1 How I love you, Lord! You are my defender. 2 The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress. My God is my protection, and with him I am safe. He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe. 3 I call to the Lord, and he saves me from my enemies. Praise the Lord! 4 The danger of death was all around me; the waves of destruction rolled over me. 5 The danger of death was around me, and the grave set its trap for me. 6 In my trouble I called to the Lord; I called to my God for help. In his temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.
Psalms 18:1-6
After being tormented by Saul and waiting for God’s justice, David praises God. There is nothing here about being bitter or asking God why he waited so long. There is no playing the victim card and being depressed or upset of the troubles he had. None of this, only praise for God.
Our attitude should be the same, looking to God for our deliverance, and when it comes praising him rather than letting what is in the past darken our hearts. Even if deliverance never comes, we can still rejoice in Jesus because he delivered us from ourselves and we have an eternal inheritance. If we focus on our problems and not God, we can become bitter and eventually turn away from God all together.
In verse 21, David says “I have not done evil by turning from my God.”
There were times in my life when I was distant from God or burdened by my own sin and failure unable get to a place of reconciliation. Perhaps it was because I felt too condemned by sin or perhaps it was because I was not ready to recognize the trouble I had created. But, one thing I know is, like the Prodigal Son, I never turned from God. Even in darkness I knew our paths would meet and he would pull me to his light. The Prodigal Son left with his inheritance but he never truly turned from God in his heart. No matter how far you may fall away, never stop believing that God is your salvation. He will be waiting for you when you return.
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