Sunday June 6, 2021
Special Delivery
David wrote many psalms about deliverance…a subject he knew quite well. Psalm 3 is one of them. This psalm was written by David when his kingdom was at its most tenuous moment. It could have been totally lost to David forever. David’s son, Absalom, had organized a coup against David which caused him to flee from Jerusalem.
Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah (Ps.3:1-8)
There were many voices in Absalom’s ear whispering treacherous suggestions on how to attack and kill David. If you were the enemy, what would you do? How would you plan your attack? It would have to be strong, decisive, and terrorizing!
Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. (2 Sam.17:1-2)
Isn’t that just like our enemy? To attack us when we are weary and weak? When we find ourselves in serious trouble, we may look for quick, easy, and immediate solutions. But there comes a time when we are so overwhelmed by the things that have come against us that we realize we really cannot save ourselves.
That is when we need a special deliverance…and a Deliverer. Now, deliverance is when God brings you out of a trial that was meant to destroy you. Total and true deliverance is when, like the three Hebrew young men, He brings you out without even the smell of smoke on you (Dan.3:27). (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of true)
It is possible to be delivered but still be “damaged.” You can hear it in how a person talks about the ordeal. They made it out of the fire, but because they haven’t dealt with it the right way, part of them is still “in the fire.” But just like the three in the fire, whatever was binding them when they went into the furnace wasn’t binding them when they came out!
This is what God wants to do for you too! How wrong David’s enemies had been, saying that he was weak and weary and should be struck with terror. He rested in peace and confidence that the Lord would fight for and deliver him. You see, not long after this, Absalom was killed and the Lord delivered David and restored his kingdom! David was convinced of God’s faithfulness…He had saved him before…God saved him again…He would save him tomorrow. David said,
I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit (past), out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock (present), and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord (future). (Ps.40:1-3)
Like David, let’s turn to the Lord and put our trust in Him…He loves special deliveries!
