Provision and Gratitude

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.     Psalm 63:5-8 ESV

Tomorrow is moving day.

As I have been simultaneously working through the lessons of the wilderness for my next book and reading through the Bible as I try to do each year, I am just beginning to understand how pervasive this business of wilderness struggle really is throughout scripture!

Currently, I am reading through the stories of David.  I always love to read of his faithfulness to the Lord, the grace of God in David’s unfaithful times, the redemption stories, and the stories of David’s “mighty men.”

I have just come through the season where David’s son Absalom tried to steal the kingdom from his father.  Absalom enticed the people with his words, and David fled from his own son.  He went to the wilderness.

There are so many lessons to be gleaned from that story, but this is the one that stands out to me this time.  David - the same David who as a young boy killed Goliath - left his palace and ran away from his son.  And when he left, he ran to the wilderness.

Psalm 63 was apparently written by David during this season of life.  In my Bible, the heading for the Psalms states, “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.”

David, the wealthy, powerful king of Israel went to the wilderness to get away from those who sought to do him harm.

As King David left Jerusalem, many friends and family went with him.  Though a large number of people of Israel had been enticed to follow Absalom, not everyone had been deceived.  Some went along with David; others stayed back to monitor and influence what Absalom would do.

But along the way – and this is what is on my heart this morning – along the way there were faithful people who came alongside David to encourage and to help. 

David was heartbroken and discouraged. 2 Samuel 15:30 tells us that David went up out of Jerusalem weeping.  He was barefoot and had covered his head, signs of humility and grief.  Along the way, word came to David that his trusted advisor had turned against him and conspired with Absalom. 

But, barely out of the city, David was met by Ziba, who brought transportation and food for David and those who were with him.  (2 Samuel 16:1-2)

On their way to deliver a message to David, two messengers being pursued by Absalom’s servants were hidden by an unnamed man and woman in Bahurim. (2 Samuel 17:17-20)

When they came into the wilderness, Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai came together to provide everything that was needed by David and the people traveling with him.  (2 Samuel 17:27-29)

All along the way – even in the wilderness – God was caring for David.  God had not forsaken David.  He had not stopped loving him.  He had not changed His mind about David. 

Yes, bad things were happening.  No, God did not stop them from happening.  I’m sure that had I been in David shoes (or rather in his bare feet), I would have been discouraged and confused and wondering why God hadn’t stopped the bad things from happening.

Probably, David was discouraged and confused.  Along with that, he must have been heartbroken.  He had not been attacked by an enemy, but by his own son! 

We want to be able to rely on friends and family.  We want to trust those close to us.  But sometimes, as in David’s case, those who are close and trusted are those who inflict the deepest wounds.

In those times, our faithful Heavenly Father sends others to come alongside to encourage and to provide.

I am so thankful for the Zibas and the Shobis and the Machirs and the Barzillais and the unnamed people who helped along the way! 

In this dark and confusing season, I am so grateful to those God has used to encourage us and to provide for us, when we really did not know which way to turn.  A word of encouragement, a shared meal, a place to stay…  so many blessings in the midst of the heartache…  God provides.

And so, as tomorrow is moving day, more change is coming.  It is so easy for me to become anxious in these times.  But I must cling to the God whose right hand upholds me, walking in the faith that He goes with me on the way.

He has been my help.

I am grateful.

…Just a thought…