True Men Will Not Run

Oh that I had the wings of a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. -- Psalms 55:7

When you look around you and see so much wickedness going on-so much killing and robbing, so much scheming and corruption in politics, so much social duplicity and infidelity, do you sometimes feel as though you would like to run away from it all and seek relief in some isolated wilderness? Then you can appreciate how David felt when he gave utterance to the cry of the text.

Look at the scene he describes: "I have seen violence and strike in the city. Day and night they go about upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets." No wonder he said, "My heart is sore pained within me, and horror hath overwhelmed me." And no wonder he cried: "Oh that I had the wings of a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness."

But David did not run off and desert his city. He knew that would be a cowardly thing to do. He stayed by his post, and did what he could do to correct the evils and abuses going on around him. It is not surprising that he became pained and weary because of these evils and abuses, and sometimes felt that he would like to run away. But David was not the man to run away from duty, or from things that troubled and distressed him. He was too true a man for that.

I suppose we all sometimes become weary of the world's inequity and sins, and wish that we might get off somewhere and hide from the whole distressing sight. That is human nature. But no matter how evil and depressing the conditions around us, if we are true men, we will not run. Instead of running, it is our business to stand by and do our best to help change conditions and make society more decent and the world a more fit place to live.