Series: Call Me
Psalm 17:6 ESV
Psalm 17:5 ESV
Psalm 17:8-9 ESV
Psalm 17:15 ESV
I Samuel 17 (David Killed Goliath)
I Samuel 18:6-9 ESV
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Psalm 17 was written by David.
We do not have clues that tell us when he wrote this Psalm. We do know for a good part of David’s life he was on the run from King Saul’s men who were soldiers. David was a fugitive. He may have had a price on his head. Scholars believe David was a teenager when he was on the run. King Saul died when David was around 30 years old.
Psalm 17:6 says, “I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.”
What we do know is that David wrote about trusting God. David knew God would answer.
In Psalm 17:5 David wrote, “My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.”
He reminded God that he continued to trust God. He looked for the path God had for him and he was intent on staying on that path. He kept his eyes on God. He was a fugitive in his own country, and he cried out to God.
David did not look inward for answers. He looked to God.
Psalm 17:8-9 says, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,
from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.”
David gave God his heart and his hope.
In Psalm 17:15 he wrote, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”
David knew his time on earth was fleeting and temporary.
He looked forward to his heavenly home with God.
While we do not know when David wrote this Psalm we do know he did not live a life without trouble. King Saul was jealous of David because he could see how much the people of God loved David. Everyone loved David!
After David killed Goliath (I Samuel 17) word spread about what David did and everyone loved David for being brave.
We know from I Samuel 18:6-9:
“As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.”
The thing about King Saul and jealousy is that it didn’t go away. It just kept growing.
Jealousy is like that when we don’t face it. It’s almost like we have to stop and stare it in the face. We have to admit it’s real.
You know when I was a younger adult I was told jealousy was a sin and it needed to be dealt with like a sin. That made me feel like I messed up when I was envious or jealous.
I messed up. I. Messed. Up. I felt guilty because I messed up. I tried to stop feeling jealous but that didn’t work. It seemed like the more I thought about it the more it grew.
As I grew older I came to realize trying to get rid of jealousy (or any other sin) was only accentuating the sin. Focusing on it made it worse.
Since I didn’t know how to “fix it” I started praying about it. I was honest with God.
I think that was what God was waiting for. When I was honest the Spirit was able to help me.
Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
So, here’s the deal. We are human. That is not a surprise to God. What God wants is for us to give up our burdens. The jealousy was a burden. So I gave it to God.
I asked for rest…God’s rest.
Now the next part is a little like a children’s sermon. Think of oxen hooked up pulling a cart in old pictures.
The wooden piece that connects the oxen is the yoke. When Jesus told us to take His yoke he was saying that because He wanted to lighten our load. Take MY yoke. Learn from God. Receive God’s gentle healing and Spirit.
God’s yoke is easy because God carry’s the bulk of the weight. Jesus will make it light.
The truth is that God was there all along when I was struggling and God didn’t want me to struggle, so I gave the jealousy to God. HE carried it. God removed it.
All I needed was to turn to God and surrender and God did the rest. That’s the way with God. When we get tired and we turn to God, God takes over.
Spiritual Practice: Turn to God
Give your struggle (or your questions) to God.
In God, Deborah
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