Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our ever-present God. David’s reason for not fearing death was because of God’s presence, but the impact of God’s presence with him was profound. “For thou art with me.”
This is a fundamental truth of Christianity. Sadly, it is one that believers often struggle with or forget during difficult times. David firmly believed this truth, and it was an anchor for his life. David recognized that God was with all His children. “There were they in great fear: for God is in [with] the generation of the righteous” (Ps. 14:5). “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (Ps. 145:18). The same cannot be said of people, who will sometimes forsake or be unavailable. Even if no one else is with the believer, God never forsakes him. “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (Ps. 27:10). “For thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee” (Ps. 9:10b).
David offers a great masterpiece in talking about God’s presence with him – in every place and at every time. “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light around me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee” (Ps. 139:5,7-12).
David shares several implications of God’s constant presence. One result is that a God who is with him can rescue him from trouble, danger, or death. “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard” (Ps. 22:24). “For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul” (Ps. 109:31). Many examples were shared in the previous study, but here is another from David’s life. “So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, or knew it, neither awakened: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them” (I Sam. 26:12). God was with David, and He put the enemies to sleep.
A second result of God’s presence is internal stability and peace. God’s presence is why David did not fear. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Ps. 16:8). “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Ps. 17:15).
A third result of God’s presence is promotion or position. David ended up where he was only because God was with him. “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Ps. 3:3). This was true from the very beginning, when David was first introduced to the palace, and one of Saul’s servants recommended David as a musician. “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him” (I Sam. 16:18). It was true of David’s advancement in position, after he became king. “And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him” (II Sam. 5:10, I Chr. 11:9). God declared this truth when He made His covenant with David. “And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the names of the great men that are in the earth” (II Sam. 7:9, I Chr. 17:8).
A fourth result of God’s presence is prospering and success. It was God’s constant presence that enabled David to accomplish all that he did. This was true in the time before his marriage when David was serving Saul. “And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him” (I Sam. 18:14). It was true when he was staying in Gath and going out on raids against Israel’s enemies. “David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish” (I Sam. 27:9). It was true after Ziklag was taken and David went in pursuit. “And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives” (I Sam. 30:18). It was true after David became king. “Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. … And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went” (II Sam. 8:6,14; II Chr. 18:6,13). Only some of the stories overtly state that God was with David, but they all imply it. There is no other explanation.
From beginning to end, God’s presence makes all the difference. May you find great comfort in His constant presence, and may God through His presence give you much help and blessing.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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