THE ZEAL OF GOD
Often, the invisible God appears distant. Does he hear our prayers? Does he act on behalf of his people? While a disciple awaits answers to his prayers, he wonders if God is indeed active. David puts to rest all such doubts in Psalms 18 as he recounts his experience of God responding to his cries of distress, asking to be saved from Saul, who was out to destroy him.
In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet………The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them. (v6-14)
The picture beautifully painted by David demonstrates a God who not only hears but responds with passion and zeal on behalf of his people. He hears our prayer which is the most powerful force a person can create in the spiritual realm. He responds with righteous anger when justice is perverted. He does not stand back, but responds to what he sees and when he comes down to intervene, no force can withstand the onslaught of God’s power.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. With your help I can advance against a troop with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. (v16,17, 29,30)
When all hope is lost and when circumstances and forces around you appear to outnumber and overwhelm you, God’s rescue is real, his enablement supernatural and his protection a refuge. While we would all love to have a smooth run in our lives with no trouble whatsoever, there is not one person who does not encounter trouble. And for a disciple, who has set his heart on serving God, spiritual opposition makes the trouble far worse than it appears to be on the outside. Not only does he rescue you, He turns the situation around in your favor.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed…..You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes……You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me…….The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! (v37-46)
The opposition is quenched, victory is granted and the Lord brings exaltation and praise. David was anointed king over Israel and then ended up spending several years on the run from King Saul, who was out to kill him. Hardly the coronation that David expected. Yet, as he went through all that trouble, and found deliverance from God, not only was he exalted as the greatest king of Israel, but also ended up being a most humble person, and a man after God’s own heart.
