GIVING UP MEANS GIVING IN –

While David sat in exile, he no doubt thought back on all of his earlier encounters with King Saul and his assassins. Perhaps in trying to see a parallel in the way God delivered him from Saul’s claws, he wondered how God would likewise spare him from Absalom’s clutches. But what irked him more than anything was the gall his traitors had in advising Absalom to revolt; how insensitive and calloused they acted, especially since all of them once swore their allegiance to him, and he considered them some of his closest friends and confidants. What were they thinking? Why were they so easily persuaded? But he was not about to let their defection from loyalty dash his hopes that his faithful God would deliver him.

“O One True God please listen, I need You; I’m depending on You to keep me safe from the evil intentions of these people who hate me. Please protect me from this gang of evil men; from this mob of evildoers who use their tongues like swords and their words like poison arrows to ambush innocent people, and couldn’t care less how much pain they cause. They even cheer each other on, and brazenly brag about what they are planning to do; thinking that no one will even notice or care. They’ll come up with any excuse they can, but never admit that what they are doing is wrong. However, my One True God has them in His sights; He knows how to stop them in their tracks. He will use their own words to bring them down, and everyone who sees it will just shake their heads in awe and amazement as they think it over and talk about how our One True God handled the situation. So let those who depend on the LORD Eternal cheer Him on; yes, let those who live according to His will join me in celebrating Him. Psalm 64:1-10

Reflection: According to a popular story, in 1922 organizers of a high-society extravaganza scheduled Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish composer-pianist, to perform at well-known Carnegie Hall. A young mother decided to bring her nine-year-old son to the concert with the intention of inspiring him to passionately embrace playing the piano and stop complaining about his piano lessons. They sat in a sea of tuxedos and fancy dresses under elegant chandeliers. However, the young boy’s only focus was on the beautiful ebony piano sitting on the platform. While his mother was distracted, he slipped up on stage, and in order to impress her began playing “Chopsticks” on the grand piano. The audience collectively turned their heads toward the stage at this unexpected fiasco and whispered, “What in the world is that boy doing up there?” “Where are his parents?” “Someone should get him offstage.” Backstage, Paderewski heard the music and was drawn to look through the curtains. He grabbed his coat and with no introduction walked over and knelt behind the boy. He then reached around both sides of the young lad and began improvising a counter-melody to enhance the boy’s playing of “Chopsticks”. As he played, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear: “Go ahead. You’re doing great. Keep it up! Don’t stop. You’re okay. Don’t listen to the audience. Keep going. Keep playing.”

Perhaps David felt like a little boy being booed because of the way he played his hand in response to Absalom’s rebellion. Critics and back-stabbers began to openly shout at him and call him names; until he had to run away and find a place to hide. But it’s as if the LORD put His arms around David and kept whispering, “Don’t quit, son, don’t stop, you’re doing fine.” That’s why David now encourages all believers to join him in magnifying his God who never quits, who never stops, who never gives up on those He loves.