Photo by: Chris J
Saul was a big man, good looking, and remembered for a consuming anger that was fed by his fears.
David, Saul’s successor, could also be noted for his appearance–as for his adultery, many wives, messed up family, abuse of power, and conspiracy to commit murder. Instead, however, we remember David primarily for his music, a man after God’s own heart…the pride of Israel, and as an example of character...with more escapes than Houdini…
Thinking about how David survived so many of his own personal failures, I’ve been thinking about the songs that tell us so much about him. One those songs seemed to resonate with our last discussion (Psalm 31). Tried to imagine the lyrics sung to the blues; pounded out with drums and base guitar; wailed with the haunting sounds of a clarinet, or harmonica… sung by slaves, cried with a violin, or performed with full symphonic support.
In the process, I’m pretty sure I heard in David’s song, the labored breathing, pounding, and groans of my own heart… haunted by my own stories… and feelings of fear, anger, and confusion…
Now, as then, so much realism and pain. Such deep and desperate needs that only God can understand or do anything about.
And there it is… in the words of an ancient song that began with words of reasoned request and guarded optimism (31:1-8), before giving way to broken and desperate sobs of desperate emotion (vv9-18), until sensing once again the presence, love, trust, hope, and courage of our God (vv19-24).
Am guessing the story of David’s song… and the story that made him a survivor–is really our own… far worse… and far better… than the one any of us wished for.
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