Mature Class Study, teacher Edith Tolbert.
King David was about 60 years old. He was running from Absalom who wanted to be king and didn’t want any bloodshed.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Selah means think about, consider it, meditate on it. Absalom was David’s third son. Absalom’s brother Amnon raped his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1-22) so he killed Amnon and ran away. When he wanted to return, he told David he had wanted to get right and serve God, but it wasn’t in his heart. Instead he wanted to overthrow David so he could be king.
Psalm 62:1-4 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation…my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain…They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
David left the palace because he didn’t want bloodshed. He poured his heart out to God about Absalom. He said his soul was waiting only on God to work things out and not take things into his hands. Absalom imagined mischief, consulted with people to cast David down from his excellency, as he blessed with his mouth but cursed inwardly. If we really trust someone, we’ll tell them our troubles and pour out our heart. David didn’t expect what happened. Life is unpredictable, full of ups and downs. When trials and unexpected things happen, God wants us to trust him and pour out our heart to him.
Psalm 62:7-8 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
God knows what’s in our heart and wants us to be honest with him in prayer. When tragedy comes, it’s a test to see if we’re going to put our faith in God only or if we’re going to start relying on ourselves. Our faith is proved in the worst trials. We’ll draw closer to God if it proves to be true. Some get farther away in trials instead of drawing closer to God. When we pour out our heart, God wants us to know he’s going to take care of us. Trusting God is more than a feeling. It means you lean on, rely on, and have complete confidence in him. It’s a choice we make to have faith in what God says when our feelings and circumstances are contrary. Feelings and circumstances are not reliable to base our life on because our feelings and circumstances change continually. God and his word don’t change. God wants us to trust and rely on him completely. David felt like he wanted to fly away and be at rest. We’ve all felt that way in grievous situations when it seems there’s no way out. Oh, if I could just fly away and go someplace so everything would be completely over. David said his heart was sore pained in him. He didn’t keep anything back but told God exactly how the situation was.
Psalm 55:4-7 My heart is sore pained within me…terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come …horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest…
David knew God heard him praying. He cast all his burdens on the Lord and then knew God delivered his soul in peace. The only way we have peace in the midst of the storm is to make sure we cast all our burdens and cares on the Lord. When we cry out to God, we need to be honest with him and specific like David was about the things that troubled him.
Psalm 55:17-18 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
David knew people were looking for him to kill him. But he knew he was trusting God who had never failed. He knew fear comes and he didn’t like that people were trying to destroy him. In the end he still said “In God I will praise his word.” We need to see that God and his word are the only stable things that don’t change. It’s like when clouds hide the sun, it doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there. Job looked everywhere but couldn’t see God. Yet he said God knew where he was and when he was tried, he would come forth as pure gold. He didn’t decline from God’s way. When we feel like God doesn’t care, we can still know he’s never failed. We’re tried and tested to see if we hang on to God or lean on the flesh.
Psalm 56:1-4 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
David said God put his tears in a bottle. God knows every tear we shed when we’re burdened for loved ones or when we plead with God to have mercy on situations. David said when I cry unto thee then shall my enemies turn back. David knew God would protect him. We need to stay confident in God and his word, knowing he is for us in our trials.
Psalm 56:8-11…put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee…mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word…In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do…
Think about the feelings Jesus had at Gethsemane. He went right to the Father. God wants us to pour out our heart to him and know he cares when things depress us, cause agony, or try to overwhelm us with grief. He will give grace to go through.
Mark 14:32-34 (Amplified Classic)…they went to…Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, Sit down here while I pray. And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be struck with terror and amazement and deeply troubled and depressed. And He said…My soul is exceedingly sad (overwhelmed with grief) so that it almost kills Me!…keep awake…watching.
Jesus had to go through this trial all by himself. He asked the disciples to pray with him but they didn’t. You may be in a situation where no one is praying but you have a burden on your heart. Jesus was overwhelmed, deeply troubled, and depressed. His sweat was like drops of blood because of his agony and grief as he prayed. In Luke it says God sent an angel to help and strengthen him. He got it settled and said “not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Grace comes when we give our troubles to God and his will. He wants us to not hide anything but to pour out our soul (deepest thoughts, desires, sorrows) to him.
Mark 14:35-38 And he went forward…fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him…said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Samuel told Saul to wait at Gilgal 7 days and he’d come to offer the sacrifice the evening of the 7th day. Saul got anxious because people were leaving, so he offered the sacrifice. Samuel came as soon as he finished. Saul wasn’t obedient and God rejected him as king. Samuel said God was looking for a man after his own heart. Samuel grieved that God rejected Saul. God chose David, the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons who was about 12 years old. Samuel anointed David.
I Samuel 13:13-14 And Samuel…Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord…for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom…for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart…to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
I Samuel 15:22-23 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?…to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou…rejected the word of the Lord, he…rejected thee from being king.
I Samuel 16:11-13 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said…Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. …Now he was ruddy…of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him…the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward…
The Spirit of the Lord came on David as he was anointed king. Saul was troubled with an evil spirit. They looked for a harp player to play nice music to soothe Saul. David went to play the harp for Saul when he was about 15-16 years old.
I Samuel 16:18…one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse…that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
David went home to care for the sheep. The Philistines came to fight the Israelites. David went to check on his brothers and killed Goliath when he was about 17 years old. Saul put him in charge of the army. Saul was jealous of David and tried to kill him twice but David avoided it. He acted wisely and Saul saw the Lord was with him so he was afraid of David.
I Samuel 18:10-11 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
I Samuel 18:14-15…David behaved himself wisely…and the Lord was with him…Saul saw…he was afraid of him.
David was about 20 years old when Saul sent messenger to kill David at his house. He ran from Saul.
I Samuel 19:11-12 Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house..to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told… If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he…escaped.
David didn’t become king until he was 30 years old. Saul sent men all over to capture and kill David. He was running from Saul for 10 years. David didn’t know how long it was going be that way. He was tired of running and felt like God had forgotten him. Sometimes it may seem like God has forgotten us when we’re in a hard trial, but God still is on his throne.
Psalm 13:1-4 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord…Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
He kept praying and his perspective changed. He remembered God had kept him all the way.
Psalm 13:5-6 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Our perspective needs to change when we’re pouring out our heart to God. In the end, it needs to change to where we love God with all of our heart. We have thanksgiving and praise for what God has done and how he’s taken care of us.
Psalm 138:7-8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.