Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. (Psalm 27:9-10)
There is a hint of sadness in David’s words in that he conveyed a sense of feeling totally alone were it not for the Presence of the LORD. Even the mighty king felt isolated from time to time, and especially when so many were attempting to bring him down. It’s not hard to imagine that he felt almost no one could be trusted to stand by him. It is from that state of being that he pleaded with the LORD to stay with him even if all others, even those with the closest ties, were to forsake him.
I would imagine most of us have felt that way at one time or another; our circumstances can certainly wear on our mind and convince us that the whole world stands against us. Sometimes it isn’t just our mind trying to convince us of that; there are times that many in our life, even members of our own family, come against us in a vicious way. As hard as that can be, it serves as a reminder that, in the end, there is only One who will stand with us when we are lovable and even when we are unlovable. In reality, if God’s Presence is in our life, when others forsake us it doesn’t seem as devastating as it would otherwise. I’m not suggesting that it doesn’t sting or hurt, but it doesn’t have to be catastrophic. David reminds us of what matters most — if God is for us, then all will be well in the end.
Let’s also consider this: there are many of God’s people who feel this way, all at the same time all over the world. In other words, we really aren’t alone in this troublesome journey; God is watching over millions of people who have felt alone or are currently feeling alone and, like David, crying out to Him — “Do not leave me nor forsake me.” Remember what the LORD said to Elijah when he thought he was only one left to face the evil in his world: “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18). So in spite of what our emotions tell us at times, we are never alone — it just feels that way. And so it seems appropriate to close with the words of Messiah who said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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