Through song, David, amidst the vicissitudes of his changeful life, held communion with heaven. How sweetly are his experiences as a shepherd lad reflected in the words: (Ed 164.1) MC VC

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters....
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:1~2, 4. (Ed 164.2) MC VC

In his manhood a hunted fugitive, finding refuge in the rocks and caves of the wilderness, he wrote: (Ed 164.3) MC VC

“O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee:
My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee,
In a dry and weary land, where no water is....
Thou hast been my help,
And in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Psalm 63:1, 7.
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope thou in God:
For I shall yet praise Him,
Who is the health of my countenance,
And my God.” Psalm 43:5.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1. (Ed 164.4) MC VC

The same trust is breathed in the words written when, a dethroned and crownless king, David fled from Jerusalem at the rebellion of Absalom. Spent with grief and the weariness of his flight, he with his company had tarried beside the Jordan for a few hours’ rest. He was awakened by the summons to immediate flight. In the darkness, the passage of the deep and swift-flowing stream must be made by that whole company of men, women, and little children; for hard after them were the forces of the traitor son. In that hour of darkest trial, David sang: (Ed 164.5) MC VC

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me out of His holy hill.” Psalm 3:4. (Ed 165.1) MC VC

“I laid me down and slept;
I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people,
That have set themselves against me around about.” Psalm 3:5~6. (Ed 165.2) MC VC

After his great sin, in the anguish of remorse and self-abhorrence he still turned to God as his best friend: (Ed 165.3) MC VC

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving- kindness:
According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies
blot out my transgressions....
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:1, 7. (Ed 165.4) MC VC

In his long Life, David found on earth no resting place. “We are strangers before Thee, and sojourners,” he said, “as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.” 1 Chronicles 29:15, R.V. (Ed 165.5) MC VC

“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Psalm 46:1~2. (Ed 165.6) 2 I MC VC

“There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the City of God,
The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved
God shall help her, at the dawn of morning....
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge.” Psalm 46:4~5, 7. (Ed 165.7) 2 I MC VC

“This God is our God for ever and ever:
He will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14. R.V., margin; (Ed 165.8) 2 I MC VC