GOD, OUR STAY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

We sometimes come across words that we are familiar with in
everyday language, but when we see them in a different context, we
are uncertain about their meaning. Take, for example, the following
statement King David made in Psalm 18:18 of the King James Bible:
“They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my
stay.” Two words of interest are found in this verse.

Generally speaking, when we think of the word “prevent,”
we think of something not allowed or that is hindered. Also, when
we think of the word “stay,” our thoughts go to its use as a verb – to
remain in a particular place. Yet as we look at these two words in
context, we see that such definitions don’t fit. It helps us to go back
to the time in which this was written, and look at the meaning of the
words then. When we do so, we see that “prevent” has a meaning
“to anticipate before” or “to confront or attack early,” and “stay”
means to “protect,” “support,” or “sustain”. With those things in
mind, and as we see in newer translations, what David was saying was
that his enemies confronted or attacked him early (ambushed him),
but God was there for him as his support and protector.

We can take comfort in David’s words, for God continues to
take care of and protect His people. May we, therefore, keep our
focus on serving Him to the best of our ability, and understand that
He will be with us through the difficult times that arise in our lives.