Like David

In spite of David being the model king of the nation of Israel, his life story is more strewn with hardships, trials, and personal failures than it is with political and military victories, although he had those, too.  Here’s a quick list of some of David’s hardships. 1. He was the youngest of 8 sons.  Imagine the pummeling and chiding he got from his older brothers on regular occasions.  2. His first job out of the house was to play music for a temperamental and homicidal king.  3. His first wife, Michal, was given to him by King Saul and then later taken away by the same man.  4. He was a soldier, facing death in the line of duty on a regular basis.  5. He was forced to flee for his life, lest he be killed by King Saul, who happened to be his best friend’s father.  6. When all was going well for his kingdom, David committed his infamous adultery with Uriah’s wife and then had Uriah killed to attempt to cover it up.  7. There was a rape in David’s household. 8. David failed to handle the fallout from the rape, ultimately resulting in a murder and then a political takeover of the nation by his son, Absalom.  9. David ordered a census of the nation, causing a pestilence to be sent on the people.  10. In addition to all of these, I think it is safe to say that he had his arguments with his many wives, he had to break up fights between his children, he had neighbors who were jealous, and, like every king or world leader, he was criticized for anything and everything he did or did not do.  How many days would you want to spend in David’s sandals?

But David had a way to cope that maybe we could learn from.  The Psalms that David wrote do not give many technical and chronological details about what David was going through, but they reveal his emotions rather clearly.  When we go through hardships, trials, and personal failures, we should learn to cope like David by communicating our emotions to God. 

Psalm 142

A contemplation of David.  A prayer when he was in the cave.  I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication .  I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.  When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.  In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me.  Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.  I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.  Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.  Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.