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Saturday, April 9, 2016 PSALM 57 If you grew up in the fifties and sixties, you grew up on Golden Books. This is another one of David's Golden Psalms. He has a story to tell. Let me tell you a little tale of David hiding in a cave with his men. King Saul goes in to the cave to, well, relieve himself. David's men believed that God had delivered Saul into David's hand. This was it! David could slay the man who had been bent on his destruction, and truly become king. Yet, David listened to God's voice over man's: Destroy Not. "The rabbins tell a curious and instructive tale concerning this: 'God sent a spider to weave her web at the mouth of the cave in which David and his men lay hid. When Saul saw the spider's web over the cave's mouth, he very naturally conjectured that it could neither be the haunt of men nor wild beasts; and therefore went in with confidence to repose.' The spider here, a vile and contemptible animal, became the instrument , in the hand of God, of saving David's life, and of confounding Saul in his ...malice. This may be a fable: but it shews by what apparently insignificant means God, the universal Ruler, can accomplish the greatest and most beneficent ends." (Adam Clarke) Cave of Engadi Even if your enemy enters the cave you are hiding in, you are not out of danger. The king had 3,000 men outside waiting for him. What chaos would have ensued if David had killed Saul. Instead, David snuck up and cut off a little piece of Saul's skirt, you know, as a Hebrew kind of kilt or something. David's conscience bothered him for even doing that, "since he is the Lord's anointed." "David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul saying, 'My lord the king!' And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. And David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold David seeks to harm you'? Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.' Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it... Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?' (Oh, David, you always have such a way with words!)... Saul said, 'Is this your voice, my son David?' Then Saul lifted... up his voice and wept... And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand... And Saul went to his home." (I Samuel 24) Don't you just love this story! Engadi "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in Thee; And in the shadow of Thy wings I will take refuge, Until destruction passes by." Can't you hear the heart palpitations, the hushed whispers of David's army as Saul, the very king himself, comes into the cave where David had sought shelter as under the shadow of God's wings. "I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth." (verses 2-3) Note a little later David calls Saul, 'father," and Saul responds, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Those two had at one time a very close relationship, perhaps even closer than Saul's own sons for when Saul was on the verge of insanity, in deepest depression, it was David he called for to play to him upon his harp is the hint of earthly lovingkindness a reminder of heavenly lovingkindness. In this close relationship, truth can be spoken, which is what David did. "My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword" (verse 4) Who hangs out in caves? Wild beasts, lions and tigers and bears, Oh my! David is having to share the cave all of a sudden with the hot coals of the enemy: "It is no ordinary rage and malice by which I am pursued." (Adam Clarke) David's heart is beating out of his chest. Does he wonder if Saul will hear it? Then he gets an urge of reckless abandon to sneak up on the king and cut off a piece of his robe. What were you thinking, David! "They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into it." (verse 6) This is referring to King Saul who "had digged a pit, laid snares for the life of David; and fell into one if them himself, particularly at the cave of Engedi; for he entered into the very pit or cave where David and his men lay hidden; and his life lay at the generosity of the very man whose life he was seeking." (Adam Clarke) "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heat is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! Awake, my glory; Awake, harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to Thee among the nations. For Thy lovingkindness is great to the heavens, And Thy truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Thy glory be above all the earth." Rabbi Solomon Jarchi tells us that David had a harp at his bed's head, which played of itself when the north wind blew on it; and then David arose to give praise to God... Does not the account itself point out an instrument then well known, similar to the comparatively lately discovered AEolian harp? Was not this instrument hung at David's bed's head, which, when the night breeze (which probably blew at a certain time) heavenly sounds, for which the AEolian harp is remarkable? 'Awake, my harp." (Adam Clarke) "David was not only in a happy state of mind when he wrote this Psalm, but in what is called a state of triumph. His confidence in God was unbounded; though encompassed by the most ferocious enemies, and having all things against him except God and his innocence. David will seldom be fond in a more blessed state than he here describes. Similar faith in God will bring the same blessings to every true Christian in similar circumstances." (Adam Clarke) Okay, maybe you haven't found yourself in a cave lately, caught between those who are eager to take by force and those who will take you by force and God says, "DESTROY NOT!" Yet, isn't that the very place we are in, in our culture which seeks to trap us as Christians? Hmm. We are to be bold, to stand up and fight for the things of God, for what is right, yet there is always an undercurrent that the battle is the Lord's, to stand back and watch His deliverance. Do you feel that tension? Part of the armor of God are the feet shod, prepared for peace, the kind of peace that David made for the moment with Saul. "and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:15) "How lovely on the mountains (or in the cave) Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace..." "Having all things against him except God and his innocence." If that was good enough for David, it's good enough for me. Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
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1 शमूएल 24Nepali Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV-NE) दाऊदले शाऊललाई लाजमर्दो बनाएको 24 शाऊलले पलिश्तीहरूलाई खेदिसकेपछि मानिसहरूले शाऊललाई भने, “दाऊद त एनगदीको नजिककै मरुभूमिमा छ।” 2 सारा इस्राएलबाट शाऊलले 3,000 मानिसहरूलाई छाने। शाऊलले ती छानिएका मानिसहरू लिएर दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरूको खोजी गर्न थाले। तिनीहरूले घोरल-चट्टानको छेउछाउमा खोजे। 3 शाऊल बाटो छेउको भेंडा गोठमा आए। त्यहाँ छेउमा एउटा गुफा थियो। शाऊल आफैंलाई लुकाउन गुफा भित्र पसे। दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू धेरै पर गुफाभित्र लुकिरहेका थिए। 4 मानिसहरूले दाऊदलाई भने, “आज परमप्रभुले भन्नुभएको दिन होइन? उहाँले तपाईंलाई भन्नु भएको थियो, ‘तिम्रो शत्रुलाई म तिम्रो हातमा सुम्पिदिनेछु, त्यसपछि तिम्रो इच्छानुसार तिम्रो शत्रुलाई जे गर्छौ गर।’” त्यसपछि दाऊद घस्रँदै-घस्रँदै शाऊलको छेउ पुगे। दाऊदले शाऊलको खास्टोको एक टुक्रा चाल नपाई काटिदिए। 5 पछि दाऊदलाई शाऊलको टुक्रा खास्टो काटेकोमा नराम्रो लाग्यो। 6 दाऊदले मानिसहरूलाई भने, “परमप्रभुले मलाई आफ्नो मालिकलाई क्षति गर्नबाट रोकुन्। शाऊल परमप्रभुले छान्नु भएको राजा हुन् र मैले त्यसो नगरको भए हुने थियो।” 7 दाऊदले यसो भनेर आफ्ना मानिसहरूलाई रोकी राखे। उसले तिनीहरूलाई शाऊललाई हानि गर्न अनुमति दिएनन्। शाऊल गुफा छोडेर आफ्नै बाटो लागे। 8 दाऊद गुफाबाट निस्किएर आए र शाऊललाई बोलाउँदै भने, “हे मेरो प्रभु! महाराजा!” शाऊलले पछि फर्केर हेरे। दाऊदले शिर झुकाए। 9 दाऊदले शाऊललाई भने, “जब मानिसहरूले भन्छन्, ‘दाऊदले तपाईंलाई चोट पुर्याउने योजना बनाइरहेछ’? तपाईंले किन तिनीहरूको कुरा सुन्नुभयो। 10 म तपाईंलाई हानि पुर्याउने छैन। तपाईं आफ्नै आँखाले देख्न सक्नुहुन्छ। परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई आज मेरो हातमा गुफामै सुम्पिदिनु भएको थियो। तर मैले तपाईंको हत्या गरिन। तपाईंमाथि म कृपालु भएँ। मैले भनें, ‘म मेरो मालिकलाई हानि गर्ने छैन। किनभने उनी परमप्रभुले छान्नु भएको राजा हुन्।’ 11 यो लुगाको टुक्रा मेरो हातमा हेर्नुहोस्। मैले यो टुक्रा तपाईंको खास्टोबाट काटेको हुँ। म तपाईंलाई मार्न सक्थें, तर मैले त्यसो गरिनँ। यो कुरा तपाईंलाई थाहा होस् भन्ने म चाहान्छु। म तपाईंलाई यो जनाउन चाहान्छु कि तपाईंको विरूद्धमा मैले कुनै योजना बनाएको छैन। मैले तपाईंलाई कुनै अनिष्ट गरेको छैन। तर तपाईं मेरो पछि लागेर मलाई मार्न चाहानुहुन्छ। 12 परमप्रभुले नै यसको न्याय गर्नुहुन्छ। मलाई गर्नु भएको अत्यचारको बद्ला परमप्रभुले तपाईंलाई दण्डित तुल्याउनु हुनेछ। तर म आफैं तपाईंको विरूद्धमा जाँदिन। 13 त्यहाँ एउटा पूरानो भनाइ नै छ, ‘खराब कुरा दुष्ट मानिसहरूबाट फैलिन्छ।’ “मैले कुनै नराम्रो गरिनँ। म दुष्ट मानिस पनि त होइन। म तपाईंलाई हानि गर्नेछैन। 14 तपाईंले कसलाई खेदो गर्नु भएको छ? इस्राएलका राजा कसको विरूद्धमा आक्रमणमा ओर्लिएका छन्? तपाईंले आफ्ना वास्तविक शत्रुलाई खेदिरहनु भएको छैन। तपाईं मरेको कुकुर अथवा उपियाँको पछि लाग्नु जस्तै हो। 15 परमप्रभुले यस मामलामा न्याय गर्नुहुनेछ। उहाँले नै हामी दुइ बीचमा निर्णय गरून्। जब उहाँले तपाईंबाट मलाई जोगाउनु हुन्छ परमप्रभु आफैंले देखाउनु हुनेछ कि म सही छु।” 16 दाऊद चुप्प लागे अनि शाऊलले सोधे, “यो तिम्रो आवाज हो, मेरो छोरा दाऊद?” त्यसपछि शाऊल रूनथाले शाऊल धेरै नै रोए। 17 शाऊलले भने, “तिमी म भन्दा धर्मी अनि असल छौ तिमीले म प्रति असल काम गर्यौ, तर म नै तिम्रो विरूद्धमा थिएँ। 18 मेरो लागि गरेका असल कामहरूका बारे तिमीले भन्यौ। परमप्रभुले नै मलाई तिम्रो सामु ल्याउनु भयो। तर तिमीले मलाई केही गरेनौ। 19 यसले यो देखाउँछ म तिम्रो शत्रु होइन। मानिसले शत्रुलाई सहजै पक्रन सक्दैन र सहजै छोड्दैन पनि उसले शत्रुलाई राम्रो गर्दैन। परमप्रभुले तिमीलाई इनाम दिनुहुन्छ, कारण तिमीले मलाई केही गरेनौ। 20 म जान्दछु तिमी राजा हुने नै छौ। तिमीले इस्राएल माथि शासन गर्ने नै छौ। 21 अब मलाई एउटा वचन देऊ। परमप्रभुको शपथ खाएर वचन देऊ कि मेरो सन्तानहरू कसैलाई पनि मार्ने छैनौ। मेरा पिताको परिवारबाट मेरो नाउँ निशान हटाउँने छैनौ।” 22 दाऊदले शाऊलसँग शपथ खाए। दाऊदले शाऊलका सन्ताहरू कसैलाई पनि मार्ने छैनन् भन्ने वचन सुनेर शाऊल घरतिर फर्के। दाऊद र तिनका मानिसहरू किल्लातिर लागे।