(March 08, 2025) Brian Bell encourages…

On January 1 this year I moved another year further into my seventieth decade of life— and the inspiration for this short meditation is drawn from my recent reflections on one of my favourite verses: ‘Once I was young and now I am old yet I have never seen the godly forsaken nor seen their children begging for bread’ (Psalm 37:25NLT).

This verse from David’s psalm speaks to me about three basic experiences—

1) David’s Experience of Life
The general experiences of life are common to every man and woman. While our specific individual experiences may differ, they come to us as we progress through life from young to old.

• David could reflect on his time as a shepherd on the hills of Judea as he kept his father’s sheep and had encountered lions and bears (1Samuel 17:34-36).
• He could think about the time he faced the giant Goliath in the valley of Elah, when his faith in God was strong and he slew Goliath as easily as he had slain lions and bears (1Samuel 17:40-51).
• He could mediate about the time he was brought before the prophet Samuel whom the Lord told to anoint him as king (1Samuel 16:13).
• He could think about the years he spent running and hiding as he was pursued by King Saul (1Samuel 23:7-8 for example).
• And… David would also remember his adultery with Bathsheba and how he arranged the death of her husband Uriah (2Samuel 11:1-27).

Now our experiences of life may not be as dramatic as David’s… yet for us they are experiences we may think about with either glad reflection or perhaps a measure of sadness or regret.

Let me encourage you— the reality is that, even as Christian believers, journeying through life can be a journey which in scriptural terms is sometimes likened to the Israelites wandering in the Sinai desert. We may experience—

• Conquests of faith (Hebrews 11:32-35)
  Surely all of us have known experiences in which we knew a conquering faith… perhaps it may have been in a workplace setting or some situation in which the Lord enabled and or delivered us.
• Contrasts of faith (Hebrews 11:36-38)
  I myself have known as perhaps you do, many faithful saints who have come through some of the most difficult, tragic and hurtful experiences.
• Completeness of faith (Hebrews 11:39)
  For those who have now passed into glory their faith has been made commendable— while for us who still remain it is nearing completion.

I can reflect on personal experiences which proved to be a source of learning (including about myself), experiences which proved to be a disappointment, and unfortunately times when I felt I was a disappointment to others. It is with great satisfaction and thanksgiving I can reflect on how the gracious hand of God was leading especially when I was struggling.

2. David’s Experience of the Lord
This is expressed in David’s words above— ‘yet have I never seen the godly forsaken nor seen their children begging for bread.’

The renowned English Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon is credited with saying that the earlier part of David’s life was ‘full of music and dancing, whereas the latter part after his adultery had far more mourning and lamentation.’ Personally I would agree with that summation.

David is described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), yet in context David’s reference to the godly or righteous man is not self-righteousness. He had come to a personal knowledge of the Lord as he testifies in Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’

In Psalm 51, which reflects on David’s repentance after his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, he tells us about the righteousness God can impute— ‘… create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me, don’t banish me from your presence and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me, restore to me again the joy of your salvation’ (v10-12).

3. David’s Experience of Liberation
David knew what it was to lose the joy his salvation, but with confidence he wrote in verse 17b, ‘You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.’ And, as he declared in Psalm 23, the Lord is of a protecting and comforting God.

Where do you find yourself, dear reader, in these early weeks of the third month of 2025? I wonder if it may be the demands and responsibilities of life are proving to be something of a challenge or struggle for you. Do you need the holy comforter?

If that is where you are today here are some words from an old song Leave it There written by Charles Albert Tindley published in 1916 which may be an encouragement for you—
‘If this world from you withhold of its silver and its gold
and you have to get along with meagre fayre.
Just remember in God’s word how He feeds the little birds,
take you burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust Him through your doubt He will surely bring you out,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.’

And here’s an encouraging scriptures-based prayer—

‘Gracious God, thank you for your great love for those who are your children by faith in Jesus. Thank you that each day of life we can be sure you will honour your promises to never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Hebrew 13:5). Thank you too, Lord, that while the weaknesses and failings we may encounter can have consequences for us, as David’s experience reminds us, your nature is one of a providing, pardoning God!’

Whatever age you are this 2025, may you know in your heart the great truth that—

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Brian Bell is a diaconate member, Christ Church (Congregational) Abbots Cross, Northern Ireland. Brian describes himself as ‘grateful for the privilege and opportunity given me to serve my Lord.’
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