I Samuel 22

This chapter is a long psalm of God’s deliverance of David throughout his volatile life of battles, despair and deception. One of the emerging themes in my mind is how God takes “action” on our behalf. We recently built a new house. Something Leigh and I had never done. One day we pulled up to the house while still under construction. I was amazed at the activity. There were 8 to 10 workers plus heavy equipment scurrying around, moving dirt and prepping the landscaping. More inside doing electrical work, painting, brickwork, plumbing, etc. I remember being a little overwhelmed at the volume of energy our contractor organized for that day. And all of it on behalf of us and our new home. Actually, I felt a little guilty.The Action and Energy of God

The emerging theme of this chapter is the action and energy that God takes on behalf of His chosen ones. First, He has the strength and might to do anything on our behalf. Secondly, when we call for help, the imagery here is that God takes action, excessive action. The heavens and the earth shake and tremble as He moves into action. Smoke and fire ascend from Him as He creates a spectacle of activity on our behalf that all of heaven can see. He aligns the clouds of the sky, redirects the channels of the sea and shakes the foundations of the world as He rescues me. “By the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils, He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters.”

Here and Now

Thirdly, when He rescues us, He also endows us with His strength to endure. This isn’t a chapter about Him rescuing us from a fallen world and taking us to heaven. That will certainly happen someday, but it is not the theme here. Some of the phrases that describe His endowment of strength upon us are “for by You I can run upon a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall; He makes my feet like hinds feet and sets me on my high places; He trains my hands for battle; Your help has made me great; you enlarge my steps under me and my feet have not slipped.”

Lord, it doesn’t always feel like You answer as quickly and as thoroughly as I’d like you to. I can’t see the action you’re taking and I sometimes get discouraged. May this chapter build my faith in the surety of Your action toward my well-being, my protection and my strength to survive and thrive. Amen!