My heart is drawn to David, especially in the 59th Psalm when
King Saul had sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.
It is said that David was “a man after God’s own heart” - thoroughly human!
He cried out to God in times of fear and
despair, acknowledging his sin and sorrow - casting himself on God’s mercy. His
life was punctuated with emotional highs and lows. At times he was
single-mindedly devoted to God, and at other times his failures were
devastating. He fathered Solomon, Israel’s great king, he was also the father
of Absalom whose rebellion resulted in bloodshed and grief. Through David’s vulnerable
humanity he left an example of passionate love of God. He gave us some of the
most beautiful poetry ever written.
In desperate hours we can lean on God, sheltered and cloistered as a
mother shields and comforts her child. Isaiah 66:13. When we reach critical
mass, ready to explode or implode, David’s exile Psalms ring out a sweet and
powerful melody, a message of God’s tender heart toward humanity. With
childlike hearts before God (much like my own father,) we find our peace and safety
in his faithfulness and compassion, as did King David.
“Lord, why do I wait too long to run to you? Tears flood my broken heart,
fears become poison darts until finally I surrender myself to you - My sacrifice
is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart that you, God will not despise.”
Psalm 51:17
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