“And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul so that he struck the spear in the wall and David fled and escaped that night.”
– 1 Samuel 19:10
This is one of many instances in David’s life where is fleeing Saul and God provides ways of escape. God protects David. God has made it clear that David is to be the next king and Saul is trying to stop that, but you cannot stop the sovereign plans and purposes of God. Ultimately this is what, not only David, but all of us rest in. That God, who is ultimately good, loving and gracious, he’s our Father in heaven and his purpose is for our lives cannot be stopped. God is sovereign. God is ultimately in control and in this we find our rest.
Jesus Over Sin and Suffering
Jesus has conquered sin and death. He rules and reigns even now. We know that one day our suffering will pass and we will be in His arms for all of eternity.
Think about Charles Spurgeon. He once preached, “There is no attribute more comforting to his children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty is ordained, their afflictions. That sovereignty overrules them and that sovereignty will sanctify them. There is nothing for which God’s children ought more earnestly 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.”
1 Samuel 19:10 Thanks God for His Provision
He went on to say, “When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.” Needless to say, I would add to Spurgeon’s words here that it is God upon the throne to whom we love to pray. God we bow our hearts before you right now and we confess that you are God, you are sovereign over all things. You are on the throne and we are so glad you are on the throne. Our times, Psalm 31, 15, are in your hands. And you have promised to be our provider.
Even amidst, Spurgeon said, adverse circumstances, severe trials, you are still the throne and you are always committed to providing everything we need to walk through those trials, to endure adverse circumstances. And we know, oh God, that because you are on the throne, we know that you will ultimately bring us through these trials.
Oh God, we trust you. We trust you with all our heart, lean not on our understanding. We trust you because you are all wise, you are all good and you are sovereign. You are on the throne so we look to you and we pray for help. We pray for your strength. God, we pray for your wisdom in our lives. We pray for endurance. God, we pray for perseverance. We pray for faith on days when faith is hard to come by. God help us to trust in you. Help us not to be overwhelmed by the circumstances around us.
1 Samuel 19:10 Praises Jesus for Conquering Sin and Death
Certainly oh God, keep us from beginning to think that in any way that adversaries are in control or that sin is in control. Jesus, we praise you for conquering sin. We praise you for conquering death. We praise you for rising from the dead so that we have the sure and certain hope of eternal life that one day these things shall pass. That ultimately we will be safe in your arms for all of eternity.
God, we praise you for that hope that we have and your sovereignty that guarantees your promises to us. Oh Lord God, we praise you for your sovereignty, for your sovereign provision, for your sovereign protection, for your sovereign promises to us.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. 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.
