In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3
When we read the book of Psalms, we find that David continually cried out before the Lord for the help he needed. There were many times that he was at the point of despondency, but he always looked to God for deliverance. In moments of his weakness, He sought the Lord, and the Lord strengthened him by answering his prayers, giving him wisdom for the situation, and boldness in his soul. Praise God that hears the cry of His people and He answers His children!
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1
Some people think of boldness as being aggressive and outspoken. Aggression is actually an indication of insecurity and weakness. Speaking up has an element of boldness, but boldness is more than just being outspoken. Some are bold when they are in the right position or have ties to someone in a position. While that may have some advantages, it is temporary. When the person loses the position or the relationship, they are no longer able to hide behind the person for protection, and they are not able to throw the weight of their title around anymore. This causes them to shrink back to their old fearful and insecure nature.
To the contrary, David was bold when he was just a shepherd boy with no titles and no one to hide behind! The boldness that David was writing about was an inner strength and conviction that came from knowing that God was on his side. David had boldness of soul because he had met with God! His boldness wasn’t self-serving, but it was to honor God and to please him.
When we are in the right relationship with God, it gives us confidence because we know the Lord is on the side of those who please Him and walk in His ways. We have nothing to hide and that’s a place of safety and strength!
All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth. Psalm 138:4
It was David’s hope and expectation that someday the kings of the earth will recognize the Lord and will give him praise and honor that is due his name. In our age, while there are still earthly kingdoms in existence, people are more influenced and ruled by various gurus and celebrities of the day than any king! These individuals have become the little kings who millions of people follow on twitter and want to hear about everything they have to say.
There are academic elites who think they have figured out the solutions to ills of society. We also have scientific elites who are the arbiters of spirituality by deciding whether there is a Creator or not. Then we have celebrities from music, film, and sports industries who are worshipped for their fame and have become spiritual gurus telling people how to find meaning in life! At the present time, all these individuals are impressed with their own opinions, but someday they will be looking to God for help and praising Him!
It is sad and sobering that the recent fires in California illustrates the limited abilities and knowledge that man has to avert and stop these catastrophes. No guru in science, technology, government, entertainment, or any other industry could have predicted, averted, or contained these fires before they caused so much damage! These situations should humble every person regardless of their wealth, position, or education and bring them humbly to their knees in their acknowledgment of their Lord and savior. Everyone someday will recognize their limited power and will become aware of their need for God!
