My enemies speak against me; and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.” O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! (Psalm 71:10-12)
If we regard David as a picture of the Messiah, as he certainly is, then we can conclude that his life established prophetic patterns as well as standards in regard to piety and devotion. Messiah did not fall into the trap of sin as David did, but even in his weakness, David serves as an example of what genuine humility and repentance looks like. He himself said, “I have become an example to many.” Through the king’s shortcomings, God has shown multiple generations that genuine repentance is not rejected but is met with forgiveness and restoration. If anyone becomes discouraged and wonders if God could possibly restore them, they should learn a lesson from David.
On the other hand, there were those who observed David’s poor choices and the consequences he suffered, and then mistakenly concluded that God had abandoned him. They interpreted God’s correction as rejection and foolishly sought to finish him off. These types were among those who encouraged Absalom to overthrow his father and seize his throne, and for a brief moment, it seemed as if they might succeed. Unfortunately for the Absaloms of this world, God does not abandon His purpose for His chosen servants in spite of their missteps. Yes, He chastens those He loves, but He doesn’t throw them away to be mauled by bloodthirsty “wolves” and other such opportunists. He preserves those who choose to walk humbly before Him.
Throughout history, God has allowed His people to suffer the consequences of their sins by allowing others to be His rod of correction. For example, the king of Babylon is referred to as God’s “servant,” because he was appointed to destroy Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, and then carry off the errant people of Judah into captivity. However, like others before and since, the leaders of Babylon misunderstood their purpose and took things too far; when that happened, they became the object of God’s fury. So, if those God uses as His rod of correction in our life misinterpret His intentions for us, shouldn’t we avoid making that same mistake?
In other words, we must not confuse His correction for rejection. Instead, we should be as David who acknowledged that God was still his refuge even when he was suffering the consequences of his actions. Like him, in times of trouble and uncertainty, we should not hesitate to pray, “O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!”
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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