Okay Lord, Anytime now

READ PSALM 70

Psalm 70:4 (ESV)

⁴ May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”

Five verses.

That's it. That's how many verses are in this Psalm. Do yourself a favor and give it the 5 second read it deserves.

David is the writer and in these verses he delivers two contrasting thoughts. There are people in his life who seek to harm him and cause him pain, while at the same time there are people who seek the Lord and understand the greatness of God.

This Psalm "sandwich" begins with three verses of David crying out to God for deliverance from those who seek his life (verse 2), and those who mock every misstep he makes (verse 3). It's almost stomach churning to picture a crowd of people who are against David laughing and snickering at him as they say, "Aha! Aha!" Every human being can understand David's plea to the Lord, "Turn them back and cause them shame."

Yet in the middle of this scene the picture shifts to those who seek the Lord and find gladness in Him. They rejoice because they understand and love the greatness of God. Verse 4 is the one I'd like to highlight for you today.

Why? Let me tell you.

We give far too much attention to the few people in our lives who bring negativity, and too little attention to the majority who bring joy and positivity.

I once read that no matter what you do 80% of the people you meet will like you no matter what. They will understand that you are a unique individual and treat you the way they'd like to be treated. You don't need to entertain or please them because they're already on your side. The remaining 20%, however, will NOT like you no matter what. They may dislike your personality. The way you walk. The way you talk, etc, etc...They cannot be pleased.

Which of those two groups, the 80% or the 20%, are you going to focus on? Common sense tells you to focus on the 80% group, and yet, most will spend their entire lives trying to win over the other 20%.

Listen, we all want to be liked by everyone. And we certainly don't want to have any enemies out there. David certainly didn't, but in many of the Psalms he's crying out to God because enemies are trying to take him out. (I think David had more than 20% against him at one point.) Which leaves David praying, "Lord, protect me. Lord, don't delay. Lord, deliver me!"

"Okay Lord, ANYTIME NOW!!"

But verse 4 changes the perspective. It shifts the focus, however briefly, onto the 80%. For one verse the spotlight is placed on those who share a common bond with David, which is a love of Yahweh. Thinking of this group gives David a brief respite, and a moment of joy knowing he has "teammates" out there!

If someone is against you right now and actively working to bring you down, cry out to God for deliverance. But know this, you can expect delays. Not because God is unfair, and it's not because He doesn't see your struggle. He is actually your helper and deliverer...He will come through!

I think God puts the delay there so you will have time to shift your attention to the 80%. The ones who are going to rise up with you and show you how much they love and support you. You know, the ones who will stand by your side and rejoice with gladness as you say together, "God is great!"

The ones God has placed in your life to support you all along. Give thanks for them, they're out there.

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN.

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