David — Hero of Faith
by Abiding Love
Psalm 142 — When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way.
In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.
David was in a cave when he wrote this psalm. He wasn’t exploring. He was hiding. Saul and his men were hunting David like an animal. Like an animal, David took refuge in a cave.
Does this sound like the David you learned in Sunday School? David — the man who saved his sheep by killing a bear. David — the man who could claim victory over Goliath. David — the anointed future king of Israel. This is the David hiding in a cave praying to God. What is heroic about that?
This summer at Abiding Love we are about to meditate upon “heroes of faith”. What I pray we come to appreciate is how different the Bible’s heroes of faith are from the modern concept of a superhero.
What is the big difference?
I would suggest this: a superhero looks to himself for the answer, but a hero of faith knows that God is the answer. A superhero makes his own plans, while a hero of faith prays, trusts, and obeys. A superhero saves. A hero of faith knows he or she has been saved by Jesus Christ, and all actions flow from there.
It makes David not so different from us. While I can’t relate to shooting fireballs or spiderwebs from my hands or having any other superhuman powers, I can relate to depending on the One who can still the wind and the wave. I can relate to having a spirit that grows faint within me and crying out to the Lord for refuge and freedom. I can relate to having a God who loves me so much He would move heaven and earth for me… or for you… And I can learn alot about a man like David praying his heart out while he hides in a cave.
Will you join us, when you can, for taking a fresh look at the heroes of the Bible? This Sunday we will meet some in our worship services. Then we will begin an adult/child Bible study hour on June 30, 9:15am, where we will weekly look at “Heroes of Faith” to help us and our children learn to put our confidence in our God.
Peace in Jesus,
Pastor John Gensmer
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