The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), May 9
Throughout the Psalms, David exemplifies "casting your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). David is a man of prayer. The psalms reveals why he is a man of prayer:
- David cared deeply about righteousness (unrighteousness frustrated him), David prayed against evil and evildoers, "Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve" (Ps. 28:4), and, "Save your people and bless your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever" (28:9).
Those who care about righteousness pray about unrighteousness. Unrighteousness is a burden no man can carry; therefore, unrighteousness must be taken to the Lord.
- David cared enormously about loyalty and friendship; he prayed when he experienced the pain of betrayal, "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (41:9); "Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly" (3:7); "Hear me when I call, O God, of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer" (4:1). David poured the pain of his betrayal to the Lord.
No man was betrayed more completely than the One who "came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (Jn. 1:11); therefore, He understands betrayal and can handle any betrayal given over to Him. David's understanding of loyalty and betrayal demonstrates one of the reasons why God called him "a man after His own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14).
- David valued intimacy with God; he looked to God when he felt abandoned, "How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? . . . Consider and hear me, O LORD my God" (Ps.13:1, 3); "To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock: do not be silent to me . . . . Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary" (28:1-2); "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication . . . . As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me" (55:1, 16).
- David pursued God passionately and cared profoundly about developing faith; as he lived in a broken world, he prayed, "As a deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God" (42:1-2a). "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?" (42:5,11; 43:5).
- David prayed about every issue because he cared deeply about the things of God. Prayer, therefore, is the great metric of the depth of one's trust in God and interest in the things of God.
Questions from today's chronological Bible reading (Psalm 27; Psalm 28; Psalm 29; Psalm 30; Psalm 31; Psalm 32):
David was also a man of worship, as seen throughout his psalms. What attributes of God does David seem to relish?
What does Psalm 31:19 reveal about David's view of God?
David's heart of repentance shines in Psalm 32. What does this psalm teach about redemption? About who God is for those who walk in repentance?