Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.”
Psalm 40:5 World English Bible
God is our Friend
How did David, the Psalmist know that the Unseen God was his Friend and that He had done many wonderful works toward him and others, and was in fact, thinking about him?
David did not imagine that God had anointed him the next King over Israel, or given him specific promises and even prophetic psalms. These were spiritual realities,
When David was a young boy and worked as a lonely shepherd in the fields tending his father’s sheep, he learned to depend on God to help him defend his flocks from the wild animals that could threaten them.
Young David spent much time in the fields minding his father’s sheep. And he walked with God…He knew the scriptures and meditated on them. He conversed with God as he moved his flocks from one pasture to another throughout the seasons.
While David tended His father’s sheep, his older brothers served as soldiers in the Israelite army. They were off fighting the Philistines who were their mortal enemies.
There came on the scene among the ranks one champion named Goliath of Gath, who was over nine feet tall.
Goliath strutted up and down the Israelite soldiers’ battle lines clad in what appeared to be an armor of invincibility, aided by his overpowering self confidence, slinging forth what was perhaps the equivalent of an ancient daily podcast that hammered away at whatever confidence, the Lord’s army had.
After all, their God Yahweh, was unseen, while, Goliath seemed unassailable.
We cannot grow close to Christ nor gain any victory over the enemy by abiding in his territory ~which is the world.
Faith was the whole of the lesson of the wilderness trial for the building of Israel as a nation.
Paul wrote all that happened to them was a lesson for us.
All the trials of the children of Israel must surely repeat themselves in every child of God. For they were examples for us.
“Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 10.12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:11-12— World English Bible
It is hard to remember, but we must if we would defeat our enemies of fear, doubt, and unbelief that assail us every day in the dark culture we live in.
“For we walk by faith not sight… 2 Corinthians 5:7
The soldiers were listening to Goliath. They were not remembering the promise Yahweh had spoken through Moses:
“…Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them; for Yahweh your God Himself is He who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.” (*See Deuteronomy 31:5-6)
And when our Goliaths of fear, doubt, and unbelief come strutting in to declare that we are not going to have the victory that God promises us in His Word, whose voice are we listening to?
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God…
Romans 10:17
Who is our Champion?
“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1 John 5:4
What ultimately determines our victory?
“This is the victory that has overcome the world: even your faith.
1 John 5:4-
The Outcome Of Faith
David not only knew the promises in the Hebrew Scriptures, but was intimately acquainted with the Author and was able to walk by faith with God as His bodyguard as he worked the fields day and night guarding his father’s sheep.
The young shepherd had faced hidden terrors from wild lions and bears who could tear both him and his sheep apart and devour them. He was filled with righteous indignation and contempt for Goliath and the Philistines when he encountered them insulting the Lord’s Army.
David said to King Saul,
“Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and struck him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him. Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.”
1 Samuel 17: 33-34
David said, “Yahweh who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.”
1 Samuel 17:35- 37 World English Bible
David knew the reality of God’s protection. For he had experienced the truth of Yahweh’s promise to him and his people.
When his life was threatened, David wrote, “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. Let such as love Your salvation say continually, “Let Yahweh be exalted!” Psalm 40:17
When David experienced danger and needed God right away he wrote honestly ~ “But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.”
Psalm 40:16-17 World English Bible
David never hid his need, never pretended he was perfect or sinless, never acted as if he was something he was not. He cried out to God and God heard him and therefore he was known as “…the man after God’s own heart.”
David Experienced That God is Faithful
God exists, And if we wait on His timing He will always come through for us~ He does hear us when we cry out to Him.
Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt His name together. I sought Yahweh, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. ~
Psalm 34:4-8 World English Bible
Heavenly Father, please bless and encourage all who read this message who need to know that You are real though unseen.
Please give us all the strength and grace we need to believe no matter how strong our opposition may appear. For Thy word promises all things are possible with God and that You live in and through all those who believe on Thy name and ask You to come into their heart. The battle is The Lord’s, not ours. Thy Spirit is leading and guiding us always and hears our prayers. All we have to do is trust You and never give up hoping and believing. For You keep every promise forever, In Jesus holy name. Amen.
The prayer song “Be Near To Me Oh Lord,” has always encouraged me ever since He inspired it,,,May the Lord use it to encourage all who hear it today.,.in Jesus holy name, amen.
For Further Reflection
A record of David’s personal relationship with the Lord exists in the book of Psalms.
One of the most popular books of the Bible, it consists of prayers in the form of prayer songs David wrote expressing his love, gratitude, and longing for God; They also reflect his fears, and anxieties over many things, even suggesting Depression… which helps explain why the psalms speak to so many.
For the ancient songs are all honest like every true prayer.
David was not the only author of the Psalms. His pure heart echoes unhindered through all the psalms he wrote.
For more information on the book of Psalms, find a good study bible which can tell you more details about the book and all the other books in God’s Word.
And why not meditate on a Psalm today and make it into a prayer?
A Sower In Christ’s Vineyard…
May the name of the Lord Jesus Christ be forever honored in heaven and earth for His eternal sacrifice on the cross and resurrection to redeem humanity from sin, in Jesus’ name, amen.
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