David’s Walk With God
BRD REFLECTIONS:
2 Samuel 22:1-51 and Psalm 76 (NIV)
(Kayyona Lim, PTM, Christian Outreach and Social Concerns)
READ:
As I read 2 Samuel 22, I glimpsed how David walked with God as he faced challenging circumstances and enemies.
OBSERVE:
2 Samuel 22 is David’s song of praise to the LORD when God rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.
From this thanksgiving song, I learnt David’s intimacy with God influenced his response to life situations. I gleaned 3 aspects about David’s walk with God.
1. David called to God for help.
I wonder how it was like for David to be a fugitive constantly on the run from Saul’s persecution and hunted by his enemies. David faced near death situations where “torrents of destruction overwhelmed” him and the “snares of death” confronted him (v5-6).
In his distress, David called to his God (v7). He was honest with God about how he felt. God heard his cry for help and God acted.
God rescued David by His awesome power as creation acted and obeyed Yahweh’s voice (v8-16). God also reached down from on high and took hold of David. God delivered him from his powerful enemy Saul and from his foes who were too strong for him (v17-18). God armed David with strength for battle (v33). With God’s help, David pursued his enemies and crushed them completely (v38-39).
2. David chose the ways of God.
David responded to his enemies and hard-pressed situations by choosing God’s ways and being blameless before God (v22-24). David would not kill Saul – even when Saul was ruthless in hunting him down to take his life, even when David had opportunities to repay his enemy in kind – David would not take Saul’s life because Saul was still God’s anointed king. Instead, David looked to God to avenge him, to rescue him from his enemies and raise him up as His anointed king in His timing (v48-49).
God walked with David through his trials. God was David’s support bringing him into a spacious place; God rescued David because He delighted in David (v19-20).
3. David praised God for who He is.
As God saved him from all his enemies, David responded to God by praising Him for who He is and what He had done for him. David sang, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; ….my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour…” (v2-3).
APPLY:
How have I responded when faced with challenging circumstances?
I recall a season where I faced challenging situations in which I was hard-pressed. As I cried out to the Lord, He guided me on how to respond: do what is good, right and pleasing in His sight. To respond in God’s way was sometimes easy, and sometimes difficult. God carried me. God also brought friends who listened, gave godly counsel and encouraged me to do what is good and right before the LORD. I grew as His disciple through this season.
DO:
Just like David, my walk with God will influence my response to life circumstances. I desire to deepen my walk with the LORD through my devotional times with Him, and through prayer/accountability sharing with my band of friends.
PRAY:
Almighty God, I praise You that You are my shield in times of need. Whenever I call on You for help, Your ears are open to my cry. You heard me and delivered me from all my troubles. I praise You that Your saving help is my shield. Your help has made me great. Grant me Your grace, for it is good for me to be near You and tell of all your works in my life. Amen.
(Psalm 34:15&17, 2 Samuel 22:36, Psalm 73:28)
