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The Habits That Built King David's Faith

by Cate Russell-Cole  
11/25/2015 / Christian Living

"David would leave a record for unborn ages to read. He thought the Lord's power so worthy of praise, that he would make the ages ring with it till time should be no more." Charles Spurgeon

I love the positive feedback I receive through the King David Project. Hearing how David has blessed other people's lives, blesses me! One comment which comes up quite often is "I wish I was like David!" I understand, as I feel that way too.

David was one of the few people in the Old Testament to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, so we are actually able to be like David, in all matters of faith. It's good news and I reply to people with: "you can do it; it will take time, as David's own faith took a long time to build, but it can be done, if you are willing to invest your time in a deep relationship with the Lord."

If you look at the details in between the most often quoted verses in the Psalms, you find references to David's mother being a strong role model and you'll also find that David worshipped and obeyed the Lord, from the earliest age a child is able (Psalm 71:5). The Psalms constantly reflect the values and teachings of the Laws which were set down by God through Moses, and David is an observant Jew (Hebrew to be precise. References to David's mother are Psalms 116:16 and 86:16 and his righteousness is stated in 1 Kings 15:5.)

As they appear in the Scriptures, here are the habits that made David a strong man of God:

- Prayer
- Study / Meditation on the Word of God (In David's time, that was the Torah.)
- Praise and Worship
- Seeking and submitting to the Will of God
- Fasting
- Awe and Wonder

The first five are self-explanatory, but what do I mean by awe and wonder? This, aside from prayer, is my personal favourite, as it's a characteristic I share with David. Awe and wonder is when you see what the Lord is doing in your life, in the people around you and through nature, and you are captivated. It's when everything speaks of the majesty and love of the Lord, and it builds you.

"I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour
and your wonderful miracles." Psalm 145:5

We are commanded by God to remember His deeds to keep our faith level high, as David knew from the Torah (which is the first five books of the Old Testament.) Deuteronomy 4:9 says: "But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren."

David does this in Psalm 66, which speaks of the Lord's deliverance and care of Isra'el. In verse 6 he makes a direct reference to the nation's history, as it was recorded in the Torah. (See also Psalm 103 as another example.)

"Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
Everything on earth will worship you;
they will sing your praises,
shouting your name in glorious songs." Interlude
Come and see what our God has done,
what awesome miracles he performs for people!
He made a dry path through the Red Sea,
and his people went across on foot.
There we rejoiced in him." Psalm 66:3-6

A beautiful example of awe and wonder as acts of faith and worship is seen in the popular Psalm 8.
"O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers
the moon and the stars you set in place
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned theme with glory and honour.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority
the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!"

Similar Psalms include number 29, 33, 65, 66, 103, 139 145 and 2 Samuel 22 and 23:1-7.

Another aspect of David's success, came from his repeated requests to have God judge him, in order that he would stay on the right path. It's a beneficial habit for all of us to adopt and one that, to my own detriment, I neglect.

"How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don't let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:12-14

As David diligently sought God's judgement and was very rarely judged, he was able to declare his righteousness before the Lord in defence, when he was threatened and persecuted. He often states his position when grappling with his (and Israel's) need for deliverance. (e.g. Psalm 41:12 "You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever." See also Psalm 139.)

I encourage you to follow David's example. Meditate on what God has done for you; the wonders you see in creation and the testimonies of others that give you hope. Tell someone else, tell your children and enjoy living in awe and wonder.

"Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour
and your wonderful miracles.
Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness." Psalm 145:4-7


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For more information on King David, please have a meander through the King David Project Facebook page, our web site and our blog, "Masada Rain." The blog houses many useful resources on studying, David plus bits and pieces of information which don't neatly fit into article form. Please ignore dates and use the search feature to find what you want. The web site has resources on David's family tree, life and the Psalms. All content is creative commons and non-profit. Sharing of the project's work would be deeply appreciated.

Masada Rain Blog: https://masadarain.wordpress.com
The project web site: http://cateartios.wix.com/kingdavidproject
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/fromdespairtodeliverance
Twitter: @Masada_Rain


"From Despair to Deliverance: the King David Project," is a non-profit ministry, that seeks to make the life of King David easy to understand and relevant, so that believers gain inspiration and comfort from the life of King David. The project is run by Cate Russell-Cole, a Christian writer from Brisbane, Australia.

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This article by Cate Russell-Cole is under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Written in Australian English.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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