Worry! What do you worry about? As children we don’t worry about much, but as teenagers we start worrying about acceptance, about getting our driver’s license, and other things. As young adults, we start worrying about choosing a career, going to college, finding a mate and many other things. And, when we get old, we worry about our families, staying healthy, and being able to afford living on our retirement income.
At what stage of David’s life did he write this psalm? Some think he may have written it when he was young and feeling invincible. Perhaps he wrote it as king after conquering all of his enemies. Or, he may have written it in his old age having realized that after all his struggles he couldn’t control circumstances.
Whenever he wrote these 3 little verses, he had learned that God was in control of his destiny. He had given up his pride and knew there were a lot of questions he would never have answers to and events he could not understand. Now because of his experiences he could confidently say, “O Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and always.” (verse 3)
Job was a man who experienced a great disaster in his midlife. He had worked very hard to build his fortune and suddenly it was gone along with his adult children. He did not understand why, and he looked to God for answers. His friends turned against him accusing him of sin. His wife was suffering the same grief Job had to the point she got tired of listening to him ask “why”, and she told him to just curse God and die.
God never gave Job an answer to his “why” question. Instead, God asked Job a series of questions until Job realized he just had to put his faith in God. Job repented of his attitude and God richly blessed him for it.
Matthew recorded Jesus’s instruction about worry. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. . .So why worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” (Matt. 6:25 & 31-33.)