O That I Had Wings Like a Dove!

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O That I Had Wings Like a Dove!

When sadness  and troubles  overwhelm us,  our natural desire  is to just get away from it all.      If we could just fly away  and forget about  all that is going on,  then maybe  things would be okay again.      King David felt exactly that way  when friends  —  at least  he thought they were friends  —  tried to do him in.      David was afraid for his life  and wanted to get away,  where he would be safe  —  and not have to think about  such traitors  in his life.      That’s when he wrote Psalm 55.      In verses 6-8,  David wrote,

And I said,  “O  that I had wings  like a dove!
I would fly away  and be at rest.
Behold, I would wander  far away,
I would  lodge in the wilderness.
I would  hasten to my place  of refuge
From the stormy wind  and tempest.

We all come upon times of troubles  when we just wish  we could  “fly away and be at rest.”      All sorts of troubles  can make us feel that way.      But,  with David,  it was a supposed friend  wanting to kill him.      So,  in Psalm 55:12-14,  David cries,

For  it is not an enemy  who reproaches me,
Then  I could bear it;
Nor is it  one who hates me  who has exalted himself  against me,
Then  I could hide myself  from him.
But it is you,  a man my equal,
My companion  and my familiar friend.
We who had  sweet fellowship  together,
Walked  in the house of God  in the throng.

David knew  that God was his only recourse.      Only the Lord  could rightfully take care  of a situation like that.      As David described his  “friend“,  he wrote in verses 20-21,

He has  put forth his hands  against those  who were at peace  with him;
He has violated  his covenant.
His speech  was smoother  than butter,
But his heart  was war;
His words  were softer  than oil,
Yet  they were  drawn swords.

This  “friend“  had never really been a friend at all.      That cut David  down to the core.      He had trusted this guy,  but  it was all a scheme  to take David down.      David felt so helpless  and dejected  in this sickening situation.      There was only one thing  he could do.      He writes in verse 22,

Cast your burden  upon the LORD,  and He will  sustain you;
He will never allow  the righteous  to be shaken.

In this world,  we can never really  “fly away and be at rest”  from all of our troubles.      They will always  hound us  and stick like glue.      But,  we can do as David did,  and cast our burdens  on our LORD  and Savior.      When we do this  by faith,  with thanksgiving  and praise,  our Lord certainly  “will sustain you.”      We can truly rest  in the power and love  of our Redeemer.      We can rest  because  God is almighty,  and in His righteousness  “God causes all things  to work together  for good  to those who love God,  to those who are called  according to His purpose.”    (Romans 8:28)

All things are possible with God  —  and nothing is impossible.      That is why David  cast his burdens  on the LORD  —  and that is why God  loved David  for his humble dependence  upon our Savior.

With all our burdens  in the Lord’s care,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  You know how crushed we can be  with this world’s troubles.      Thank You  for taking our burdens  upon Yourself  and for making us  pure and holy  in Your sight.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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