I was reading Psalm 18 recently. I always read a psalm as part of my daily morning reading.
As I was reading this particular psalm of David, a look at David as a man: lost and found, lover of the LORD, creative and mandated king, I discovered something of the person of David I’d never seen before: his vulnerability. I believe I have found a personal insight into David which I’d like share with you, dear reader.
David the Creative
As David wrote many psalms: poems and songs to GOD, he is clearly a creative person, gifted by GOD yes, and creative in himself. Psalm 23 is renowned for its poetry and the reader feels closer to GOD for it. No doubt that is a part of the Why it is infamous as a work from the Bible.
But as a creative, David is emotional, perhaps occasionally to the point of despair, torment and, perhaps, irrationality too.
Psalm 18:3 says, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies.” But then in verse he writes, “The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid…. “ Clearly, David’s emotions can get the better of him and though faithful, he is also emotionally vulnerable, easily provoked.
Perhaps that is what makes David’s poetry so profound. Like us, he suffers trauma.
David the Lost… and Found
We see time and again, in Psalm 18 and elsewhere, that David feels lost — but then is found full of GOD. That he is unstable in his emotion seems to contradict his steadfast faith, and yet, that faith is clear, pure and consistent.
“In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my GOD;” (v6a)
Then, “The LORD thundered from heaven…Hailstones and coals of fire.” (v13)
“He also brought me out into a broad place;” (v19) and “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;” (v 25a)
David is on a journey and is dramatic in his portrayal of his experience with and of GOD. He shares his experience, but it is in an emotional rather than detached way, which suggests he’s perhaps unstable at times.
David the secure
He begins the psalm with “I will love You, LORD, my strength.” (v1) And then he proceeds to reveal his vulnerability and his faith simultaneously. “The pangs of death” may surround him (v4a) and yet he “cried out to my GOD;” (v 6)
David the man
David is a hero who, in his youth, fought a lion and he fought a bear. He won. He faced the mighty Goliath in battle and was fearless.
And yet, when he is in emotional torment, he needs to cry out to GOD rather than brush it off as fear. He knows GOD is merciful and yet, he has fear of his enemies which he cannot defeat. He is totally dependent upon GOD.
Isn’t this a model for us in our own lives? From time to time, we feel strong in the LORD. And yet sometimes, we are weakened by our circumstances.
David shows us even heroes have limits to what they can endure. Through David, we see a mighty warrior, subject to his emotions, and completely dependant upon GOD for his peace.
Shalom and GOD bless,
Sarah