Today's devotional

The rantings of an insane man. At least, that's how it appeared. But, it was all a charade; this man was more sane than most. 

Many Bible translations preface Psalm 34 with the phrase, "A Psalm of David, when he feigned madness before Abilelech, who drove him away and he departed". Obviously this fake madman was anything but mad. Consider these stirring words:

"they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing (verse 10) ... The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry (verse 10) ... The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit" (verse 18) 

Few people more intimately knew the LORD YHWH than David, and these words reflect that firsthand experience. Hardly the words of an insane man! He personally knew His protection, provision, and attention. 

Another man, also once labeled crazy, wrote a verse to a hymn while living out his days in an insane asylum. His words reflect a similar knowledge of the LORD God as those of David: "Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above, Would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky."

The most sane thing you can do today is draw near to the LORD who provides all good things, who is attentive to His people, and who is near to the needy. Seek Him earnestly today and fully experience His deliverance and provision.

©Steve Taylor, 2013