Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 2 Samuel 15 and Psalm 91

Psalm 91 is a well-known, dearly loved, and much mis-construed Psalm. The danger is that if we read it and “claim” its promises for ourselves, we might end up believing that nothing bad can happen to us because, as the bumper sticker says, we are “protected by Psalm 91”. There were those, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic who used this Psalm as a reason not to wear a mask or get vaccinated.

But in 2 Samuel 15, David illustrates how God’s promise of protection does not mean sitting back and waiting for God to miraculously protect us. When David discerned (part of God’s protection) that Absalom had triggered the beginning of a plot to overthrow him, he acted immediately (in what some would have termed a “lack of faith”) and fled from Jerusalem (also part of God’s protection). Instead of sitting back and doing nothing, David trusted God enough to entrust his life and future into God’s hands by leaving the City immediately. He said, “If I find favour in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling-place again.” (v.15)

Then David also prayed very strategically (part of God’s protection) for the counsellor Ahithophel’s advice to Absolom to be foolish advice, and acted very shrewdly (also part of God’s protection) in sending Hushai back to Jerusalem to act as his ‘undercover agent’.

David’s behaviour is a great example of how God does not usually protect us by a miraculous act of His power. Instead, most often, God protects us by guiding us with common sense, spiritual discernment, and the courage to take action even when it may feel like a ‘lack of faith’ to others.

LORD, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, His discernment, guidance and empowerment in my life. Help me today to keep in step with the Spirit, to heed His warnings, act in accordance with His wisdom, and thereby “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and rest in Your shadow. Amen.