The Loyalty of a Disappointed King

One of the blessings of getting older is getting to see things from a different perspective. When young, the stories like David killing Goliath in the name of the Lord and Moses parting the Red Sea wowed and impressed us. They still do – not only for their miraculous nature but also for the faith represented: faith in God and a God who came through for them. As one gets older, you hear “the rest of the story” (as Paul Harvey used to say). You hear of the sinful nature of men, men who love the Lord but also mess up. It was surprising to learn one day that Moses was not allowed into the Promised Land. Moses, who stood before Pharaoh delivering God’s messages and parted the Red Sea and helped guide & advise the Israelites for 40 long years while walking in the desert wilderness. And for what? Hitting, instead of talking to, a rock. That seems pretty steep of a price to pay. I hesitate to say it, but I was kind of surprised Moses did not get mad and leave it all, including God. 40 years of service to God doing things he didn’t want to do, starting at age 80, when most men might have been thinking of retirement – to be met with a “do not enter” at the last stretch of the race? That is a hard one.
But Moses remained faithful. I always wondered how he could.
And then there’s David. A man after God’s own heart, who brought down Giants, conquered nations, helped lead God’s people back into a right relationship with Him, and saved & prepared for the rebuilding of the temple – but who, in his later years, faced incredible heartbreak within his own household that would run him off the throne & out of his own territory for a while. Despite David’s bravery through fear and lifelong service, God did not miraculously fix his problems. But David remained dedicated to God, his last Psalm believed to be either Psalm 145 or Psalm 72 which read:
“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.” (Psalms‬ ‭145‬:‭1‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬; psalm 72 in the photo below)
How so?
The reason the men of renown were able to remain loyal to God long after the youthful days of glory and through their disappointment lies in the words of the Psalm when David speaks of God’s goodness, graciousness & compassion, and how He is trustworthy, merciful and a good Father, true to His promises. The older men of renown had the blessing of having those perspectives because they had seen it all firsthand. They truly knew God’s nature, that His judgments are just and His decisions are right – and that they had been blessed with mercy far outweighing anything they ever deserved. If asked the question, “Why did you stay faithful to your God?” I could see them replying like Simon Peter who stated, “To whom else could we go?” They had lived long enough and seen enough to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is none other like God – and no one worth leaving Him for. Their loyalty stands as a testament and testimony for all of us: the God of the mountaintop is also the God of the valley and worthy of all praise, no matter our current circumstance. Thank you Lord for all that You are & all that You do! -April Estes