Read
(For the music leader. Use with stringed instruments. A special psalm that David wrote when the people of Ziph went to Saul and said, “David is hiding here with us.”)
Trusting God
1 Save me, God, by your power
and prove that I am right.
2Listen to my prayer
and hear what I say.
3Cruel strangers have attacked
and want me dead.
Not one of them cares
about you.
4You will help me, Lord God,
and keep me from falling;
5you will punish my enemies
for their evil deeds.
Be my faithful friend
and destroy them.
6I will bring a gift
and offer a sacrifice
to you, Lord.
I will praise your name
because you are good.
7You have rescued me
from all my troubles,
and my own eyes have seen
my enemies fall.
Reflect
I had just walked into the living room of this new friend who still seemed to be a stranger to me. His wife had us sit down in a place where they had laid out blankets on the floor. She then proceeded to serve us hot tea as he shared their recent tragedy. Though we were in east Africa, this family was from the Middle East. It had only been a few days since they arrived in the country and I could tell they were bothered.
My friend began to tell us the story of how he, and then later his wife, had come to faith in Christ. An amazing journey of God’s faithfulness in ensuring his Word would not return void. This family had found God in a Bible they were given. However, their faith journey had just begun.
Not long after professing faith in Christ, their immediate family was made aware. In their country it was forbidden to speak of the things of Christ, but my friend proceeded. In an attempt to silence them from speaking about the Gospel, their neighbors and relatives raided their home and then slaughtered their 5-year-old son right in front of their eyes. This prompted them to leave the only country they had known and seek refuge in east Africa.
I was in tears as my dear brother shared this story; and was totally caught off guard by what he did next. He stood to his feet, smiled as big as he could, and shouted, “But our God is good and faithful! He will restore all things to us and deliver us – if not in this life, then in life eternal with Christ.”
My brother’s heart and actions reminded me of the words written in this psalm. David speaks of the dangers facing him, but immediately rejoices in God’s goodness. David holds fast to the confidence that even before it has happened God has delivered him from every trouble.
Respond
Oh Lord, how we long to be a people that can rejoice and give thanks even as we face enemies around us. Help us to look at you and know in confidence that you are our helper and deliverer
J. R. Bucklew
J.R. Bucklew is a visionary with ideas that are quickly becoming the standard in other parts of the world. Born a hearing child of deaf parents (CODA), his first language growing up was American Sign Language (ASL), and he still considers ASL his heart language. He has a strong desire for the Deaf community to know and understand the Word of God. This has allowed him to travel to many parts of the world, both ministering to and being an advocate for the Deaf. Prior to coming to Albuquerque, NM, JR and his wife ministered to the Deaf in Ethiopia. They started a Deaf church and opened a café that exclusively employed Deaf people. They also formed two sign language centers and helped train others to work with the Deaf. JR’s journey with Deaf Bible began in 2012 and is now President and visionary-lead of the Deaf Bible Society. JR also serves on the boards of several other Deaf ministries in the United States.