Deaf and Dumb: How David handled adversity

"But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and whose mouth are no reproofs."

- Psalm 38:13-14

David was a man who had a lot of enemies. He was both a man that sought after the Lord AND a man who had been placed in authority. Both of these factors contribute to many of the hardships David faced in his life. His father couldn't even consider the possibility that God wanted him to be King, his brothers ridiculed him when he brought them supplies in battle, his superior, King Saul, sought to take his life, his wife Michal despised him in her heart, his children rebelled against him, and countless more would rise to oppose the man counted as a man "after God's heart."

In this Psalm we see David confessing his sins before God. "...neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head..." (Psalm 38:3-4) His disposition is one of desperation in this Psalm. Because of this he says "my lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off." (v. 11) He found no man that could comfort him even out of all his friends and family. He felt alone, isolated, and vulnerable.

It is in moments like this that our enemies plot against us. "They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long." (v. 12) This is the context for our thought.

Instead of sending spies to find out the enemies plans or advocating for his own integrity, authority, or whatever, David set his mind and heart to completely ignore what his enemies were plotting. Instead, he poured himself out to God and trusted in Him to be his defense and salvation. "For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me." (v. 15-16)

David wasn't unbothered by adversity but he recognized that HE couldn't do anything about it. Instead, he set his affection and desire on the Lord and begged God to restore and defend him. How far removed is this from the natural way of thinking! When adversity comes our first impulse is to defend ourselves, blame someone else, or otherwise get ourselves out of danger's way.

If we are suffering for righteousness's sake then we are told to rejoice. If we suffer because of our sins we are told to repent. Either way, we are to go to God with our songs and supplications. Don't worry about what men plot, plan, and say against you. Tune out the noise of the world and find rest in the promises of God that "all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28) and that even the thorn in our side can be used to display the glory and might of God if we will learn to stop complaining and start believing that God is able to provide EVERYTHING that you need.

I'll leave you with the picture given to us in Zachariah 3. The high priest at the time, Joshua, is seen in a vision standing before God clothed in filthy garments. The angel of the Lord is on one side and the Devil is standing on the other side to accuse Joshua. By the end of the passage, Joshua's filthy clothes are exchanged with clean ones, a crown is placed on his head, a promise of being exalted is given, oh, and the Devil is immediately kicked out of the room. The amazing thing about this passage is that Joshua DOES NOT SAY A SINGLE WORD. All of this is done FOR him. He doesn't have to defend himself. He doesn't have plead his own case. He has an advocate. So do you. The Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father to plead YOUR case. He is there to defend his children. What you are called on to do is lay yourself down before Him and recognize that He alone is able to save you.