Him by provoking the most high in the wilderness, Yes they spoke against Him and said, “Can God furnished a table in the wilderness?” (Psalm 78: 10-19)
He prepares a table for me before my enemies, in the day of battle ––in the wilderness?
Do we treat difficulties as unusual, then we have not read our Bibles nor have we a real handle on world history, current world conditions, and the success promised Godly people. Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
In Psalm 78 we are reminded that God’s word has the answers we need. He has seen to that: saying that His word will endure forever. He guards His word; and His people.
In the word we learn that “Time and chance happens to us all.” We learn that we are not to yearn for past safety nets; but to look to God for them: “Say not that the former days were better than the latter. . . “ (Ecclesiastes 1-12). Rather, we can look to God for the needs of our now and our future.
The Bible contains the single most important literature of world history; Jesus stands above all others ever to live. He is completely my hope for life now and for life beyond the grave. His resurrection was, as the Apostle put it, not hidden, not “. . . done in a corner” (Acts 26:26).
Any arguments today that attempt to discredit Jesus or the Bible do so against the most established facts of all other knowledge dating from antiquity. Criticism of a believer’s faith may be popular among certain individuals; but the joy in and amazement of God among believers is established from the first century through today.
What a contradiction it is that some think it is open season to criticize a faith that is practiced worldwide and even mandated in public education that a persons’ belief is off limits to criticism.
David’s Psalms we have. Where are the writings of those who “provoked” God by not trusting that He who was faithful is yet faithful? With the rise of literacy as Western Civilization developed, more was written in exclamation of the scriptures and the Bible message than all of its criticism.
Today, great preachers of the Gospel flood the airways both in television and on radio. Until “the other people gain control, ” those who provoked God in the wilderness, as long as freedom exists on earth, the proclamation of the Gospel of God will be voiced: because it is the truth.
King David was not like most of the people of his day. He was more like Moses, who led Israel out of bondage and into liberty and blessing. He was like Joshua, who taught by example and in leadership that all of humanity can seize by faith their promised end. He was like Joseph who, against the horrid betrayal of his brothers, won blessing in Egypt for the entire nation of Israel.
Called “like minded faith” in scripture, the faith of believers is not founded on the Gospel message alone; it is founded on He who has always brought joy to those who seek Him; and peace that passes understanding – and faith – and a love that exceeds the fickle love of mere human emotions: it is faith in the real thing. That was King David’s faith.
When praying to the Father Jesus said of scripture, “Thy word is truth:” what do you say, reader? Do you dare to disagree with the Christ of God you had better have done your homework and learned prior to making such a vain determination why it is that men, many of them, have laid down their lives for the cause of the Gospel. Be informed before making conclusions of criticism of the only Gospel of hope known to man.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23)
Amen! Buddy