Week 1 of “Love Came Down” Christmas series
It is hard to keep trusting God, especially if things aren’t going well with your relationships, finances, work, health, or a myriad of other life situations and crises. In Psalm 31:1-8 King David cries out for God to rescue him.
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
Psalm 31:1-8
2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
King David’s prayer was not just for his sake. It looks forward to God’s provision in the coming Messiah and it’s an encouragement to you to also trust in God and cry out to Him for rescue.
It’s no accident that Jesus quotes from David’s prayer as he hung on the cross and cried out to his father, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46) In this Psalm, we see David’s vision of God’s love, a love that came down for you on that first Christmas so long ago.
Your Refuge
David’s prayer starts with “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge” (v1). Then later in he says, “Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.” (v4) There are many trials, tests and temptations in this life and David declares that the Lord can be your refuge, your sanctuary.
Your FORTRESS
David describes God as his “rock” (v2) and as “my rock and my fortress” (v3) God is not just a refuge David also describes him as a rock, a fortress, reminding you that in his presence you are safe and protected. You can trust your security to the Lord.
Your Rescuer
But there are times that we must be rescued from ourselves or our enemies before we can take shelter in the Lord. David was in that place and prayed, “Turn your ear, come quickly to my rescue” (v2) That’s when you’ll know a love that came down to rescue you.
The Lover of Your Soul
David’s prayer goes beyond physical rescue. He declared, “I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” (v7-8) David was rejoicing in the assurance of God’s love for him and that the circumstances of his life had not escaped God’s attention.
This is the ultimate rescue, the rescue of your soul. That’s the Love that came down on that first Christmas morning. You can trust in him too.
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