From the start, it is clear David is writing this psalm in response to a specific situation (as evidenced by the superscription above the psalm). Briefly, since the context helped me understand this psalm better, David is referring to a situation that occurred in I Samuel 21-22. David is on the run from Saul and seeks assistance from Ahimelech, a priest in the town of Nob. Saul later learns of this from Doeg, who was in Nob when David was there, and orders Ahimelech to be killed. Doeg kills Ahimelech as well as 85 other priests, and many men, women, children, and animals living in the town of Nob. Thus, David is quite angry when writing this psalm.
It is easy, for me at least, to not relate to this “mighty man” [Doeg] who loves evil more than good, especially knowing the context of this psalm. You read and think: yes, this man is evil and he will get what he deserves! The people of God are even mocking him, and that is when the challenge of verse 7 starts to hit:
“See the man who would not make
God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
and sought refuge in his own destruction!”
Hmmp?! Am I seeking safety and refuge in God, or am I relying on my own wealth for security? It is hard not to feel convicted by this during these times, with the impact of COVID-19. More than ever, I am tempted to hold tightly to my finances, resources, and attempt to control my circumstances. Fears of losing employment, not having enough food, and the health of myself and those I love start to take over. We see examples in our world of people hoarding resources, and it starts to feel like it is every man for himself out there. What this pandemic is revealing is how little control we truly do have. The question is, are we going to behave like Doeg, and seek to further ourselves at the expense of others? Or will we learn from David, who in the midst of having his life threatened, relied on the Lord for safety?
Let’s continue with the last two verses. David is flourishing, not on his own merit, but due to his trust in the Lord. Despite his circumstances, David thanks God for his providence. David knows God’s love is steadfast, enduring through all hardship and evil, given freely to those who trust in Him. During our current times, the challenge to myself and this faith family is to consider where we are placing our trust. What do our current fears and anxiety reveal about us, and how we relate to God? In the face of this evil, are we seeking to control our situation, holding tightly to what we have for fear we won’t have enough? Or, are we seeking ways to serve those less fortunate, trusting the Lord to provide for us if we are in need? My prayer for us is to seek refuge in the Lord alone, and to quietly wait. I will wait for your name, for I know it is good.
- Christine Luter