“And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with his spear, but he eluded Saul so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.”
– 1 Samuel 19:10
This is one of many attempts that Saul made to kill David out of jealousy for David. And one of the many times David escaped Saul’s attempts. What I want to encourage you with though today and lead us to pray together according to based on 1 Samuel 19:10 is the sovereign protection of God on display in this verse, see in this verse how God was protecting David from Saul’s attempts to kill him.
And in this picture, I want to encourage you amidst whatever this world throws at you, amidst attacks that come your way, amidst temptations or trials you face, the all-powerful, omnipotent God of the universe is on the side of all who trust him, obey him, and live to glorify him. That doesn’t mean that difficult things won’t come our way, but it does mean that the sovereign God of the universe will always have our lives in his hands and all things in his control.
God, we are so thankful that you are sovereign over all things that you hold our lives in your hands and you hold all things in your hands.
1 Samuel 19:10 Reminds Us of the Words of Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon once said, and I want to read this quote too. It’s a little bit lengthy, but I believe it will be an encouragement to you. He said, “There is no attribute more comforting to God’s children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them.
There is nothing for which the children of God ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation, the kingship of God over all the works of his own hands, the throne of God and his right to sit upon that throne. It is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon the throne whom we trust.” And then he said, “When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.”
1 Samuel 19:10 Reminds Us to Thank God for His Sovereignty
And so we pray. God, we are so thankful that you are sovereign over all things that you hold our lives in your hands and you hold all things in your hands. We praise you for your sovereignty and we trust you in your sovereignty. Just as Spurgeon said, even in the most severe trials or adverse circumstances, we trust that you are sovereign even over our afflictions, that you overrule them, that you have power to work them together for our good, for others good, ultimately for your glory. And so, we lay our heads on this pillow called your sovereignty.
God, in my life and the life of every single person listening right now, I pray, especially for those who are walking through trials, for those who are facing attacks, for those who are experiencing tribulation in different ways, God, may they know that ultimately things are not out of control, that you are ultimately in control, that you are on the throne, and you are utterly, completely, totally, eternally trustworthy.
This Verse Proclaims Our Trust in God
And so we say together, we trust in you, in your sovereign hand, in your sovereign plan, and we pray you would be glorified to the full as we walk through trials, attacks, temptations, tribulations in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray the name of the one who triumph over sin and death and the grave. In his name, we pray these things. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
