This post is from Moms Take Ten episode 88, “Parenting in Scripture–Taste and See”, which you can listen to wherever you listen to podcasts or at https://sites.libsyn.com/403493/parenting-in-scripture-taste-and-see
The passage I want us to look at today is less about parenting practices, and more about God’s heart for us in our parenting moments. When we are feeling weary, beat down by all that is expected of us or by our own failings, we can turn to God’s word and find encouragement for our souls. This encouragement lies in who the Lord is and how he views and interacts with us. David speaks of this relationship often in the book of Psalms. We are going to spend most of our time in Psalm 34, but to set the scene, we need to first go to the book of 1 Samuel. Here we find David the mighty giant killer turned enemy of King Saul. All of David’s success was too much for Saul’s insecure heart to handle and he decided that David must die. Jonathan, Saul’s son, warned David of his father’s unrelenting hatred, prompting David to flee. Situating himself in Gath, a major Philistine City, the servants begin to realize who is in their midst–one who had killed thousands of their people. Rather than finding safety, David began to feel his life was once again in danger. 1 Samuel 21:12 says that he was very much afraid. His solution–to pretend to be insane.
David was not in a great place. Life was not going as planned. He was probably lonely, having left his family and friends behind. He was weary of what his life had become. He was afraid of what might happen to him. Rather than turning to the Lord in trust, he implemented his own plan, literally acting like a madman.
Sometimes I act crazy too. My responses to my children can be, at times, highly irrational. I might not be in the same situation as David was, but I can definitely relate to his emotions.
Think about it. Parenting rarely goes as planned. We can struggle with loneliness, not being able to hang out with other grown ups because we are tending to the littles. We become weary of the mundane and the challenging. We can allow worry and anxiety to take hold of our mind and heart. Our thoughts can run away with us and we can fear what is happening or what is to come. We forget to turn to the Lord or we doubt his goodness and sovereignty and we too act irrationally, or feel as though we have gone crazy.
Here is where David’s psalm speaks to us. As he reminds himself of who God is, he calls us to remember as well. He invites us to join him as he gives thanks and praise for God’s faithfulness. Let’s read Psalm 34, beginning in verse 1.
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together.
Our thoughts and words about the Lord should be of praise and thanksgiving. In the good and in the hard. This brings to mind the book of Philippians that we discussed last month and Paul’s repeated urging to rejoice in the Lord always. Not just when we are feeling good. Not just when the kids are behaving. Not just when life is going smoothly. Also when we are struggling. Also when our kids are throwing tantrums and sibling conflict is a constant. Also when life is full of potholes and road blocks. At all times.
I love how practical one commentary made this: The depth of David’s praise is underscored by the fact that it will continually be in his mouth; that is, in his everyday speech he will make a conscious effort to affirm God’s character and activity. He will make his boast in the Lord, not in anything he has accomplished. As a result, when others hear it, they will rejoice. Then they will magnify the Lord and exalt his name with David. (The Moody Bible Commentary, 2014)
Do you hear how practical, how ordinary it is? He isn’t talking about singing all day long in a never ending worship service. He isn’t talking about pious prayers or holy roller vocabulary. In the mundane of life and in the vernacular, talking about God and talking to God. We spoke about this a little bit in our summer miniseries, God In Our Daily Interactions. Here are some ways this could sound:
“Oh man, I have a lot of dishes to do but I’m so thankful for all the food God has provided for us.”
“I know this is really hard but God is here with us and he will carry us through.”
“Guys, look at the sunset God put together this evening.”
“God made you and I am so glad that he did.”
Each statement is a reminder to ourselves of God’s presence and work in our lives, and when we make those statements outloud, we help others remember and see and experience as well. What a beautiful way to model the Christian life for our children.
Picking up in verse 4, David writes,
I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
How desperately we as mamas need to know and trust that God answers when we call to him. More than that, he doesn’t shame us for doing so. He doesn’t ridicule or critique or get upset about being interrupted. He delights in the interruptions of his children. He loves when we call out to him. He is ready to answer when we do.
Are you weary and struggling to get out of your bed in the morning?
Are you facing a decision that feels big and impossible to make?
Are you confused by your child’s behavior and uncertain how to respond?
Are you watching as your child goes down a wrong path and they won’t listen to you?
Are you battling poor health or financial struggles that fill you with anxiety about the future?
In any and all of those situations and whatever you might be facing, he answers when we call. Not only does he answer, but he encamps around those who fear him and delivers us. Maybe the situation will look the same, maybe it will be completely transformed, but always we will be delivered from our fears. It is this same God that Paul declared will fill us with a peace that guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus when we come to him in prayer (Phil. 4:4-7)
The last part of this psalm that I want us to look at is verses 8-10.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
We get a taste for who God is by looking at what he has done. Look back at your own life. Look at the stories and verses all throughout scripture. Look at the world around you. Look at what he is doing with your friends and family. Look and see that he is good. Because he is good, taking refuge in him is a good thing. In him, we have protection and also immeasurable provision.
Remember two months ago when we looked at Ephesians chapter 1 and the spiritual blessings found in the Lord? Paul expounds on those gifts and provisions from the Lord for three chapters and then spends the next three chapters urging the believers to live a life worthy of the calling they have received. How can we do that? Because God gives us all we need for life and godliness. Because of the spiritual blessings he so generously bestows on us.
What do you feel you are lacking today? Is it energy, hope, patience, wisdom, endurance, grace? There is so much that we need to parent well. The Lord has all that you need and as you seek him, you will find yourself filled.
Lyssa Stoyko 