Leaning On The Lord

Most people depend on someone or something in order to get them through life’s toughest challenges. But they often fail to recognize the Lord as the One that they should lean upon, because He is “a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1). God does not even want us to lean unto our “own understanding” (Prov 3:5). David has done everything right in following God (Ps 78:70). He has been a model of faith, obedience, courage, and absolute devotion to God and his king (Acts 13:22). As a young man, God placed some people and situations to help him through life. From a humble shepherd, he was promoted to a captain over a thousand of king Saul’s army (1 Sam 18:13).

He was well loved by the people of Israel (1 Sam 18:16), but Saul became so envious that he wanted to kill him (1 Sam 19:10). In our passage, David reached the lowest point of his life as he ran away “for fear of Saul” and went to the palace of the enemy to find sanctuary! But when the servants recognized him (v. 11), he “changed his behaviour before them” (v. 13). The mighty king David has fallen as he pretended to be a wild lunatic! Why did God allow this to happen? Because He wanted David to fully lean upon Him for help and guidance (Ps 31:3).

As God’s children, we also need to realize that He wants us to solely lean upon Him as our refuge and fortress Whom we can always trust (Ps 91:1). He does not want us to trust in riches (Mk 10:24), on material possessions (Ps 49:6), and not even trusting others or our own selves (Jer 17:5). Because they can easily take the place of God in our lives (Jgs 10:13). And in the end, they would fail (Mt 6:19). When we lean upon the everlasting love of Jesus, we can be sure that He will always come through! God bless you!

-Pastor Melito Barrera