Revelation

David wrote at least 70 of the 150 psalms. Where did he get this stuff. Poetry and music poured out of his heart. Who knows how many songs he really wrote; these are just the ones that are recorded. One thing I do know is that David talked about God in ways that nobody up until his time had before. Read the sriptures pre-David and see if you find half as many jewels about the beauty and glory of God as David declared. Some of his psalms make you wonder if he had been to heaven, or if he had actually seen the glory of God the way the prophets did. (examples: ps.29: 2; 27:4; Ps 63:2)

My point is that David had fresh revelation of God. He wasn't just spitting out cliches and metaphors staler than an opened box of year old Rice Crispies. No, these were fresh and new insights that he was gaining as we worshipped God and entered into his presence. Read the Psalms and just take note of all the power packed truths... they are beyond counting. Jesus sure did quote David's psalms a lot... that says something.

Sometimes we read the old testament, especially the first five books, and think that God was not all too merciful. And it's true that it's not easy to find very much written about God's love or his mercy in these early books. But then David comes along, and it probably would have been shocking for one of his contemporaries to read about his continual references to the love and mercy of God. It is all over the place in his psalms: "your love is better than life" "His anger is but for a moment but his mercy lasts for a lifetimes" "Your love, oh Lord, reaches to the heavens" " surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life" "may your love and your truth always protect me" "remember oh lord your tender mercies and your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old" "I by your great mercy will come into your house" "God shall send forth his mercy and truth... For your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and your truth unto the clouds" "Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all his benefits: who forives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindnesses and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's... the lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy... for as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him... but the mercy of the lord is from everlasting to everlasting"

Where did David get this stuff? Of course he meditated on the scripture he knew while he was a shepherd in the fields, but as he worshipped the spirit of revelation began to flow like a mighty river in his heart. He began to see things and know things about God by his own experience. Love, mercy, truth... pay attention to the themes that David sings about in his Psalms. These themes reveal deep truths that he founded his life upon, and that he continually came back to in times of need and desparation. David knew something about God, and I don't know about you, but I want to find out what it is that he knew.

Israel tended to live at a distance from God just like in the days of Moses when the people were afraid and they didn't want to face God. They just relied upon Moses as their priest; but God really did want them to draw closer... and he especially wanted their hearts to believe. Remember Saul; he didn't have a relationship with God. he acted like he feared God by humoring Samuel as the prophet, but he didn't really have faith. He called God the God of Samuel, but what about the God of Saul. Ultimately Israel percieved God as rough and tough and holy, while they felt guilty and at a distance. Yet, David was the opposite. He saw God as merciful and compasssionate. He ran to God and not from God; and it was his revelation of God that caused him to believe and trust.