Do not fret

Do not fret it only causes harm - elegant wisdom from the lips of one of the greatest kings of all.

David was a great king, by any standards. Before he ascended the throne he met and destroyed Goliath in one of the greatest recorded events of history. It was a turning point for Israel in her long and frustrating struggle against Philistine incursion. David seized that moment to further his own claim to the throne, by leading Saul’s armies into a significant rout of their enemies. He was barely more than a boy at the time, but his courage in God had already been tested against lions and bears that had tried to attack his sheep.

David faced many hard years before Saul’s fall yielded the throne to the more worthy king. During those years he lived in caves. He also acted the madman to survive on foreign soil, whilst facing alienation even from many rural people in his homeland. Nonetheless he succeeded in building an army in exile, which he quickly mobilized after the death of Saul to assert his rule and establish his kingdom.

He established Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and it was affectionately called, “The City of David”. David, born in the same town as Jesus, was the grandson of Boaz, the wise and gracious leader who honored and married the Moabitish woman, Ruth, one of only three biblical women included in Jesus’ lineage.

David’s rule was marred by controversies and insurrection, including a tragic uprising by his own son. His son died and his family suffered greatly, yet through his own folly he also lost another newborn son. He faced droughts and famine, wars and troubles throughout his otherwise prosperous reign.

It is from the same, very ordinary, ruddy, red-haired shepherd king that we receive the encouraging words: “Do not fret – it will only cause you harm” (Psalm 37: 1, 8). David could say this, in spite of his struggles, because he knew that God would order his footsteps and guide his life.

No matter how things looked on the outside, God’s spirit still provided assurance, direction and hope to an oft-troubled heart. Thus David wrote in verses 23-24: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delights in his way. Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the LORD upholds him with His right hand.”

David also reflected on the unerring faithfulness of God in verse 25, saying; “I have been young and now am old, but I have never seen the righteous forsaken or His seed begging for bread.”

There is such hopefulness in these words and I can truly verify that that they still hold true for all who trust in His faithfulness.

(c) Peter Eleazar at http://www.bethelstone.com/