WISHING TO FLY AWAY

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭55‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
WISHING TO FLY AWAY
“Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest….’

John Stott, known for his passion for birdwatching, has personally sighted over 2,500 species of birds. Millions around the world share his hobby, watching birds and photographing them. There is something uplifting and liberating about seeing a bird in flight. Perhaps, we wish we could take off and fly away as freely.

David had such a wish: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest…” Trapped in a place where fear and horror overwhelm him, David wants to escape to a place of refuge. He speaks of enemies surrounding him, and someone close to him betraying him. Could he be referring to Absalom his son, or Ahithophel his trusted advisor (2 Sam 16:15-23)?

David’s son was conspiring to usurp his throne, and David’s advisor was crossing over to the other side. The double blow must have hurt David deeply as he cries to God for justice and deliverance. No wonder, he wishes to be somewhere else.

When we face similar emotional distress, we too wish for escape and relief. Perhaps, we wish it’s all a bad dream and we will wake up to a happier world. But God may want us to go through the storm than to take us out of it. So David consoles and counsels himself, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm‬ ‭55‬:‭22‬)

In another place, David testifies, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”(Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬) When a storm frightens a child, God sometimes stills the storm; sometimes he stills the child. Which would you prefer?

Do I want to fly away, or stay?