“The arrogant are attacking me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life—men without regard for you. But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your maidservant. Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.“

Psalm 86:14-17 

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AUGUST 29, 2025

David knew danger during his years running from Saul. If Saul’s men could have apprehended David, they would have put him to death.  

Yet here David remembers the character of God, who by contrast is compassionate and gracious, abounding in love and faithfulness.  

The fact was that David’s life was in jeopardy—but he chose to focus upon the living God. This was not a denial of reality, but a deliberate decision to place confidence in the Lord. David recognized the threat to his wellbeing, but he turned to the Lord for deliverance. 

Worship can give perspective to our life experience, a time to stop and consider the nature of our God. Our physical lives may not be in imminent danger, but we face a similar dilemma: where do we put our trust when dealing with situations beyond our control? Reliance upon God, like David, does not happen automatically. It is cultivated over time, time spent in His word, time spent in meditation on God, time spent fellowshipping in community with brothers and sisters, time spent in heartfelt prayer. 

After stating his desperate situation before God, David proceeds to worship. He acknowledges attributes of God. He asks for mercy and strength. Then he does something interesting: Rather than calling upon God to destroy his enemies, David asks God to reveal His goodness in such a way that everyone will see it.  

This is remarkable! David was concerned that those in pursuit of his life be brought up short by a sign from God, causing them to see the error in their way.  

Worship changes how we think. When we ask God to intervene on our behalf, He begins His efforts not with those whom we perceive to be the problem, but upon us. Worship is our window to the goodness of God—not merely for our own joy, but to be revealed to those who surround us. Jesus is the ultimate expression of the goodness of God, thus it is our joy to reveal the goodness of God through our testimony. 

Questions for reflection and discussion:  

  • What are some threats that you are facing beyond your control?  
  • How has or how could worship affect your attitude toward things beyond your control?  
  • How could your story be a story of the goodness of God?  

 Church Reading Plan:

  • Today, August 29: 1 Samuel 21-22; 1 Corinthians 3 
  • Saturday, August 30: 1 Samuel 23; 1 Corinthians 4 
  • Sunday, August 31: 1 Samuel 24; 1 Corinthians 5