How to Meditate When in Danger, Betrayed, Falsely Accused, Attacked, and Hated

David gives us a lesson on how to meditate in the direst situations. His son has betrayed him. His army seeks to kill him. He is alone, falsely accused, and under attack. Will he survive?

Psalm 23 is a poem and a song David wrote as he meditated. David’s meditation offers great lessons.

Remember, the army of his son’s betrayal is chasing him down. David is basically hidden in a cave in the wilderness. In all human terms, David’s life is over. His enemies defamed and publicly humiliated him. They chased him from his kingdom, and his own family sought his death. He has very few friends left. He has apparently lost it all.

David has dramatically failed the Lord with many sins and famous failures. It has been nearly 15 years since Nathan called his hand over Bathsheba. Now, he finds himself at the bottom, destroyed. Will David survive? Can he ever survive all the attacks? Can David find hope?

He begins to meditate. Look at what we see here and then see how it applies to your heart and life, no matter where you are or what you are going through.

What David Does Not Do

Please notice that David does not grovel in Psalm 23. He doesn’t talk about how unworthy he is. He doesn’t say, “God, I am a worm, and I beg you to love me.”

Notice that he does not bring up his sins or his failures. He doesn’t say, “I know I made a lot of mistakes; I failed you; please have mercy.” He doesn’t justify himself.

David doesn’t explain how he could have done many things better or what he did to cause this.

David doesn’t beg God to come to him, to love him, to forgive him.

David doesn’t promise to do better the next time if God will just deliver him this time.

David doesn’t play the victim card or talk about how weak and pathetic he is. There is no plea for pity.

David doesn’t remind God of what he deserves—God’s love and care. No negotiations are taking place.

David doesn’t question God’s goodness or His intentions.

David doesn’t suggest that God might not be able to help or that he is a burden.

David never even suggests the idea that God might have abandoned him.

David doesn’t compare himself to others to try to justify why God should act.

David doesn’t question God’s plan nor fear His wrath, judgment, or discipline.

David doesn’t even mention his needs or his circumstances.

What David Did

David meditates by beginning not with himself but with the Lord. Once you see what he didn’t do, focus on what he did. David thinks about who shepherds him. He talks about how his Shepherd has never let him miss out on any needs and never will.

David thinks about his Shepherd and realizes that the LORD has taken such good care of him he was made to lie down when there was still so much to eat. He lived in satisfaction. David acknowledges that his Shepherd provided the best, calmest water. When he was super discouraged in the past, the Shepherd had refreshed him, brought him back, and made him live again.

David knew that his Shepherd had guided his paths all of his life, showing him where to go and what to do when he had no idea what to do.

After spending so much time on the Shepherd, David was finally ready to address the Shepherd in prayer.

Conclusion

Do not go to God in prayer thinking you have to beg him to hear you, come to you, care about you, or answer your prayers. Real prayer starts by thinking about God and truth, not you and your circumstances.

Take your time. Mull over all that God has done, who He is, and what He says before you even consider praying.

Look to Jesus, not the junk you are dealing with. See Christ, not your circumstances, and you will be on your way to victory.