At various times in life we find ourselves at a unique pivot place. It’s a place where God ordains a crucial shift in direction; for our good and His glory. In that place God brings us through a process of deep reflection designed to transform new aspects of our very being.
It’s a place where we have an opportunity to engage with God in a unique and powerful supernatural way. It’s a place where we come to know God more intimately, appreciate His goodness and faithfulness in a greater way, and come to trust in His redemptive purposes more than ever.
As it relates to the subject of pivot places and shifts, we can learn much from the unique stories and experiences of three individuals God used to advance His purposes in big ways: the patriarch Jacob, King David and the apostle Peter.
We can read about the wide variety of situations David experienced in his lifetime. He is the one individual the Lord referred to as “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). He is the one who would point to Messiah in such a way that upon seeing Jesus, the crowds called Him “Son of David.”
The Pivot Place of Piercing Reflection
While David’s life illustrates a myriad of lessons, his psalms serve to specifically provide rich examples of a life marked with more than mere worship, but relentless pursuit of God and engagement with God. They provide incredibly colorful and detailed tapestries of his deepest inner reflections.
So in looking at David, we find a particular pivotal place of piercing reflection in the narrative of 2 Samuel, chapter 22; as well as repeated for emphasis in Psalm 18. It was a place to which David came, reflecting on his being delivered from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul—who had chased him throughout the land of Israel for several years.
Working through his inner emotions, David starts reflecting on his deep love for God—the source of His vitality and strength.
Psalm 18
1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
2 My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
David reflects—as he often did—on the incredible amount of anguish, tension and anxiety he felt. He understood all too well being in tight spots! He knew though, that only God—and God alone—could save him from his fleshly enemies, and the enemy of his soul. So in extreme despair, distress and desperation he called upon the Lord.
4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
As you read through David’s experience, you can sense the transition at the pivot place… how he experienced in a very real and tangible way God’s presence—His amazing grace, mercy and loving-kindness. He senses the Holy Spirit’s response; which works peace in his soul. It brings him from a very narrow place to a broad place—a place of confidence, inner strength and courage!
16He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters…
19 He also brought me out into a broad place
Yes, through David’s relentless engagement with God, he experienced amazing grace at numerous pivot places. He came to understand God’s ways more clearly. He learned to a good degree why God does what He does. He learned the value of God’s word. He experienced God’s faithfulness. He learned to trust God to preserve and prosper him. He provided a testimony to strengthen the faith of those who put their trust in the Lord.
As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
David learned the value of pursuing an intimate relationship with God. He learned in the midst of all sorts of conflict that God had the answers he needed to overcome the challenges and perils of life. I’ve always found it amazing how often (seven times actually) we read how “David inquired of the Lord.”
David frequently found himself in serious situations. He needed strategic solutions. He made it a habit to turn to the Lord to earnestly inquire. He spent long periods seeking God…in deep reflection.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Whether you need a shift in direction, wisdom for a particular situation or a miracle, I encourage you to truly pursue and engage with God as David did. He gives us a real picture of how you can expect God to move on your behalf when in tight places. I’ve been in such places many times myself over the last forty years. God always breaks through—helping us pivot in directions and ways that make a difference—for our good and His glory.
REFERENCES
Psalm 34; 1 Samuel 23:2-4; 1 Samuel 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 5:19-23; 2 Samuel 21:1