In many ways I feel akin to David, the shepherd boy. The youngest son of Jesse the sheep breeder, the great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth. The “David” best known for slaying the Philistine giant Goliath within the biblical story of David & Goliath. The David who became King of Israel.
But for me this is not where I am drawn to David. For me, it is within the psalms where David calls out to Christ in all things that attracts me to identify with him, within his journey. It is where David becomes truly intimate with Christ, bearing all. Where on bended knee before God, David humbly seeks forgiveness, protection, guidance, correction, and knowledge. It is where David becomes openly raw before God, the loving Shepherd. Because he is so hungry for God, willingly desiring all of God, despite his own failures.
For me, the Psalms are more than an expression of a lifelong journey, they are a melody. Where David relentlessly offers a continuation of love in repentance, song, praises and heart-felt worship, to the Great I Am, the source of life, of everything. The more of God he knew, the more David wanted, he needed to know. David completely had given his heart to God.
“O God, you are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus, I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life. My lips will praise You.” (Psalm 63:1b-3)
Even though David was a man after God’s own heart, he knew that he was imperfect, flawed. He knew that it was by the mercy and grace of God alone that was he forgiven, restored and loved each time he disqualified (sinned) himself before his heavenly Father. David’s heart knew how to pursue the only perfect One.
He was not only a courageous warrior, he was kind, compassionate and considerate to others. He knew how to forgive, and he loved his enemies no matter the number of times he was slighted. He was kind-hearted, always seeking the goodness in others, except himself. He never claimed perfection and was the first one to admit his sins and claim ownership of his own wrongdoings. David knew within his heart that his transgressions were an offence against God. Yet, his insatiable passion to know the heart of God, to please the heart of God, was the calling within himself to continually pursue God, just as he was within each moment of everyday- perfect or not.
And that’s where David gets me!