May 22

In 2 Samuel 15–17, we find David walking through one of the darkest valleys of his life—not as a victorious king, but as a father betrayed. His son Absalom has staged a rebellion, and David is forced to flee Jerusalem in grief and humiliation. The man once cheered in the streets is now weeping on the Mount of Olives, barefoot and broken.

Yet from this wilderness place come two powerful prayers: Psalm 3 and Psalm 63.

“But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head high.” – Psalm 3:3

“Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You.” – Psalm 63:3

Though exiled and hunted, David does not let go of his trust in God. In fact, his suffering deepens it. These psalms reveal a heart that has learned to worship in the wilderness—not because everything is right, but because God is still faithful.

In Romans 1, Paul reminds us of another kind of exile—the spiritual kind. He describes how people turned away from God, exchanging the truth for lies, and the Creator for created things. Instead of worshiping the One who made them, they worshiped themselves. The tragedy is not just rebellion but the loss of joy, truth, and peace that comes from knowing God.

David's story and Paul's teaching come together with one simple but profound truth:
Everyone worships something. The question is: will we worship in spirit and truth, or will we trade God’s glory for something less?

In the wilderness, David clung to God. When all comfort was stripped away, he discovered what mattered most. In our culture, where distractions and idols abound, Romans 1 challenges us to examine our hearts: Are we truly treasuring the One who is better than life?

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