Psalm 31 - The Declaration of Dependence

“In You, O Lord, I put my trust…” Psalm 31:1a

We live in a world of independence. It is admired, strived for, and readily displayed for us to emulate in every direction we gaze. In movies we see muscled-up independent guys rebelliously fighting whoever disagrees with them and we cheer for the engineered storyline. And for the young girls out there today, we are in the onslaught of a storm of strong independent female figures. Girls and women on the silver screen that reject all authority and instead go their own personal way to the cheers of an audience that is more than ready to emulate their behavior. But we shouldn’t be surprised. Both of these preach what America has been built on, rebellion from authority. That is, to put it better, rebellion against everything we don’t like waved under the flag of our own personal independence. And to cap that historical independence (rebellion) from Britain, a document was penned, the Declaration of Independence. A document that declares freedom from all other influences except itself.

Yet in the life of many today, I see a similar article drafted daily. A personal declaration that states they will not just declare independence from tyrannical European nations, but independence from anything they do not like, regardless of right, wrong, or common sense. However, in Psalm 31, we see David do just the opposite. Instead of penning a personal declaration of independence, in his wisdom and great need for the Lord, David instead pens a declaration of dependence…“In you O Lord, I put my trust.”

David had every reason to be a strong independent man. He was strapping, he was wealthy, he was handsome, he was a gifted warrior, and hello, he was a king. Wrap up all of these qualities today and you’ve got a billionaire CEO playboy movie star that is dancing to the beat of his own drum and probably even taking a trip or two into outer space on his own rocket ship. Yet David did just the opposite of beating his own drum. He didn’t live in his strengths, but his weaknesses. He didn’t focus on his past righteousness, he looked at his current moral failure. He didn’t look at his personal strength, he looked to the unlimited strength of God. And somewhere, somewhere in his journey, David learned the invaluable lesson the Lord has for us all. Through the Lord, and only through the Lord, we find life…real life. Through the Lord we find joy, purpose, peace, and freedom. You see friends, only through claiming absolute dependence on the Lord, do we finally reach true independence.

Today we live in a world of strong independent people that are ever so proud to be just that. People that place their personal opinions above all others, and yes, even over and above God. People that hate, slander, and even kill others to promote and protect their own political opinion. People that disregard the law of the land and kill police officers because they don’t feel the law fits their strong independent agendas. And yes, even people that deny, reject, and persecute God because His rules for living are not aligned with the current popular trends of the day. But God doesn’t ask for our agreeance, understanding, or alignment with His ways, He only asks for our belief, obedience, and faith to His rules that He made for His creation. And it is only within adherence to this formula that a life will truly find independence from the greatest evil...self. For the Lord, our Maker, our Creator, our Designer, our Savior, knows what is best for us, what will preserve us, and what will sanctify us. His plan is not open for debate, open for self-analysis or available for personal alteration. It is a plan of pure dependence upon Him.

Depend on the Lord Jesus Christ today and be saved from your sin. Depend on the Lord today and through the anointing of the Holy Spirit be ushered into a new life that will allow you to take joy in fully depending on Him for all. For it is not in personal independence that true strength is found…but in dependence on the author of strength...Almighty God.

Blessings ~ Dan

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

desayuno (breakfast), Cozumel, Mexico