“This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”
Psalm 34:6
The emphasis isn’t on self-esteem; it’s on God-exaltation.
Until we look at ourselves in light of Who God is, we’ll never fully realize who we are and what we need from Him (Is. 6:1-6). There’s no doubt King David knew this truth when he penned today’s Manna—for you don’t usually refer to yourself as “this poor (Heb. ‘aniy’—‘depressed in mind or circumstances, afflicted, lowly, needy, etc.’) man” unless you’ve known humility that springs from humiliation firsthand.
Since this Manna was most likely written from the cave Adullah after he’d escaped from the Philistine king, Achish (I Sam. 21:10-22:1), we can safely assume he was thankful to have escaped with his life. They knew who David was. . .how he’d killed their champion, Goliath. . . and how he’d “slain his tens of thousands” (v.11).
No wonder he “changed his behavior before them and feigned madness by scratching on the door as spittle drooled down in his beard” (v.13). He’d gone from the proverbial “skillet” (the hands of Saul) into the “frying pan” (hands of Achish) and figured he was a goner.
But, thankfully, the God of Abraham wasn’t through with him yet.
Although his behavior was quite unorthodox, desperate situations sometimes demand desperate actions. And, acting like a deranged guy who’s lost his mind is pretty desperate—especially when you’re accustomed to being a giant-killing champion of the Lord of Hosts!
Even so, David realized he’d not escaped because of his great acting skills or deft deeds of deceit. A thousand times no! In the midst of the fears of his likely demise he “cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all of his troubles.” And, he firmly believed his “seeking the Lord” is what caused “the angel of the Lord, who encamped around him, to deliver him—both from the hand of the evil king and all of his fears” (vv.4, 7).
Dear Pilgrim, what things are you facing right now that are leaving you fearful and full of sleepless nights? What “impossible situations” and “insurmountable odds” are you facing that are robbing you of any hope of ever being delivered?
Follow David’s lead and “cry unto the Lord.” Confess to Him that you, too, are “a poor man/woman” and have no resources upon which to draw unless He intervenes. The money may be gone. The diagnosis and prognosis may be bleak. Others’ encouragement may be non-existent.
But, do not fear.
“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open unto their cry” (v.15). David knew there was no one or nothing that could deliver him from certain death at Achish’s hand—no one, that is, except the One Who is “a very present Help in trouble” (vv.18-19; Ps. 46:1). Let your poverty be His opportunity today to prove Himself faithful.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated November 8, 2009