Two-Minute Manna

Fleeing from Saul, David found himself in Goliath’s hometown, the city of Gath. Achish, the king - also known as Abimelech - welcomed David. But when the people recognized him as the one who killed their hero, Goliath, David knew he had to leave. So he pretended to be insane. Spittle ran down his beard as he clawed at the gate.

“I don’t need another madman in this city,” Achish said.

So David was released (1 Samuel 21).

At this time of difficulty - a time when he was being hunted by the enemy, shunned by his countrymen, threatened by the Philistines - David penned this psalm of praise. Notice his determination. He says, “I will bless the LORD.” The word “bless” means “to confer happiness or prosperity upon another.” It’s amazing to think that we actually have the ability to bring happiness and prosperity to the God of the universe. Yet He genuinely enjoys hearing our praise. We are those who have been blessed by the Lord. But we also have the ability to bless Him back.

“I will bless the LORD,” David declared - not just in good times, not just in easy times, but in all times.

“That’s easy for David,” you say. “He was a king in a palace with servants and all of the money he wanted.”

Wait a minute. This psalm was not written under those conditions. In fact, with the king of Israel hunting him and the entire city of Gath suspicious of him, I suggest that not one of us is in a more perilous place than was David when he penned this psalm.

I’m convinced that one of our Father’s favorite attitudes is that of gratitude because we see story after story where His people ended up in big trouble - bitten by snakes, swallowed by the earth - when they murmured and complained (Numbers 16; 21).

C. H. Spurgeon wisely said, “He who praises God for blessings will always have blessings for which to praise God.” One of the reasons I believe David was so blessed was because he purposed in his heart to be one who praised God.