Psalm 52:9 ESV
I Samuel 22-23
I Samuel 22:14 ESV
IT is often an identifying word.
IT can also be very confusing.
In Psalm 52:9 David proclaims the good name of God by saying,
“I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.”
David tell us God has done IT, but what is IT?
To get to the bottom of it, we need to do some digging. In the process of finding out what IT refers to we learn that sometimes in this world we are able to recognize great good in the face of great evil.
We can begin digging by reading I Samuel 22-23 about King Saul’s men in hot pursuit of David who had gone to Nob to escape Saul’s men. King Saul angrily assaults his servants and soldiers telling them that none of them reported David’s whereabouts to him.
Then Doeg the Edomite reported to King Saul that he knew David went to Nob and the Priests in that place helped him.
But telling on David is not the IT.
King Saul sent for the Priests and asked them why they helped David. In I Samuel 22:14 Ahimelech the priest said to King Saul, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house?”
It’s clear by his answer that Ahimelech the Priest thought David was King Saul’s faithful servant. (Apparently the priest didn’t get the memo telling him that David had fallen out of King Saul’s favor”.)
Even though Ahimelech the Priest was unaware of the change in David’s status, King Saul ordered his guards to kill all of the Priests.
The guards refused.
Ah-0h. THAT’s bad but it’s not the IT.
Now King Saul is really mad. His own men flatly refused to do his bidding.
Well…King Saul thought about who he could call on to do this evil thing in the sight of God.
Oh, yea…King Saul remembered Doeg the Edomite who ratted David out. So, King Saul ordered Doeg the Edomite to kill the innocent Priests.
Doeg the Edomite did the evil deed and he killed 85 innocent Priests.
We wonder, is that the IT?
Well, not exactly, but we’re getting closer. Word did get out to David what King Saul did (we read about that at the end of I Samuel 22). As I Samuel 23 opens up David heard the mighty Philistines were fighting the Keilah and David asked God if he should go there with his men. The Lord promised David he would be the victor.
In the meantime, King Saul heard David and his men had gone to fight the Philistines and King Saul assumed (he didn’t ask God) that he could go there to kill David.
Oops…as it happened David slipped away.
King Saul wasn’t giving up and he continued to pursue him. Notice the King did not ask God for help. The King did not seek out the Lord.
Saul and his men continued to look for David, but as I Samuel 23 closes out, David continued to escape him.
Is that IT? Let’s read on…
In Psalm 52:9, David writes to recognize and praise the good name of the Lord.
Even though King Saul ordered the slaughter of 85 innocent Priests, he didn’t even realize that he had done evil in the sight of God.
It never occurred to King Saul that he needed to turn to God for help and direction.
Ahhh…then we remember in Psalm 52:9 the “IT”. We remember in Psalm 52:9a “I will thank you forever, because you have done it.”
David wrote about God’s promise of protection.
David sought the face of the Lord and He was obedient to God.
King Saul was acting on his own accord. He didn’t bother to turn to God.
King Saul did NOT seek God’s face. He acted on his own. He was not successful in finding David.
David CHOSE to turn to God. He listened and God protected him.
THEN…David recognized IT. In Psalm 52:9b we learn, “I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.”
Did you see IT? I saw IT after reading the verse over and over again. God pointed to IT and IT is good. God is good. God’s name is good. David turned to God and listened and God was good to David. God protected him and even though an entire army was chasing him, God protected David.
I think I Samuel 22-23 and David’s account in Psalm 52 are a great example for us today. While we may not face an army in hot pursuit, we can be placed in a bad position with our boss, or with a neighbor. When we turn to God and listen, IT will not fail us.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Seek God
If you are facing a difficult situation, turn to God. Listen and wait. Trust God. God’s name is Good and God will bring IT (His goodness) to you.
In God, Deborah
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