September 24 “Depend on Me, Pilgrim” Psalm 71:3
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go; give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.” (Psalm 71:3)
Growing up in rural eastern Wayne County, it was a “rite of passage” to be exposed to the television version of the “cowboy,” and the greatest of these heroes was the larger-than-life Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne! If you “google” John Wayne, you will discover that he appeared in 142 films, the majority were westerns, and he was a top box office draw for over three decades. Some of my favorite movies included Red River, McLintock, The Longest Day, How the West was Won, and True Grit. Do you recall this famous line from the “Duke?” “Sorry don’t get it done, Dude!” One overriding theme from the “Duke” movies is that dependence was a sign of weakness, yet in the scripture today, we see that in the world of King David, it was a necessity! David was King of Israel and during his 40-year reign, he ruled over a kingdom that was united, led them to victory in numerous battles, expanded the territory of the kingdom, and prepared the way for his son, Solomon, to build the Temple. David, although, not a perfect man, recognized that his successes in life were direct blessings from Almighty God. David, the King of Israel, owed accomplishments, his title, his position, his possessions, and his very life to his God! We read in psalm 71 that David acknowledged that he needed God, every day, in every way! His prayer is to be dependent on God continuously, as he had done throughout his blessed life! David was not ashamed of his dependence on God; instead, he celebrated it! David was confident in the “God of the angel armies” that had commanded his troops to protect David (Psalm 24)! The assurance of God’s Grace, Protection and Provision allows us to be “Dependent” on His Promises and to live boldly and confidently within the refuge of His Amazing Grace! As John Wayne would say, “God is the Rock of Refuge in which you can come at any time that you need to, Pilgrim!” Please Lord, remind me that reliance on You equates to Strength and Victory! Stay Strong, Stay Focused … THE BEST IS YET TO BE!