He Hears Our Desperate Cries
Psalm 142:6 “Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.”
This Psalm was written when David was running for his life, trying to escape King Saul. But why was David on the run from Saul? Let’s look at 1 Samuel 18.
1 Samuel 18:5-9 ““Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul's officers as well.
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.
As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?"
And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.”
The conflict escalated to the point that, while David played his harp for him, Saul angrily threw a javelin at David in an attempt to kill him. David ran for his life. He respected Saul’s position as the King, the anointed leader of Israel. David’s integrity guided his response. Although he could have bested him, David did not want to harm him. So he ran.
Was David alone as he ran? No, far from it. He was surrounded by his mighty men of valor. But David knew the battle belonged to the Lord. Without God, there would be no victory. Without God, those mighty men had no strength. David knew his first cry must always be to the Lord. And what an example he set for his men! Here, this mighty man, lauded for killing tens of thousands, was crying out to the Lord for protection and strength, for rescue and deliverance. He was looking to God alone. David knew how to align his plan of attack. First kneel. Then listen. Then act.
Friends, how much time do we spend fretting and trying to figure out the answers? How often do we allow our fretting to impact our sons and daughters, whether or not we do it intentionally? We need to stop and pray. We need to look to God alone- cry out to the Lord. Then listen for His response and be patient for His timing.
Those who oppose us are strong and friends, there is likely spiritual warfare involved. We are weak and vulnerable with no way to protect ourselves and let’s be honest, the solutions and ‘fixes’ we come up with are limited. We have human abilities. God is divine, His abilities exceed ours and His strength is supernatural. We need to cry out to Him and seek His protection. Let’s lead by example and cry out to the Lord, knowing He alone can save us.
Today, let’s list out those things that weigh heavily on our hearts and lay them before the Lord. It may seem that the only way out is blocked by the Enemy, but we serve the God who defeated the Enemy long ago. Let’s trust Him to make a way.
Then, let’s pray for our sons and daughters. Pray that they seek the Lord first and call out to Him. Let’s pray they refuse to take things into their own hands or rely on their own strength and ability. Let’s pray for a generation of “Davids” in a world full of angry “Sauls”.
Pray without ceasing.