believing

We choose what to believe

It is assumed that whatever we believe is true, but everything we believe is not true. Sometimes we believe that fairy tales are true; and think that by believing them, we can make them come true. In reality, what is true today is true tomorrow, things do not become true unless the facts change. Therefore, it is important that we know all the facts and choose to believe what is unlikely to change.

David said, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them, from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7). The word translated preserve, nâtsar (naw – tsar´) means to guard, to watch or keep (5341). God is very careful about what he says and always keeps his word, meaning that he does what he says he is going to, no matter how long it takes.

David asked four questions in Psalm 13 that indicate he believed some things that were not true. He asked, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1-2).

David believed that the LORD had forgotten him, that he was hiding his face from David or not listening to his prayers. David believed that he had to rely on his own counsel because his enemy, Absalom had taken over as king. In reality, none of those things were true. David was still the rightful king of Israel and his escape was part of God’s plan to restore the kingdom to him.

I think the reason David fell into despair and began to believe lies about his enemy was because he felt like a failure as a father. He probably thought he deserved to be punished for what had happened to his daughter, Tamar. What he didn’t realize was that nothing had changed. David was as close, maybe even closer to the LORD than he had ever been.

David’s language of impatience in Psalm 13 was a sign of his healthy relationship with the LORD. His boldness in wrestling with God indicates David knows that his current situation is not what God wants for him. He is expressing an anguish of relief not (yet) granted and revealing his conviction concerning God’s righteousness (note on Psalm 6:3). David closes Psalm 13 with a return to the truth and declares, “My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6).

Make it happen

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). Not everything a person believes is true. Even though everything God says is true, not every person believes it. What Jesus was saying in this statement was that when we believe what is true, we give that truth the power to work in our lives.

In 2 Samuel chapter 7 it is recorded that the prophet Nathan delivered a message to king David about the establishment of his kingdom. Afterwards, David prayed and said, “And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou  hast promised this goodness unto thy servant” (2 Samuel 7:28). The word translated true, ’emeth (eh´ – meth) is derived from the word ’âman (aw – man´) which means to trust or believe (539). The word aman is found in Genesis 15:7 where it says that Abraham “believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

The transaction that occurs when we believe what God says is called imputation. Basically, what happens is that God is free to make it happen. God’s blessings do not flow freely from heaven because of the choice or free will God has given us to live our lives without his help. He does not interfere or intercede unless we ask him to. When God speaks to us personally, it is as if he is saying, I can do this, but I only will if you want me to. It is within our power to say yes or no.

David said in 2 Samuel 7:25, “And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.” David was agreeing with God’s word and making it possible for him to make it happen without any interference from the devil. If David had not agreed, what God said would still be true, but David’s resistance (unbelief) would have hindered the process.

The word translated established, qûwm (koom) refers to destiny and can signify empowering or strengthening. “It is also used to denote the inevitable occurrence of something predicted or prearranged” (6965). The word translated promised in 2 Samuel 7:28, dâbar (daw – bar´) actually means to arrange. When God spoke to David through the prophet Nathan, what he said had already been arranged. It was possible, but it wasn’t assured of happening until David believed it was true.