Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.
Strangers are attacking me;
ruthless men seek my life-
men without regard for God. Selah
Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
For he has delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
– Psalm 54
Devotion
Psalm 54 was written around the time that David spared Saul’s life for the second time. It is interesting that we have a Psalm written around both times where David acted righteously toward Saul, who was treating him poorly, but we do not have any Psalms written during the time where David reacted with vengeance toward Nabal. I don’t think that this is a coincidence.
When we are focused on who God is and the fact that He alone is our help and strength we tend to react toward others the way that David reacted toward Saul. When we are focused on ourselves and what we can do in our own power, we tend to react the way that David reacted toward Nabal. Had David’s heart been oriented toward God on the day that he encountered mistreatment at the hand of Nabal, he probably would not have needed Abigail’s plea to convince him to do the right thing. Conversely, when we are focused on God, we are able to respond toward others the way that David responded toward Saul. I don’t know about you, but I desire to respond in a way that reflects my reliance on God rather than reacting in a way that reflects my reliance on myself.
The Big Question
Have you taken time this week to focus your thoughts around God? Have your actions this week been consistent with your answer to that question? What habits and safeguards do you need to set up in order to make sure you are centering your heart around God?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.