The Beauty Of Autumn
OCTOBER 21, 2026
SCRIPTURE COLLECTION
Today's Scripture Passage
They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.
Psalm 17:10-12
Related Scriptures:
Psalm 57:1-3
Psalm 11:1-7
Psalm 27:1-3,13-14
1 Samuel 24:4-7
1 Samuel 26:8-11
Romans 12:17-21
Proverbs 20:22
Notes & Reflections
The Beauty of Autumn
It’s been shown over and over again that the Psalmist relies on his God. We hear him cry out with great expectation (1-6), and we hear him lean on God for protection, which he knows flows from God’s steadfast love (7-9).
Yet David is in some real danger.
Isaiah 57:20-21 says,
“But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
There is no peace.
Wickedness asks for destruction, especially of that which tries to hinder it: righteousness.
God chose David to replace Saul as king. This happened because of what Saul had done. Saul was deeply angered at God’s choice and was filled with jealousy. This led him to chase David with the intentions of killing him. He continually spoke arrogant words against the son of Jesse. He was a man who had closed his heart to God’s rule and to any kind of pity towards David.
David, on the other hand, had multiple opportunities to end Saul’s life. Yet he never took them. He continued to trust God with the results and consequences of Saul’s actions.
David’s confidence in God was one that is worth emulating, and the danger that he was continually facing was like a bright light that made this confidence and faith shine like the sun.
Many times, men and women love to follow God when things are going well and, in those moments, it feels like our faith is the strongest and most evident. Yet in moments of sickness and danger we find that faith is seen at its best.
Think of the autumn leaves. The colors we find most wonderful are actually hidden all summer long under the green chlorophyll. As the days draw closer to winter, as the darkness comes, and as the coldness fills the air, the chlorophyll begins to break down, and the vast colors begin to show. Indeed, the hard times of winter uncover the greatest beauty that would otherwise be hidden.
In the same way, when David is facing the fiercest of danger, his faith is showing colors that are beyond beautiful. And even in our day, men and women are still gazing upon the autumn leaves of his wonderful faith. The enemies of David were eager to crush the beauty; they were eager to tear him apart and ambush him, yet in so doing, they made the beauty shine all the more.
God has continued to work in this manner throughout history. Wicked men have come and gone, trying to stop the spread of the Gospel. They try to malign us, mistreat us, laugh, scoff, and even kill us. Yet, they are unaware that faith lives best in the harshest conditions. They think our green leaves are the biggest threat but just wait until winter.
Why does God allow the wicked to threaten those who trust in him?
God is allowing trials to test and reveal our faith. He is revealing his grace as sufficient and accomplishing his great purposes through us. The wicked are tools in his wonderful hands.
Study Questions
QUESTION 01
How did David demonstrate his trust in God?
QUESTION 02
How have your trials revealed your faith?
QUESTION 03
How can opposition advance the gospel?
How To Cling Today
Cling to Christ today by seeing those who oppose you as tools to reveal your faith to the world around you.
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