Psalm 17:8-15
“Keep me as the apple of your
eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked
who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They
close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They
have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
I began to ponder
on these verses, and it dawned on me that King David was so wise, he did not
ask for God to show him how to fight and win over these enemies, no he ask God
to do it all for him. And this thought flooded my mine, and maybe David
knew God in a more personal and dependent way than I do? Could it be as a
boy on that hillside or down in the meadows under the stars or with a overcast
sky and rain, the young boy David kept his fathers sheep and recalled Isaiah
41:10, “So do not
fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
When
the bear and the lion came for his sheep, he stood and killed them as he did
with the 6’9” Goliath who mocked the army of Israel and their God. Yes,
David learns that he was to trust and not fear, and as he looked to God and
depended on Him, he was the victor.
I’ve
never thought to ask my Father to make me the apple of His eye, and yet today
I’m doing that, as my bride goes into surgery in a few hours we are not in fear
for like David we are hidden with Christ in the Father.
It
reminds me of a story, a story in the Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning,
where Brennan tells of a priest coming upon an older man praying by a
bridge. When the priest said, you and God must have an excellent
relationship, the reply from the man was; yes He is very fond of me. Do
you have that kind of relationship with Christ do you understand you are the
apple of His eye?
One
thing David knows without any doubt God is with him and someday he will stand
in the presence of his LORD.
From
the Back Porch,
Bob
Rice
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