But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. – Psalm 52:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 21, 2012): Psalm 52

Where is the peace? In a world where elementary children are gunned down, it seems to be a question that is begging to be asked. And I cannot say that I know the answer, because that just is not true. Peace seems to be totally absent in this time that we often think of as a celebration of peace. Our culture has furnished us with a number of stories about how peace came at Christmas – if only for a moment. It might be that one of the most overused phrases is the one that most aptly describes this time peace. The phrase is simply the assertion that we need to see the world through the eyes of faith. And although the phrase may be overused, it also might be true.

David is struggling with his place in his world. His desire is to support Saul until the days when his own reign would start, but Saul had never agreed to the plan. But David’s struggles may have gone deeper than just his rejection by the king. Saul had been a significant figure David’s life – in fact, he had been a father figure for the young boy. Saul had trusted him to take care of the giant Goliath, David had lived in the palace – playing music for Saul – and he had built a friendship with Saul’s son. The two young boys, David and Jonathan, had become as close as brothers. The result of all of this is that Saul’s anger would have severely affected 

David’s picture of himself. His self worth would have suffered. Even his own evaluation of his strengths would have been effected. If it was only just the king that was angry, but it was not the king – it was Saul.

And so, with his self image lagging, David begins to describe himself in his writings. He writes that he is like an olive tree in the sanctuary of God. The imagery that he uses is of Nob, a place that he had recently visited. Nob was a city of priests and the resting place of the Tabernacle after Saul had moved it there. Nob was also built in an olive grove. But now that Saul had killed all of the priests (1 Samuel 21 & 22) all that was left in Nob were the Olive trees. And David identifies with those trees. No matter what the destruction was that surrounded him – in faith he sees himself as one of the olive trees. David still stands – and David knows in the midst of his disaster that his God still stands with him.

I hope that you can experience a Christmas peace during the next few days. My prayer is that somehow, for a little while, you can find yourself in that bubble that we all need to find periodically. But if that is impossible, maybe remember David and the olive tree – and know that God is still standing with you – even when disaster seems to be reigning all around you.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 23