April 8, 2024

Passage Read: Psalm 31-34
Meditation Verse: 34:1

Thought

David feigned madness and Abimelech drove David away from him. And David writes a psalm of praise to God. He credits God with his deliverance, not his own cleverness. He is the one who played the part of the madman, he is the one who thought to feign madness! But he credits God with his deliverance. Abimelech could have captured and killed him or imprisoned him, but instead, he wanted nothing to do with another madman. Years later, he would accept David as his own trusted military commander, as his own trusted servant. David didn't credit himself with great cleverness or creativity in getting out of a tight spot. He didn't take credit for his own deliverance, even though he played the part of the madman. He gave all glory to God.

Application

That's real humility and a clear understanding of God, and his own relationship to God. He didn't mention specific details of how God delivered him and what he thought of his part in the process. All he does is praise God for His goodness to a righteous man. My part is to seek the Lord and do what He requires of me. No matter what I think of the things I do in life to further my cause, it is the Lord who brings good or evil upon me, and He remains good even if He chooses suffering for me. My confidence in His love for me, even in the midst of evil circumstances, is based on the degree of my diligence in obedience to Him, out of trust in and loyalty to Him. Faith without appropriate works is meaningless.