Pam Padgett ... teacher
King David was established by God to be king over all Israel. He had power, possessions, armies and servants. But David didn't consider that
he had attained any of this of himself, knowing it was of God. And,
although one could easily place trust in these things, he placed his
trust only in God ....
Psalm 21:1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy
salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 Thou hast given him his
heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. 3
For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a
crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked life of thee, and thou gavest
it him, even length of days for ever and ever. 5 His glory is great in
thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. 6 For thou
hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad
with thy countenance. 7 For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through
the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
David rejoiced in the strength of God, not his own strength, and in the
salvation God provides. Even
the honor David had been given was from God, and he knew it was because of
the mercy of God alone that he was established. His exceeding gladness was in God.
It stood out to me that this is a strong example of trusting and
hoping in God, rather than trusting in strength of man. I was reminded
of the following ....
Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth
in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the
LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see
when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the
wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose
hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters,
and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when
heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in
the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.