Delta Dawn When the Light Comes On: Week 29

"Happy are the people who are in such a state [of blessing] as this! Happy are the people whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:15 is King David's joyous and thankful praise to God for bringing him through years of persecution and years of war into a time of kingdom peace. Throughout First and Second Samuel, we see the phrase "it happened that..." In the Hebrew, this phrase boils down to 'at the appointed time and appointed place' Father God had an event occur.

Most often, these are times when, in the midst of a storm, we perform a routine task and God steps in, just as He did at Fort McHenry in 1814, when the United States was facing sure destruction from the British. The American flag flew through all the bombs and rockets. Then, when the bomb attack ended, routine brought forth a larger flag with sounds of music and singing. Such festivity sank defeat into enemy hearts and joy rang out, reaching global proportions.

When David and his men arrive back at Ziklag, I Samuel 30, they find the place burned to the ground. All the families and livestock are missing. Overwhelmed, 600 valiant men decide to stone their leader! But David calls for the ephod and talks with God about how to proceed. God says, "Go after them!" Well, which way did they go? It happens, however, that they encounter someone left behind by the raiders. Nourished and protected, he leads them into the enemy camp. It comes to pass, it happens then, that David and the men recover all!

'Time and chance' may come to man, but more accurately, God plans ahead, working to get us to the right place at the right time, with the right people, like 'how I met your mother (or father)', 'the wind changed', 'the phone rang', an unexpected visitor or a large check came. God just 'happened' in!

Powerful times to remember and rejoice! Witness of how God 'happened' for you! Each heart has an element known as 'anointing'. Testimony comes out the mouth with conviction, calling to the soft spot in another's heart. "Counsel (God's word) in a man's heart is deep, but a man of understanding (by God's design) will call it out." Proverbs 20:5. And so, relationship 'happens'! 

David's 600 frustrated, angry men rose up to mighty deeds as he sang Psalm 23 around the campfire after each day's trials. Put these words in your mouth: "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever."  

Next week: Step Out