In advising his son, the wise man said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Most people who believe in God recognize the need to do this. God is greater and wiser than we are; therefore, we need to put our trust in Him.

However, understanding this and applying it are two different things. In the next verse, the wise man said, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). This trust in God needs to extend to every part of our lives. If we want to stay on the straight and narrow path, everything we do must be done according to His wisdom.

The wise man continued, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:7). When we put our trust in God for only part of our lives rather than for everything we do, we are relying more on our wisdom than His. In those areas where we refuse to acknowledge God, we will inevitably follow our own path toward sin and, ultimately, destruction.

So acknowledge God in all your ways. Let us give our lives completely over to Him. His ways are, and always will be, best for us.

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The book of Song of Solomon is about a man and a woman and their expressions of love for one another. Much of the book describes the anticipation of their wedding and how they would then be able to fully enjoy their union as husband and wife.

Amid this anticipation, the bride offers this counsel: “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, that you will not arouse or awaken love until she pleases” (Song of Solomon 3:5).

It is clear in this book that the man and his bride had a strong desire for one another. However, this statement shows that she recognized that there was a time to “awaken love.” That time was not whenever the desire was there.

The Scriptures teach that marriage is the proper time. The Hebrew writer said, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). One of the reasons why God created marriage was to give men and women a way to fulfill their sexual desires and enjoy that level of intimacy. However, outside of marriage was not the proper place for those things.

So awaken love at the proper time. Rather than giving in to our desire in the moment, we must respect God and trust His plan. He created us and knows what is best for us.

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The one hundred nineteenth psalm is the longest chapter in the Bible. The entire psalm focuses on the word of God. In one of the more well-known verses of that psalm, the psalmist said, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Since God’s word is “settled” or “fixed” (ESV) in heaven, we can trust it and base our lives upon it.

The psalmist then cited God’s providence: “Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants” (Psalm 119:90-91). God’s care for His creation continues from generation to generation; everyone can see this.

Why do all things continue as they do? It is because God commanded them to do this. The natural laws He put in place govern the world around us and demonstrate His power and authority to us.

God’s ongoing providence shows us that we can trust His word. As the natural world follows God’s ordinances, we must follow His instructions.

So remember that God’s word is forever settled. Just as the laws of nature do not change to match our preferences, the law of God does not change either. Let us faithfully submit to the instructions He has revealed to us just as the natural world continues to follow the laws He established for it in the beginning.

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Throughout the Bible, our lives are described as a walk. We go through life one step at a time, and our direction will determine our destination.

The psalmist described our walk in this way: “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread. All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing” (Psalm 37:23-26).

There is a benefit that comes when we hold to God’s hand as we go through life. We may fall, but we will not be ruined. Because God is with us, we will not be forsaken or reduced to begging.

How can we make sure we hold to God’s hand so we can enjoy these benefits? The psalmist explained that we need to follow the steps established by the Lord, live righteously, and do good to others.

So hold to God’s hand. If we leave Him and wander down our own path, it will inevitably lead to destruction. Yet if we stay faithful to the Lord and remain close to Him, we will enjoy stability in this life despite the hardships and obstacles we must overcome.

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The psalmist noted the distinction between the place where God dwells and the place where man dwells: “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men” (Psalm 115:16). This reminds us of the instruction given to Adam in the beginning to “subdue” the earth and “rule over” it (Genesis 1:28).

In this context, the psalmist noted, “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence” (Psalm 115:17). This was not a denial of the afterlife but emphasized man’s place in this world. Once someone passes from this life, he is not in the same privileged position over the natural world.

Knowing this, what should be done by those who are yet living? The psalmist continued, “But as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 115:18). Rather than becoming arrogant because of the place we occupy in this world, we should praise God who placed us here and rules over us. Instead of taking for granted all of the good things in this life, we ought to give thanks to the Lord, who blesses us with everything we enjoy here.

So we praise the Lord for the world He has given us. We can enjoy the blessings of this life because of His goodness and love for us. Let us not allow the things of this life to distract us from Him but instead cause us to give thanks to Him.

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Near the end of his life, David addressed his officials and leaders of Israel and described his plan to build a temple for God and the preparations he made to do it (1 Chronicles 28:1-2). Yet God had other plans and told him, “You shall not build a house for My name… Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house…for I have chosen him…” (1 Chronicles 28:3, 6).

However, David fulfilled another important role as the leader of God’s people. God said David would not build the temple because he was “a man of war” (1 Chronicles 28:3). This was not an indictment of David; instead, this was necessary during the time David reigned. What David did was important (conquering the enemies of God’s people), and the other work of building the temple was also important, but it would be left to someone else.

The reality is that we cannot do everything. Something may be good to do, but just because we recognize that and want to do it does not mean we are the best one for the job. Others may be better qualified or in a better position. Rather than resenting that, we should do as David did and support them in the work (cf. 1 Chronicles 29:1-2).

So remember that we are not always the right person for the job. There is plenty of work for all of us to do in the Lord’s kingdom. Let us support and encourage those who are doing the things that are beyond our ability or role to do ourselves.

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In one of the psalms, David acknowledged his limitations: “O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me” (Psalm 131:1). He trusted in God and knew that He was able to take care of situations that were more than David could handle.

Knowing this, David expressed a child-like trust in God: “Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me” (Psalm 131:2). Just as a child is completely dependent upon his mother, David recognized that he was completely dependent upon God.

The lesson for us in this is not that we should avoid personal growth or challenging situations. We need to do what we are responsible for and grow within our capabilities while recognizing our dependence upon the Lord. We are not God; therefore, we need to know our limitations and put our trust in Him.

So do not take on more than you can handle. Ambition and diligence are positive and necessary qualities that we are to have, yet we must not fool ourselves into thinking that we do not need God. Let us do all we can and leave the rest in the Lord’s hands.

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David described those who had “spoken against [him]” and “fought against [him]” (Psalm 109:2-3). However, this was not in retaliation for anything he had done. He said, “In return for my love they act as my accusers… Thus they have repaid me evil for good and hatred for my love” (Psalm 109:4-5).

A few verses later, he wrote, “Let his days be few; let another take his office” (Psalm 109:8). The apostle Peter cited this as a prophecy that pointed to Judas and his betrayal of Jesus (Acts 1:20). This was the ultimate example of one who turned against someone “without cause” (Psalm 109:3). It resulted in Jesus being put to death.

Sadly, this happens all too often. There will be times when we suffer harm from others even though we have done nothing to deserve it. In such situations, we are told, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35). We need to allow God to execute justice in the proper time, just as the psalmist appealed for Him to do.

So let God repay those who wrong you. We can acknowledge the unfair treatment and appeal to God for help. But we should not take the place of God by trying to get even with them.

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At the end of 2 Samuel, David sinned by taking a census of the people (2 Samuel 24:2, 9-10). He immediately realized his error in which he put his trust in military might instead of God. Yet, as a punishment for David’s sin, God sent a pestilence, and seventy thousand people died (2 Samuel 24:15).

David then went to make an offering to try to stop the plague. He came to the threshing floor of Araunah and attempted to purchase the land and animals from him for the offering (2 Samuel 24:21). Yet Araunah offered to give the king what he needed for free (2 Samuel 24:22-23).

However, David refused to accept this man’s generosity on this occasion. He said, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). So David bought the threshing floor and oxen, made offerings to the Lord, and the plague was stopped.

David knew that an offering that cost him nothing was not truly a sacrifice. This is important for us to remember. When we make offerings to God – of our time, money, opportunities, and even our lives – we do not do this out of convenience but out of a sincere desire to give something back to God.

So remember that offerings to God must cost something. We have to make real sacrifices to be pleasing to Him. Otherwise, we have not truly put Him first in our lives.

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When David prayed to God for deliverance, he said, “I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me” (Psalm 57:2). He knew his situation was hopeless without God. Yet he trusted that God would “send from heaven and save [him]” (Psalm 57:3).

However, this did not mean David was to sit back and passively wait for God to rescue him from his enemies. He still needed to do what he was capable of doing in fleeing, fighting, or avoiding those who would harm him. Yet without the help of God, his efforts would be in vain.

This same general principle is true for us today. We pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), yet are still expected to work to provide for ourselves (2 Thessalonians 3:8-10). We look to Christ to save us (Acts 4:12), yet we must still “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). We cannot ignore our responsibility, but we also must recognize that any good we hope to obtain – in this life or the next – is only possible through the Lord.

So remember that God accomplishes all things for us. The blessings of this life and the gift of eternal life are from Him (James 1:17; Romans 6:23). Let us strive to do what we can – not because we trust in ourselves and our effort, but because we trust His promises and are responding with faithful obedience.

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As we have gone through several of the Psalms recently, we have seen David enduring opposition. However, he did not just face this from his enemies. He wrote, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9).

We all know how difficult it is to experience this type of betrayal that David described. Jesus even cited this verse to refer to one of His apostles – Judas – who betrayed Him (John 13:18).

Yet David trusted in the Lord to “deliver him” and “protect him” (Psalm 41:1-2). Jesus also surrendered Himself to the Father’s will (Luke 22:42) and, in His last breath on the cross, committed His spirit into the Father’s hands (Luke 23:46).

Immediately after writing of this betrayal, David said, “As for me, You uphold me in my integrity” (Psalm 41:12). Despite the persecution he endured, he kept himself from sin. Jesus did this perfectly as He “committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22). He provided the example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21), so we also need to strive to keep ourselves pure and remain faithful to the Lord, even if others turn against us.

So remember that even our close friends may betray us. When this happens, it is easy to become depressed, bitter, or even try to retaliate against them. But the Lord will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5); therefore, we need to put Him first and retain our integrity before Him.

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As David faced hardships and opposition throughout his life, he put his trust in God as his “rock and [his] salvation” (Psalm 62:2). Not only this but through his writings in the Psalms, he also encouraged all people to do the same.

In the sixty-second psalm, he warned against trusting in various things other than God. For each of them, he described the futility of trusting in them over God.

First, he described the futility of trusting in men because they will be weighed “in the balances” by God (Psalm 62:9). Second, he warned about trusting in the power we may exert over others, whether through “oppression” or “robbery” (Psalm 62:10). Third, he admonished us to not “set [our] heart upon” riches, even if they increase (Psalm 62:10).

Even if we feel we can depend upon others, exercise control over others, or increase our wealth, all of those conditions are temporary. Only God is constant and eternal; therefore, only He is worthy of our trust.

So remember that God is our rock and our salvation. Every material thing and condition in this life could change in an instant. We must not allow these things to give us a false sense of security when our trust ought to be fully in God.

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When David’s son Absalom conspired against him to take the throne, David was forced to flee Jerusalem. One of the conspirators who allied with Absalom was a man named Ahithophel. He was so trusted by both David and Absalom that “the advice…which he gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God” (2 Samuel 16:23).

However, just because they believed Ahithophel’s words were from God does not mean they actually were. In fact, when Absalom got to Jerusalem, Ahithophel advised him to “go in to [his] father’s concubines,” which he did “in the sight of all Israel” (2 Samuel 16:21-22). Clearly, this counsel was not from God.

This should serve as a reminder that not everyone who claims to speak for God or is believed to be giving godly counsel is giving advice that is in harmony with the will of God. In fact, it is good to question what we hear and, like the Bereans, search the Scriptures to see what is true (Acts 17:11).

So do not confuse man’s advice with God’s will. If we blindly follow what others tell us to do, we could easily be led into doing what is completely contrary to the will of God. Instead, let us look to His word as the final authority for our decisions.

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In many of the Psalms, David described the difficulties he faced in his life. He said that his “enemy” and “the wicked” brought “trouble against [him]” (Psalm 55:3). Because of this, he said, “My heart is in anguish within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me” (Psalm 55:4-5).

Despite this, David trusted in God to deliver him: “As for me, I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me” (Psalm 55:16). He was convinced that God would “hear and answer” his cries for help (Psalm 55:19).

David not only believed this, but he also had seen it in his life. Therefore, he encouraged the readers of this psalm to display this same trust in the Lord: “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken” (Psalm 55:22). Even though this was written long ago, it is just as true for us today.

So remember that God will never allow the righteous to be shaken. We will undoubtedly face hardships in life, but we can have confidence that the Lord will deliver us. As long as we hold on to our faith, we can endure whatever trials we encounter in life.

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Following his sin with Bathsheba and his recognition of his guilt, David appealed to God to forgive him. He asked the Lord to “blot out [his] transgressions,” to “wash [him] thoroughly from [his] iniquity and cleanse [him] from [his] sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).

David knew that only God could do this for him. In order to be “whiter than snow,” God would have to cleanse him of his sin.

However, in order to receive this forgiveness, David needed to display humility and an attitude of repentance. He wrote, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). Without this attitude before God, David knew that he could never be cleansed of his iniquity since it was “against [God]” that he had “sinned” (Psalm 51:4).

It is important that we keep this in mind. While some sins are against others (just as David’s was), every sin is against God. Therefore, the only way to have those sins wiped away is to get right with the Lord.

So remember that only God can cleanse us from sin. Others may overlook our sins, but only God can wipe them away. Yet if we want this forgiveness, it first requires us to exercise humility, exhibit godly sorrow over our sin, and then meet the conditions God has given us to have our sins washed away.

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Following David’s sin with Bathsheba, Nathan delivered a message from God that the child conceived in his act of adultery would die (2 Samuel 12:14). However, after the child was born, David prayed and fasted for a week, hoping that the Lord would allow the child to live.

After David received news of the child’s death, he “washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house…and he ate” (2 Samuel 12:20).

The servants thought this was unusual behavior, so they questioned the king about it. David replied, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live,’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:22-23).

It is natural to mourn when a loved one passes away. And while David’s behavior may seem extreme, it reminds us of the reality that once someone passes away, there is no bringing them back. David knew he could go to him (once he died), but there was no bringing the child back in this life.

So remember that we cannot bring back the dead. It is often difficult to handle the finality of death. However, if we want to enjoy the presence of our loved ones for eternity, we need to live faithful to God throughout our lives and encourage them to do the same.

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The sixty-ninth psalm contains an appeal from David to God because of the trouble he was facing from his enemies. The psalm also pointed to Jesus and His suffering on the cross (Psalm 69:21; Mark 15:23).

In both instances – the direct and the prophetic – they suffered unjustly. David said, “Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; what I did not steal, I then have to restore” (Psalm 69:4).

However, many people who claim to be suffering unjustly simply ignore their mistakes and wrongdoings that contributed to the situation. Yet that was not the case here. David said in the next verse, “O God, it is You who knows my folly, and my wrongs are not hidden from You” (Psalm 69:5). Nothing was hidden from God, and He knew that David was suffering, as he said, “without a cause.”

Today, Christians can expect to be treated unjustly – even persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12) – even if we do nothing to deserve it. Peter admonished the Christians to whom he wrote not to suffer “as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler”; instead, if they were going to suffer, they were to do so “as a Christian” (1 Peter 4:15-16).

So remember that we will face unfair treatment. Though disappointing, we should not allow it to catch us off guard. Instead, let us keep our trust in God and continue living in such a way that whatever suffering we endure is not deserved.

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When the king of Ammon died, his son Hanun succeeded him (2 Samuel 10:1). Once David heard of this, he said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me” (2 Samuel 10:2).

David then sent servants to Ammon to console Hanun out of respect for his father. Yet this gesture of kindness was met with suspicion by the princes of Ammon. They said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent consolers to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” (2 Samuel 10:3).

Rather than recognizing David’s action as a sincere act of respect for his father, Hanun listened to these foolish advisors. Instead of welcoming David’s servants, he humiliated them and sent them away (2 Samuel 10:4). This led to war between the two nations, resulting in Ammon being defeated and losing the Arameans as their ally. However, had Hanun rejected the foolish counsel of his princes, all of that could have been avoided, and his relationship with the king of Israel could have been strengthened.

So be careful who you listen to. Just because someone offers advice does not mean it would be wise to take it. Taking bad advice will often put us in a worse position than the trouble we were trying to avoid.

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Before David’s rule could be established over the nation of Israel, he had to survive King Saul’s repeated attempts to kill him. After Saul was dead, his son Ish-bosheth launched a failed attempt to succeed his father. After all of this, it would have been very easy for David to hold a grudge against the household of Saul.

Instead of showing animosity, David sought to show kindness instead. He asked a servant of the house of Saul, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” (2 Samuel 9:3). After learning of Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan, the king invited him to come before him. David then restored to him the land of his grandfather Saul and promised that Mephibosheth would eat at his table regularly (2 Samuel 9:7).

David’s example is a good one for us to follow. While we will encounter by chance people who are in need, it is good when we can actively seek out those who need help, then provide them with an unexpected but needed blessing.

So look for ways to show kindness to others. If we are intentional about it, we can find ways to help those who may be in need and deserving of assistance but would never ask for it. Rather than waiting for random opportunities to do good to others, let us seek to create opportunities as we have the ability to do so.

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When David told the prophet Nathan of his plans to build a house for the ark of God, Nathan initially told him, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you” (1 Chronicles 17:2). Yet this was not God’s plan; so the Lord told the prophet to tell David he was not to do this (1 Chronicles 17:4).

However, God was not rejecting David as He had Saul. In fact, He said that one of David’s sons would build a house for Him (1 Chronicles 17:12). Moreover, the Lord established a covenant with David to “establish [the] throne” of one of his descendants “forever” (1 Chronicles 17:12).

In response, David offered a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God. Notice one of the statements from his prayer: “For You, O God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build for him a house; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You” (1 Chronicles 17:25).

Hearing and believing God’s promises gave David the courage to approach Him in prayer. In the same way, the great promises that the Lord has made for us show us that He cares and motivates us to “[cast] all [our] anxiety on Him, because He cares for [us]” (1 Peter 5:7).

So remember that God’s promises give us the courage to approach Him in prayer. Let us recognize His goodness and His love for us. Knowing this, let us never hesitate to bow before Him and “let [our] requests be made known to [Him]” (Philippians 4:6).

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