19. Trust in God, not in men

Last week we learned that we shouldn't critisize or publically ridicule or gossip about our spiritual leaders. We should rather pray for them and uplift, encourage and help them wherever we can.

Today I want us to look at the opposite. It is when people let us down and criticize us. Let us continue with the life of David.

David and his men were in Judah, as God told them to go there through the prophet Gad. Whilst there he heard that the Philistines were attacking Keilah. David then did the right thing. He turned to God and asked Him what to do. God told him to go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah. David's men were naturally afraid to do that, because they weren't exactly welcome in Judah in the first place. So David turned to God again and God encouraged him:

"Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand." 1 Samuel 23:4

God promised to be with him and David was obedient. I love it how David was obedient the whole time. He immediately reacted when God spoke. We can certainly learn a great deal from him.

David and his men went down to Keilah and saved all the inhabitants and defeated the Philistines. Saul heard about this and immediately wanted to go there and kill David. Look how twisted his mind is:

"God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars." 1 Samuel 23:7

Saul actually believed that God was helping him in this instance. I was actually shocked that he believed that, seeing that he just mercilessly killed 85 of God's priests and a whole innocent town. People can indeed be twisted and believe the weirdest things in the Name of the Lord. One should be careful from whom you take advice and word 'from the Lord'.

David heard from Keilah that Saul was coming to kill him. He turned to the Lord immediately for advice and the Lord told him that the people of Keilah will deliver him to Saul. David once again listened to God and left Keilah in order to be safe. When Saul heard this he didn't come to Keilah anymore.

I wonder how David must have felt. Here he went and saved the town of Keilah from certain death. He had nothing to gain; he was literally just being obedient to God. He saved a whole town from destruction. And when his life is threatened God tells him that these very same people will turn on him. I don't know about you, but I would have been upset. I just saved their lives and now they are not prepared to stand up for me. I was doing what the Lord placed on my heart, and what thanks do I get?

People are fickle and can change their attitude towards us at the first chance that they get. It has happened many times that I have helped people and barely got a thank you. It has happened countless times that people whom I have done a lot for don't return the favor when I needed help. Many times they even turned their back on me when I needed support the most. Does it sound familiar? Through all of this I have learned that Psalm 146 is so true! Let me quote verse 3-5:

"Do not put your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God."

I have learned not to place my trust in men. Not to expect anything from them. I do not always get it right; I must be honest, especially when it comes to people close to me. But I am getting better, day by day with the strength given to me from Above. My trust should be in Him and in Him alone. My thank you will come from Him. My reward is from Him. He will always be there for me, He will always help me. I am never alone and I should never be afraid. The God of the Universe is with me, what more can I want? He loves an obedient, willing heart and He will reward my obedience. When? I don't know, but I know I can look forward to it, just like David. David didn't retaliate against these people who would have delivered him to Saul. He didn't get even and waste his energy there. No, he moved on in the will of the Lord and his reward was great.

Father, thank you that we can trust in You. Our hope is in You and You alone. Our hearts sometimes get hurt here on earth, as fellow human beings let us down. But thank you that we can know that You will never let us down. We can always trust in You. Hallelujah! Thank you Lord!! Amen

 

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