None of our Bible heroes of faith were perfect; but they knew God was. King David was not perfect but walked with a perfect God. When David’s eyes were averted, evil presented temptation and he caved to the enemy of God. From shepherd boy who lived as the unlikely, lowly youngest brother of his family to ever achieve anything of significance on earth ran after the heart of God with a desire to be where God is and reside in His holy Presence.  It is God who saved him.  It is the same God who saves us. 

What is our desire this morning? Is to run with those who look successful and possess the applause of others?  Is to run with friends who can help us gain all the riches we seek?  Is the longing for everyone in our family to think more highly of us as we tirelessly try to please them? What is our particular longing, that one thing that will make us more loving, gentle, joyful, grateful, and content?  The better question to ponder is, Who will fill the emptiness we feel when everything and everyone on earth does not fill it?

Psalm 52, The Message

For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”

^1-4 Why do you brag of evil, “Big Man”?
    God’s mercy carries the day.
You scheme catastrophe;
    your tongue cuts razor-sharp,
    artisan in lies.
You love evil more than good,
    you call black white.
You love malicious gossip,
    you foul-mouth.

⁵ God will tear you limb from limb,
    sweep you up and throw you out,
Pull you up by the roots
    from the land of life.

^6-7 Good people will watch and
    worship. They’ll laugh in relief:
“Big Man bet on the wrong horse,
    trusted in big money,
    made his living from catastrophe.”

⁸ And I’m an olive tree,
    growing green in God’s house.
I trusted in the generous mercy
    of God then and now.

⁹ I thank you always
    that you went into action.
And I’ll stay right here,
    your good name my hope,
    in company with your faithful friends.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

What I have learned over the years is that all of my spiritual, emotional, and mental growth comes from standing in the Holy Presence of God while fully relying on His Promises to rescue, save, teach, and nurture me.  Nothing grows in the darkness of shame, guilt, and confusion over what is real.  A plant, shooting up from a seed, will bend towards the light to grow. That is its nature. 

David refers to his nature of seeking the Light of growth using the olive tree as the example.  “I’m an olive tree growing green in God’s house. I trusted in the generous mercy of God then and now.”  What a great testimony from David who went through it all, from shepherd boy to anointed king of God’s people, one who sinned greatly but whom God forgave and used as His instrument of faith to build His kingdom!  It is from the line of David that Jesus was born of a virgin by God’s Holy Spirit who came to rescue and save us from our sins!  God’s Plan of Perfecting His people to stand in His Holy Presence—a plan of redemption and wholeness that we could not do for ourselves! Only by Jesus.

“Any one of us, or each of us. God does not play favorites. From the masses on the city avenues to the isolated villagers in valleys and jungles, all people can enjoy God’s presence. But many don’t. They plod through life as if there were no God to love them. As if their only strength was their own. As if the only solution comes from within, not above. They live God-less lives.” –Max Lucado, Lucado’s Encouraging Word Bible

Who is the one for you?  We have only two choices—one decisive choice is to live in and enjoy the Presence of God who created us, fills all the empty spots of our beings, and set us free to walk with Him in the garden where the olive trees flourish.  The other choice is live without God, walking in places of confusion, lies, deceit, gossip, and other forms of evil that rob us of joy, wholeness, real love, contentment and peace.  Empty hearts, minds, and souls do not grow without the Light of His Presence.  They perish. This is not the will or desire of the One who created each one of us in His image.

“Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” 2 Peter 3:8-9, MSG

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” Psalm 84:10

Lord,

Thank you for singing over me as I seek Your Holy Presence this morning. Thank you for always being with us even in those times when we don’t feel you; you are there. Thank you for redeeming my soul, making me whole, teaching me to stand strong in Your Holy Presence as the only way to live and grow in your ways.  Thank you for inviting me and all those who believe, to walk with you every single day of our lives here until we see you face to face in all your glory—What a mighty, forever loving,  compassionate, holy and faithful God you are! There is no one like you.

In Jesus Name, Amen