Psalm 34
The inscription of the Psalm identifies this as written by David when he pretended to be insane in one episode of his escape from Saul. That’s an interesting context. Pretend to be insane, yet seek the Lord. More than one person has wondered if I was maybe just a little unstable as I sought to follow God’s direction in my life. Maybe I have been a little unstable, at least as some might define instability.
In the instance recalled in this Psalm David’s pretend ‘insanity’ really didn’t advance his cause. He was running from Saul, his predecessor as king and went to the court of Abimelech who threw David out as well. After all Abimelech reasoned, why bring another crazy man into the service of the king. That may say something about the quality of those serving Abimelech!
Pretend insanity was not a strategy for receiving protection from Saul who sought David’s life. There is something in David’s song that is worth pursuing. In several vivid phrases, David identifies some effective strategies. First, praise the Lord. Not just in the way that some repeat the phrase ‘Praise the Lord’ over and over. The kind of praise David calls for is a thoughtful, deliberate identifying specific ways in which God has acted. Second, David has a different view of what is good than many of his own contemporaries. At least twice David was near enough Saul to kill him and end the chase once for all. Both times David insisted on allowing God to do God’s work in God’s way. Finally, David affirms what most of us learned by heartbreaking experiences. God is present, even in the heartbreak if we but look for Him.
Though the days of our lives are like vapors that disappear rapidly, God’s redemptive activity has eternal consequences.
WINSTON COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 