Punk or Prudent? (I Ain’t No Punk!)

This is a devotional that I wrote on August 5, 2011. Really it’s just my reflections on King David as I read thru the psalms and what I learned from this passage.

My reading was Psalm 7. My initial observation as I began reading was that once again this psalm starts the way pretty much all of the last 6 have: David is praying that God would deliver him from his enemies.

The psalms of David thus far are  interesting.  David, King of Israel, was known as a great warrior. In fact, that was one of the ways that his fame spread through Israel, “Saul has killed his thousands, David his ten thousands.” [1 Samuel 18:7] But, as I study the psalms of David, I see that so far many of the psalms start with or are peppered with requests to be delivered from the enemy. In fact, in Psalm 55:6 David said, if he had the wings of a dove he would fly away. Every time you turn around in a psalm of David, you see him LITERALLY crying out to God because he’s in despair, often because of the many enemies surrounding him (and sometimes the one that was in-dwelling………… another story for another devotional……..#ImJustSaying).

Thus, at first glance, one might think David was………… well,……….. a punk (now, stay with me…. I’m going somewhere, I promise) :-)). I mean, ALWAYS crying out to God because he was afraid of his enemies. But upon closer inspection, one observes that David is NOT a punk, but a wise man (I told ya! lol). David never made the claim to be the ultimate warrior (although, quite arguably, he was). David didn’t take the credit for the victories! David always pointed the praise to God, the one to whom praise was due. David knew that it wasn’t he who was victorious, because he knew the fear and anguish that gripped him beforehand. So, in his anguish, he cried out to the only one whom he KNEW had the power to take care of his enemies! What I REALLY like about David is that he wouldn’t pray, “God help ME to defeat my enemies.” David knew his role;  he was only a vessel thru which God got all the glory. David prayed, “…[God, YOU], strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.” [Psalm 3:7] David’s prayers were constantly focused on God. “God, YOU slay my enemies; those who oppose me & challenge your deity, power and authority.” Because, while they may have been attacking David physically, David recognized that he was anointed by GOD, he wasn’t king by any power of his own; he was appointed by GOD! David did something CONSISTENTLY that we CONSISTENTLY have a problem with………. he moved himself out of the way so that God could do what HE wanted, how HE wanted and when HE wanted! So, what can we learn from all of this? These are just some of the things I learned from David in this Psalm and those preceding it:

1) It’s OKAY to be VULNERABLE with GOD! You need to openly admit your fears and weaknesses to God. Not because he doesn’t know them, but because unless you allow yourself to be vulnerable and weak before Him, His strength won’t be made perfect in you; [2 Cor. 12:9] and, all because you refuse to acknowledge, face and confess your limitations.

2) Know your role! Know that you can’t handle what you’re up against on your own! You may think you’re fighting a person or people, but we are fighting principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places [Eph. 6:12]. The enemy is hoping, in fact, he’s BANKING on you allowing your pride to dictate your battle strategy.  Pride says, “I can’t show weakness. I have to prove that I can handle this alone. I have to prove that I’m grown, that I don’t need ANYBODY!” But, the last time I checked, MY Bible says, “pride comes before the fall…” [Prov. 16:18] and “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” [James 4:6] The fact of the matter is, when you allow pride to commission you into battle by yourself, because you didn’t want to confess your limitations to the only one who could remove them, you have at THAT MOMENT made yourself an enemy to God! Choose your side wisely. I’d rather be fully aware of my weaknesses and shortcomings (like King David) and on GOD’s side, than to be full of myself and what ‘I can do in my own power,’ (that’s a laughable statement. LOL) and opposing God.

3) Always end with a praise, no matter what the circumstance. Psalm 7:17 says, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” After going on and on for 16 verses about his fear and his enemies, David ends with a praise; and it is well documented that David’s enemies were constantly FLEEING and FALLING before him. I’m pretty sure that between verse 1 and verse 17 God didn’t immediately strike down David’s enemies (although he was fully able); but David STILL praised GOD at that moment; before God even removed the threat that his enemies posed. David had victory thru God because he was first vulnerable to confess his fears and limitations before God, then he knew and played his role well, but ultimately because he praised God as an act of WORSHIP AND FAITH, no matter what the circumstances! So, the next time someone calls you or implies that you are a punk, tell ’em, “I ain’t no punk!!! I’m just on my King David swag!” 🙂

Bless God & God Bless

THE Writer’s Pen,

Angelique

#swag #KingDavid #shortcoming #grace #worship #your #choose #learn #King #wingsofadove #role #psalm55 #battle #weakness #punk #faith #know #knowyourrole #enemy #consistent #strategy #praise #consistently #psalm #David #vulnerable #God #pray #pride #dictate #fear #prudent #cry #psalmofdavid #psalm7