David The Psalmist

Here are some poignant words of David found in 2 Samuel:

• Regarding his friend Jonathan after he died: “How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how much I loved you! And your love for me was deep, deeper than the love of women!” (2 Samuel 1:26)
• Regarding David’s adultery with Bathsheba: “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are that man!’ . . . Then David confessed to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ ” (2 Samuel 12:7, 13)
• When David heard about Absalom’s death, he cried: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I could have died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” (2 Samuel 18:33)

When most people think about David, they think of him first as a shepherd boy, lolling in the pastures, and then as a king, garbed in a royal robe. In other words, it seems to have been an idyllic life, perfectly suited to playing the harp and writing a few psalms.

But as you read the life of David, you see that life was seldom serene. In his youth he fought with at least one lion and one bear; his brothers seemed to resent him; and King Saul, jealous of David’s popularity, tried repeatedly to kill him. Finally, David fled to live with the Philistines, the archenemies of Israel, where he headed a band of outlaws. Living sometimes in caves, sometimes in enemy territory, and once pretending insanity, David kept eluding Saul’s troops as if he were in a TV rerun of The Fugitive.

When King Saul died in battle, David’s claim to the throne was recognized by only one of twelve tribes. It took seven years before the entire nation united under his reign. Militarily, David extended the borders of the country and subjugated the nearby enemies. He made Jerusalem the center of worship as well as the capital of government.

But personal problems dogged David’s reign. His adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband were followed by devastating dysfunction in his children. One of his sons raped his own sister and then was murdered by his brother Absalom. Later, Absalom tried to wrest the throne from his father, David.

There’s more, but that’s enough to give you the idea that the sweet singer of Israel had a life filled with pain, sorrow, and heartache. Yet this shows that often the sweetest music comes from those who have gone through the greatest difficulties.

Though clouds may gather in the sky and billows round me roll,

However dark the world may be, there’s sunlight in my soul.

Since the Savior found me, took away my sin,

I have had the sunlight of his love within.

JUDSON W. VAN DEVENTER