Psalms are songs to be sung by human beings, but sung for the ear of God. David we all know of as the shepherd boy who killed Goliath, and in scripture we can trace his career as guerrilla leader and then king over a contentious people, a man sinned against and sinning. Of the 150 Psalms collected together in our bibles, 73 are ascribed to David. From these we can learn of David's character, why he should be described as 'a man after God's own heart'. In so doing, we glean thoughts which may help us as we worship, for we are serving the same God three thousand years further on in history.

David was nothing if not spontaneous, and said what he felt. What he said to God gives a clear picture of what he felt about God, of why he wanted to worship Him. One member of a study group made this summary of thoughts David expressed "God is a protective shield that can be relied upon in times of trouble, who will reply if called upon. He is great and holy, majestic, and yet cares for man. God sometimes seems far away, but will help in the end. He is just, if we have sinned, but will forgive." David of course did not speak as a student, summarising the truth, he spoke out of the heart as a poet. He used symbols, images, to praise the God he loved. So God is 'a rock, a fortress': we can imagine David and his warriors perched upon the crags of the wilderness where their enemies cannot reach. God keeps David as safe as that. God is 'a fountain of life': we can imagine dried up wadis and the dust of the desert where a spring is what saves David from death by thirst. God gives life like that. God is 'a hiding place': we remember the caves where David and his men tried to keep safe from Saul and his vengeful army. God protects us more than that God is light in the darkness, safety in danger, a shepherd through difficulty, the creator of everything that is good. He is like a king to be obeyed, a comforter to run to, a guide in perplexity, a healer. He is faithful, just, all knowing, eternal.

David spoke of God as a kindly creator who remembers that we are dust. But he had also a strong conscience for God's law, he stood in awe of God's majesty. This reverence, combined with his great love for God, led him to an extreme of repentance on various occasions when he realised he had sinned. "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." He knew God expected him to keep the commandments. He had to give up sinning. He must come before God with praise... with awe...  with trust. He owed God not just animal sacrifices but the sacrifice of his wilfulness, a discipline of the thoughts so as to be pleasing to his God, David must love Him. He must call on Him in his need. He must obey Him.

David's psalms are his prayers. He did pray when he needed help, he prayed for victory over his enemies. He prayed for God's good law to be obeyed, he prayed for right to be done. He was overwhelmed by God's glory, he bowed low in repentance. He prayed for forgiveness, he prayed in failure, he sought for wisdom and pleaded to be safe from his enemies: His prayer was not always confident, because of what David knew himself to be. But his faith rose to assurance because of what God is, shield and shepherd. David earnestly sought for the Shepherd to lead him, until he might dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

What psalms might we ourselves write? A group at a conference once made the attempt. Two participants were children, working together. For them, life amid the hazards of the school playground, or going home among the rough and untamed members of our society, must have some similarities to David's early life. So, taking David's words as a model, they wrote

My God is my light and he will save me.

I will not be scared. The Lord keeps me safe.

When the bad try to catch me they will fall down.

Even if a whole army surrounds me I will not be scared.

Even if bad people hurt me, I will still trust God.

One of those present was an aged Christian, conscious of a lifetime of God's care.

The Lord is my Shepherd, as well as David's.

He leadeth me throughout my life.

I have not fought a lion or a bear,

But I, like David, fear no evil.

Why? Because I have learned

To let go and let God.

His work is mysterious and not easy to follow,

so I just trust.

His wonders are all around in every direction.

As the disciples learned, even the wind and waves obey Him

So why should I fear? Hallelujah!

Another participant was very conscious of the environment.

O God, why do men destroy your Earth

How long will they cut down trees and burn hedges

You made the hills and the vales

Yet men use earth removers and level them,

they turn the soil to dust and it blows away.

They cover it with chemicals and your animals die.

You gave us seas in which to sail and swim,

Yet it is polluted and the algae dies.

You created the air so pure and provided the aromas of flowers

Yet we have made the atmosphere fit only for devils.

Lord, how long before you stop this folly

And purify your Earth for all to enjoy?

And yet another may have been thinking of the never ending human story

O God, hear our prayer!                                                                                       

Wicked men are waging war,

Those who could prevent it

Do nothing, say nothing.

The innocent are suffering -

Women and children,

Mothers and infants,

Trekking over mountains,

Open to all weathers. O Lord, hear our prayer!

Let our cry come to you,

Let it arise into your

Holy presence,

For we have no other

To whom we can turn.

GC