Not all believers or even trusted friends understand the necessity of faith in every trial God allows. Crisis times come to a child of God for a divine purpose. It may cost us time, finances, friendships, ambitions, or even our health. But what God allows from whatever source He chooses should never allow me to doubt His love and grace. In love, God allows things that we want to avoid to happen to us. In grace, He makes it possible for us to meet the challenges of the moment. We know affliction is not permanent. It may last for a lifetime, but it is not permanent.
When David was advised to flee from someone or something by those who looked at the events through natural eyes, he seemed almost to feel insulted that they thought his faith in God was weak. None of us is immune to injustice, and David seemed to have a full share of that. He did not make it a point of unwisely running into trouble, but he did not unwisely run away from it either. There are times to take a stand, and there are times when we should "live to fight another day." To David, this was a day to stand.
Standing or running in the face of an enemy is not a sign of spirituality. Nor is it a sign of weakness when we flee. Our actions are to be guided by our Lord in whom we have placed our faith, and we must continually place our faith. Sometimes, to flee is wise and directed by God. Sometimes, to stand with confidence against the ungodly foes of the world, the flesh and the devil - and all they use against us, is the right action. We are to flee youthful lusts. We are to resist the devil, and he will flee. There are things to flee from, and there is a Person to whom we are to flee.
When our trust is in the Lord Himself, it is to Him we look when in doubt or fear, but with unwavering faith. David's advisors were as much as saying, "If you, our foundation and strength, are defeated or destroyed, what's going to happen to us?" In a nation where the standards of law and order by which a peaceful life is maintained are taken away, then chaos and rebellion follow. In a society where the practice of morality and righteousness is compromised or forsaken and set aside, there are no guidelines for safe living and conduct. In an assembly of God's people, the foundational principles of Christianity must be maintained, and Bible doctrine continually taught and practiced, or the testimony will fail. In individual and/or family life, standards of conduct and attitude not only affect day-to-day living, but the reputations of generations of people before and after us who have the same name.
Nothing is hidden from God, and when by faith our eyes are upon Him, the reality of faith lifts us above present circumstances and trials. God does "test the righteous." Testing has several purposes behind it. We test food, metals, and building materials to avoid unseen danger in the future. We test things over and over in order to maintain acceptable quality. We test things that have broken to find out why they broke. We test the teachings of people to see whether they stand the test of truth as given to us in the scriptures. The testing time of believers is for a similar reason. The quality of faith in a believer is tested so unbelievers can see what truth is and what it does when practiced in the life of a Christian. They can see and sense reality more when there are trials than in successes. The person being tested is being made aware again of that which is essential and really counts in life rather than those things that may attract us and/or side-track us.
Just because we may never see the judging hand of God on unbelievers and the wicked who seem to have an easy road to travel does not mean that God approves or will not bring justice. "Fire and brimstone," ahead of the unbeliever and eternal condemnation, is in the future of those lost souls who had no faith in God.
Our Lord is righteous. He is the basis for our righteousness. He expects those who are righteous to live holy, righteously, and godly in this present world. He expects us to live purposeful, confident lives by faith in Him. He expects us not to deviate from the path before us, whether smooth or full of obstacles or full of opposition from enemies or advisors who do not live by faith. He expects us not to allow ourselves to be misled into places and things that are not God's will for us.
PSALM 11. Why run when you can trust? This psalm is an antidote for gloomy headlines. There is no need to panic when all around us things are getting worse. God is still in control. The Lord is our refuge and strength. David was forced to flee for safety several times. He was not immune to injustice and hatred even though he was anointed king. He fled but not as if all was lost. He wisely avoided trouble but did not fearfully run away from his troubles. v.1. It seems like someone had come running and warned him to flee from imminent disaster. The pessimist’s counsel was of despair and discouragement. David’s answer is, “Why flee when you can trust?” Faith in God keeps us from losing hope and helps us resist fear. v.2-3. The pessimist said, in effect, David was as insignificant and defenseless as a little bird. Escape because the criminals have the upper hand. What are we to do when the foundations of society are crumbling? There is no place to hide, so run to God. He will restore justice and goodness on earth in his own good time. v.4. The Lord is our hope. He is in His holy temple, and nothing can stop His plans. His throne is in heaven, unmoved and unmovable no matter what goes on, on the earth. v.5-7. God is concerned about men. He does not preserve believers from difficult circumstances but tests both the righteous and the wicked. He hates the violent man and loves the righteous. For some, God’s tests are a refining fire; for others, they bring destruction. The upright will stand in God’s presence. The tests and challenges that come your way are opportunities for growth. So, don’t be upset over adverse circumstances. God’s purposes are irresistible.