Psalm 8:1, and I need Psalm 20 today.
My Shepherd met me in my morning musings and engaged my mind on a question: how can I get immediate direction from the LORD when it is needed?
This is unusual! Typically, I’m reading the Bible, feeding in His green pastures, when the Mind of the Spirit engages the spirit of my mind on some topic. Today, I was reading 1 Corinthians 4 and pondering questions about my stewardship of “the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). I noticed that Paul spoke to the Corinthians of reigning “as kings without us” (the “us” being Paul and Apollos). I thought of Revelation 1:6, where the Spirit says we all are made by Christ “kings and priests unto God.” I noticed that in verse 15, Paul does not make himself a “father” to the Corinthians, but rather more like a midwife, who brought them to Christ “through the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). And I noted his reference to “the kingdom of God” in verse 20, differentiating it from the Law and all other kingdoms: “For the kingdom of God is not in ord, but in power.” Interesting insights arose from these ponderings, yet the question pressing upon my mind this morning was: how can I get immediate direction from the ORD when needed?
I thought about David and how quickly he got the direction he needed with very short and pointed prayers:
2Samuel 2:1 ¶ And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2Samuel 5:19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
Saul reigned for forty years. Samuel anointed David to take Saul’s place about 15 years into his reign. David slew Goliath, became a captain in Saul’s army, and served faithfully for about seven years. Saul chased David out of the kingdom and pursued him for about four years; he remained banished from Israel in Ziklag for another four or five years. Saul was killed in battle, and Israel was without a king. David knew it was God’s will for him to become king.
Nevertheless, he prayed for direction. He needed divine guidance regarding the timing of his return to Judah and the place where he should go. “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And “Whither shall I go up?”
In the second instance, David had become king over all Israel, and Abner declared that there was a prophecy on his life that he would deliver Israel from the Philistines (2 Samuel 3:18). When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they massed for battle (2 Samuel 5:17-18). David knew that God had anointed him to be king and that He would use David to deliver His people from the Philistines.
Nevertheless, David prayed, seeking divine direction: “Shall I go up?” and “Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand?” (2 Samuel 5:19). He also enquired of the LORD for direction in the prosecution of the battle (2 Samuel 5:22-25).
In each case, the prayers were short, and the answers were quick. I said, “Yes! LORD, that’s what I need!”
Along the still waters, I asked the LORD about this. He spoke to me about presuming on His promises. We know God loves us and is committed to our care. We can list many such declarations from the Bible. That does not mean, however, that we do not need to “enquire of the LORD” for specific direction. Nor does it mean that we do not need guidance in the course of our lives or during engagement. God knows what we need before we ask, and has committed to care and provide for us. Nevertheless, we need guidance: we need to know, for example, when to act and in which direction to move, and we need his guidance as we proceed. We must not presume on His promises.
In the valley, I thought about how David received immediate direction as needed. I realized that one of the main reasons we fail to get the immediate direction we need is that we have not heeded the Saviour’s call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The steering wheel of our lives must be taken out of the hands of “self” and yielded to the hand of the LORD. This can only happen when one obeys the call to “deny himself,” takes up his cross, and then follows His steps even when those steps lead through a season of suffering: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
At the table, my Shepherd reminded me that David had just come out of a season of proving: suffering, and temptations. His heart was tender, and he carefully sought the LORD, never presuming on God’s promises. Later, when David had “rest round about from all his enemies” (2 Samuel 7:1), he faced a temptation and failed to “enquire of the LORD” (2 Samuel 11). I begged Him to have mercy on me, to teach me never to presume on His calling in my life or His promises, but to carefully seek His face every step I take, following the footprint He has left for me in His word. As I cried, “Help, LORD,” He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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