Perfect ways

Have you ever wondered why things happen? Or, have you ever wondered why God allows certain events or situations in life? I am certain that most everyone has. How should we respond to these situations? What does God expect us to understand?

Psalm 18 is a song of praise by King David for the sparing of his life. The song contains parts that are similar to other psalms such as a declaration of praise for who God is, what God has done, and how the writer has benefited from God's actions. The song then ends in another declaration of praise. What interested me was a break in between the description of God's actions and the part concerning the benefits of that action. David writes:

This God--His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;
He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.
For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?

The Psalms are full of questions -- questions as to the purpose of events in life, questions regarding the need for trials and difficulties, and questions as to when God would step in and do something. That in itself is a comfort--it is not wrong to ask questions of God! However, in the end we may not have the answers. It is at that time that faith must take over and we must declare with David, "This God--His way is perfect."

David was often on the run--even from his father-in-law (Saul), and his own son (Absalom)--and his life was often in danger. As God's anointed king, it makes sense that he would wonder what God was doing. But he always returned to this fact: "This God--His way is perfect."

When a person is able to consistently return to the truths of the Person of God--the perfection of His ways, the fact that His purpose and Word are true, that He is a place of refuge when His children are under attack, that He is our Rock--the difficulties of life (even life-and-death situations) pale in comparison to the greatness of our God. Who is a rock in the storms of life? Only our Lord: "This God--His way is perfect."