Sat, Nov 7, 2009
The Poet's Progress
David: The Boy. The Shepherd. The Poet.
I picture David coming up with the opening lyrics of this psalm. Youngest of the brothers. Out looking after his father’s sheep-farming business without so much as a faithful sheepdog. But there he is, laying in the grass, one foot propped up on a knee, hands clasped behind his head, enjoying the beautiful day… and the fact that while everyone else is off working or at war, he’s out with the sheep. While he looks up at the sky, he’s overwhelmed by God’s creativity as clouds flit across the sky. David can’t imagine how anybody could look at the sunset, and not see the hand of an artist at work. He stares up at the innumerable stars, and bright path of the milky way stretching from horizon to horizon, and he sees God’s extravagant handiwork. How could anyone see this, and not believe in God?
David: The Warrior. The King. The Song-Writer.
Now I see David, a seasoned soldier, charged with not just taking care of a flock of sheep, not even just leading a rebel army… but now he is shepherd to a nation. I see David desperately relying on God’s Word to rule the people. David, with no royal lineage or experience, taking his confidence from God’s law in the simple trust that he can’t go too far wrong if he sticks to it, word for word. David, a man thrust into responsibility, falling back on God’s wisdom where his own falls hopelessly short. And as he now has to manage an economy, draft legal policies, pass sound judgement, build an army, maintain a growing family, draw a nation closer to God in worship… he is once again overwhelmed. Not by the majesty of the skies… but by the incalculable richness of hearing God’s voice.
David: The Man of God. The Patriarch. The Psalmist.
And finally, in my mind’s eye, I see David in his last days, reflecting on his long life. Seeing Goliath fall face first in the dirt in the valley of Elah. Remembering the sleepless nights in the cave of Adullam on the run from King Saul. Recounting the happiest moments of his life spent at the palace with his best friend Jonathan. Reliving the pain of Saul and Jonathan’s premature death on the battlefield of Gilboa. Recalling his reign in Hebron, and the conquest of Jerusalem. David’s heart races as he relives the moment he first laid eyes on Bathsheba that fateful day, and his heart stands still as he remembers the worst pain of all… the loss of their child from the affair. And once again, David’s thoughts turn to God. Only God sees his heart, sinful, but repentant. Only God can forgive David where he can’t forgive himself. Only God can cleanse David, so he can stand before his Creator pure and blameless. Here, once again, David is overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by God’s mercy, that his actions and speech, even the deepest, darkest corners of his heart are laid bare before God… and he is accepted.
I picture David coming up with the opening lyrics of this psalm. Youngest of the brothers. Out looking after his father’s sheep-farming business without so much as a faithful sheepdog. But there he is, laying in the grass, one foot propped up on a knee, hands clasped behind his head, enjoying the beautiful day… and the fact that while everyone else is off working or at war, he’s out with the sheep. While he looks up at the sky, he’s overwhelmed by God’s creativity as clouds flit across the sky. David can’t imagine how anybody could look at the sunset, and not see the hand of an artist at work. He stares up at the innumerable stars, and bright path of the milky way stretching from horizon to horizon, and he sees God’s extravagant handiwork. How could anyone see this, and not believe in God?
David: The Warrior. The King. The Song-Writer.
Now I see David, a seasoned soldier, charged with not just taking care of a flock of sheep, not even just leading a rebel army… but now he is shepherd to a nation. I see David desperately relying on God’s Word to rule the people. David, with no royal lineage or experience, taking his confidence from God’s law in the simple trust that he can’t go too far wrong if he sticks to it, word for word. David, a man thrust into responsibility, falling back on God’s wisdom where his own falls hopelessly short. And as he now has to manage an economy, draft legal policies, pass sound judgement, build an army, maintain a growing family, draw a nation closer to God in worship… he is once again overwhelmed. Not by the majesty of the skies… but by the incalculable richness of hearing God’s voice.
David: The Man of God. The Patriarch. The Psalmist.
And finally, in my mind’s eye, I see David in his last days, reflecting on his long life. Seeing Goliath fall face first in the dirt in the valley of Elah. Remembering the sleepless nights in the cave of Adullam on the run from King Saul. Recounting the happiest moments of his life spent at the palace with his best friend Jonathan. Reliving the pain of Saul and Jonathan’s premature death on the battlefield of Gilboa. Recalling his reign in Hebron, and the conquest of Jerusalem. David’s heart races as he relives the moment he first laid eyes on Bathsheba that fateful day, and his heart stands still as he remembers the worst pain of all… the loss of their child from the affair. And once again, David’s thoughts turn to God. Only God sees his heart, sinful, but repentant. Only God can forgive David where he can’t forgive himself. Only God can cleanse David, so he can stand before his Creator pure and blameless. Here, once again, David is overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by God’s mercy, that his actions and speech, even the deepest, darkest corners of his heart are laid bare before God… and he is accepted.
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