We enter into a song in a deeper way when we know the story behind the song. King David wrote this song when he fled from his son Absalom (see 2 Samuel chapters15-18). One author calls this a “morning song of one in distress, but confident in God.” We might call this song our calm in the storm. Are you in stormy season? If so, learn to experience God’s peace through this psalm.
It was a painful chapter in David’s life involving his son’s rebellion, a political coup, and ultimately the death of Absalom.
Read More trust, distress, faith, crisis
In 1 Samuel 21:1-15 David’s escape from Saul to the land of Gath put David in the path of danger with King Achish of Gath. King Achish knew David well, as David was the one who killed the Philistine Goliath. Fleeing from Saul put him in the city of Gath: the home of his enemies, the home of Goliath the giant he’d killed a few years earlier.
Did David think they would not recognize him?
Read More stress, distress, trials, rescue, difficulty
This is a great psalm! There’s a call to praise (vv 1-3), then four examples of how God helps and delivers his people (vv 4,10,17 and 23) and finally a beautiful summing-up (vv 33-43).
The lonely wanderers in vv 4-9 may look back to the wanderings of the people of Israel in the desert, after their escape from Egypt.
Read More trouble, distress, rescue, love, kindness