Remember David
Seldom clear-cut, life can leave us wondering how much we can expect from God in view of our weaknesses and limitations. This psalm models the godly response of clinging to his promises, however weak we feel.
A song of ascents.
1 Remember David, YHWH—
how, after all the hardships he endured
2 he swore to you
vowing to Jacob’s powerful God:
3 “I won’t go home or lie on my bed
4 I won’t go to sleep or even shut my eyes
5 till I’ve found a place for YHWH
a home for Jacob’s powerful God.”
6 We heard about it in Ephrata
and we found it in the field of Ja’ar.
7 “Let’s go to his residence!
Let’s worship at his footstool!”
8 “Rise up, YHWH!
Move into your permanent home
you and the ark of your power!
9 May your priests be arrayed in victory
and everyone trusting you shout for joy.”
10 For David your servant’s sake
don’t turn away your anointed one unheard.
11 YHWH swore an oath to David
one he promised never to turn back on:
“A son of yours
I’ll seat on your throne.
12 If your sons are true to my covenant
and live by the teachings I give them
then their sons in turn
will sit on your throne forever.”
13 Because YHWH chose Zion
having desired it for the seat of his authority:
14 “This place will be my home forever—
the place I’ve longed to sit enthroned.
15 I’ll provide for Zion generously
and give its poor their fill of food.
16 Its priests I’ll clothe in triumph
and make everyone faithful to YHWH
shout for joy.
17 I’ll make the horn of David sprout there
and set a lamp burning for my anointed.
18 His foes I’ll clothe in shame
while the crown on his head will be resplendent.
David was far from perfect, but he did get some things right. Having been anointed king by Samuel, he refused to take power from his egocentric nemesis, Saul. David endured many hardships while holding God to the promise he’d made that David would be Israel’s next king. After finally being crowned king, he made an oath, putting God’s kingdom and God’s glory first. That self-sacrificial oath reflected his desire—seen even when he was a boy—to lay his life down at God’s feet.
David’s fulfillment of that oath seems to have been part of what led God to promise David a son and an eternal throne if his successors remained faithful. That promise kept David going to the end of his days. But by the time this psalm was compiled in Book V, everyone knew that David’s successors had failed miserably, devastating David’s dynasty and nation. However, the fact that God enabled his people to rebuild Jerusalem inspired hope that he would restore David’s dynasty too, making its end more glorious than its beginning.
God eventually revealed that glory on a crude Roman cross. Honoring Jesus’ faithfulness, he honored his promise to David too. But none of Jesus’ disciples saw that because it didn’t look like the glory they imagined—at least they didn’t see it till Jesus had been raised from the dead. We fall short like them and all before them. But thankfully, Jesus’ triumph over sin and death has made all God’s promises available to us.
Jesus, it was by wearing a crown of thorns that you proved yourself David’s true heir. And God kept his oath to David by giving you authority over all. Help me cling to your promises and seek your kingdom first, however my story plays out. Let me know you and reign gloriously under you, I pray. Amen.
During your free moments today, pray this prayer:
For David your servant’s sake
don’t turn away your anointed one unheard.
