David the Psalmist

"The Lord is my shepherd..."  Psalm 23:1a

Most people write about what they know.  John Grisham is a lawyer, and he writes a great deal about lawyers and courtrooms and juries.  David was a shepherd, and his best known and best loved psalm, the 23rd Psalm, is about shepherds and sheep.  However, David had a variety of experiences in his lifetime, and other psalms were written in different circumstances.  Some were written when Saul was chasing him and trying to kill him.  Some were written after David had sinned with Bathsheba, and he writes about how he felt before he confessed his sin and the relief confession brought him.  David wrote Psalms of praise during the happy times in his life.  He praised God for protection, for provision, and for victories.  In the lowest times of his life he pleaded with God to hear him and help him.  He had all the emotional highs and lows during the ups and downs of his life that we all experience.  That's one reason the Psalms speak so deeply to us.  David has been where we are, and he poured out his heart to God in all kinds of situations.  He is transparent, letting us see his joys and his sorrows and sharing in our joys and sorrows as well.  He is one of the most beloved characters in the Bible because his writings minister so greatly to us.

In a way, David is a foreshadowing of Jesus' ministry to us.  Jesus has been where we are.  He experienced both highs and lows in His life.  He got hot and tired and hungry and sleepy and sad and discouraged and tempted just like we do.  He knows how we feel, and He cares.  "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.  For surely it is not angels he helps but Abraham's descendants.  For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."  Hebrews 2:14-18.  "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin."  Hebrews 4:15.

When we are faced with a great problem or a tragedy, we want to talk to someone who has been there, someone who understands our pain and can empathize with us and give us practical advice as well.  Reading the Psalms is like talking to a friend who encourages our spirits.  But talking to Jesus, our very best Friend, is even better.  He pours His love and power and peace and encouragement into our hearts and enables us to keep on keeping on despite difficult circumstances.

Father, thank You that David wrote about the struggles in his life, and his writings minister to us in our struggles.  Thank You that Your Son came to earth and struggled just as we do.  He knows how we feel, and He is ready at all times to help us in our struggles.  Amen.