Pastor Joe Miller IV
If there is something I enjoy, it’s to sit around a coffee pot and talk with people, especially older people. Most mornings I get together with a half a dozen guys at my friend's barn, and we drink coffee, eat donuts, and talk about everything under the sun. The one main take on the mornings is the stories from guys that are 70-80 years old and the experience and wisdom they have to offer. There is something to be said about a lifetime of living, schooling, working, marriage, parenting, grandparenting, the successes, the failures, and the conclusions of what is important after a long life has been lived. There is wisdom and understanding in experience. There is great value in paying attention and learning from those who have been there and taking the lessons they’ve learned the hard way and applying those hard-learned principles in our own lives today.
The source of all wisdom and truth, the Bible, tells us in Romans 15:4 that whatsoever was written aforetime was written for our learning. I think of the written records about the shepherd to King, David, that offers a lot of wisdom to learn from. I’m not going to discuss all the situations that David had been through, but to go from a shepherd boy to the King of Israel, God’s chosen people, from standing up to giants like Goliath, to the flesh-driven decisions like Bathsheba, and everything in between. What conclusions did David come to after a life of ups, downs, great victories, and failures - but still known as a man after God’s own heart. We pick up towards the end of his life in 2 Samuel 22:1 where David addresses God and acknowledges his long relationship with God.
2 Samuel 22:1
And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
Verses 2 and 3 are David's personal expressions of where his heart for God lies by using the word ‘my.’
2 Samuel 22:2-3
And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
Rock. My unchanging and immovable foundation that I put my trust in.
Fortress. My strong place of protection and defense.
Deliverer. My giver of mercy and grace.
Shield. My sole protector.
Horn of salvation. My power source and liberty.
High tower. My personal access to the Creator and residence.
Refuge. My place to retreat from danger.
Savior. My source of freedom and salvation.
After a long life, David comes to the perfect conclusion and description of our Heavenly Father.
In verses 5-49, David gives testimonies of a long life with God and makes statements that give a reflection of their relationship. We see David saying “God heard me. God delivered me. He shielded me. God delighted in me and rewarded me. He showed mercy to me. God protected and delighted in me. He picked me up and strengthened me. God avenged me and God uplifted me.” These statements were conclusions David came to after a long life of ups, downs, victories, failures, times of blessing, and times of correction, but ultimately with God - there is salvation, life, purpose, and protection. Therefore in light of a long life of testimonies and the faithfulness of God in our lives, let us give thanks.
2 Samuel 22:50
Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
As we age in this life, we should become less needy and more thankful, understanding that God is in control and that He is faithful always. We should not be just thankful amongst ourselves but around the unsaved. Let your thanksgiving of God be made known. Glorify God always in words and actions with thanks.