Desperate Times

Making Life Work
Read: Psalm 60
Focus: Psalm 60:3-5

You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Selah Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.

David’s reign as king over God’s people came to be known as the Golden Age of Israel. Yet there were times during his reign, as you can discern from this psalm, that all was not well with the nation. There were situations and seasons where it seemed as if the people had abandoned their God, and God had abandoned his people.

On this occasion, David sensed that God had not been with Israel in battle as he had expected. We’re not told why—if there was some national sin that caused God to withhold his favor, or if David’s leadership was to blame, or if God was just simply testing and deepening Israel.

That is so true of our lives as well. Sometimes we just don’t know. Sometimes difficult things happen and after some serious soul searching, we simply cannot produce an adequate explanation. I am sure many Christians who are caught in the vise-grip of a downturned economy or disrupted health or a desperate season in their family might just be feeling this way today. I’m sure a lot of believers right now would join David and say, “You have shown your people desperate times.”

Have you ever experienced desperate times? Sure you have! We all do. King David prayed, “You have shown your people desperate times.” So what are you to do in your desperation? David says, “unfurl your banner,” that’s what! In other words, declare your loyalty to God! Make clear to the world whose side you are on! Affirm your submission to his sovereign purposes. Reject fear, self-pity and defeat. Redouble your efforts to be God’s man or woman no matter what the times are like—desperate or delightful. Then patiently entrust yourself to the God who “saves and helps with his right hand that those he loves may be delivered.” Did you catch that? The one who loves you—and he does—goes by the name “Deliverer”—which he is. Never forget: deliverance trumps desperation every time! So go ahead, unfurl your banner!

So what are you to do in those desperate times? Unfurl your banner, that’s what! In other words, declare your loyalty to God! Shout your trust in his goodness! Make clear to the world whose side you are on! Affirm your submission to his will and align yourself once again to his sovereign purposes. Refuse to surrender to fear, self-pity and defeat. Intensify your intentions and redouble your efforts to be God’s man or God’s woman no matter what the times are like—good or bad.

And then simply and patiently entrust yourself to God to save and help you with his strong right hand. After all, the One who loves you goes by the name “Deliverer” for good reason.

__________________

“Go forth today, by the help of God’s Spirit, vowing and declaring that in life—come poverty, come wealth, in death—come pain or come what may, you are and ever must be the Lord’s. For this is written on your heart, ‘We love Him because He first loved us.’” (Charles Spurgeon)

 

Making Life Work: Offer up your praise to the Deliverer. He is the Mighty God who sovereignly rules over all the affairs of your life. He is worthy of your worship, and it just might be that verbalizing grateful praise will cause your confidence to skyrocket.

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

Leave a Reply