David's Trust in God's Sovereignty in the Psalms
David's Trust in God's Sovereignty in the Psalms
David's trust in God's sovereignty is a recurring theme in the Psalms, where he expresses his confidence in God's protection and salvation. In Psalms 25:1, David declares, "Unto the end, a psalm for David. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall not be weakened" [1]. This sentiment is echoed in other Psalms, such as Psalms 26:1, where David affirms, "Judge me, O Lord, for I haue walked in mine innocency: my trust hath bene also in the Lord: therefore shall I not slide" [2].
David's trust in God is rooted in his understanding of God's character and covenant promises. According to Matthew Henry, David's profession of trust is not just a statement of faith but a deliberate choice to rely on God's power and protection [5]. In Psalms 144:1, David acknowledges God's sovereignty and provision, saying, "Blessed be the Lord my rock" [6]. Henry notes that David's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty is a prelude to his prayer for further mercy, demonstrating that trust in God's sovereignty is closely tied to prayer and dependence on God [6].
The Psalms also reveal that David's trust in God's sovereignty was not naive or untested. He faced numerous challenges and dangers, including persecution by Saul, and yet he continued to trust in God's protection and deliverance. In Psalms 11:1, David affirms, "In the Lord put I my trust" [7]. Henry observes that David's trust in God was not shaken by the advice of others to flee or take refuge in other means, but rather he chose to stand firm in his trust in God [10].
David's trust in God's sovereignty is also linked to his understanding of God's promise and covenant. In Psalms 60:6, David says, "God has spoken in his holiness" [9]. Henry notes that David's hope is grounded in God's word of promise, which provides a firm foundation for his trust [9]. This trust is not limited to temporal deliverance but extends to eternal salvation, as seen in Psalms 119:41, where David prays, "Let thy salvation come to me" [8].
The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, as represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes the importance of David's trust in God's sovereignty as a model for Christian faith. Henry's commentary on the Psalms highlights the ways in which David's trust is rooted in his understanding of God's character, covenant promises, and sovereignty. This tradition encourages believers to follow David's example, trusting in God's power and protection, even in the face of adversity.
In the Psalms, David's trust in God's sovereignty is not presented as a static concept but as a dynamic and relational one. It involves a deepening understanding of God's character and a growing dependence on God's power and protection. As David declares in Psalms 16:1, "Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust" [3]. This trust is not limited to times of ease but is also evident in times of turmoil, demonstrating a profound reliance on God's sovereignty.
The historical context of David's life, marked by challenges and dangers, underscores the significance of his trust in God's sovereignty. Flavius Josephus records David's response to the prophet's message, where David "came to the ark, and fell down on his face, and began to adore God, and to return thanks to him for all his benefits" [4]. This act of worship and thanksgiving reflects David's trust in God's sovereignty and provision.
David's trust in God's sovereignty, as expressed in the Psalms, remains a powerful example for Christian faith, encouraging believers to rely on God's power and protection in all circumstances.
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 25:1 (DRC) — Unto the end, a psalm for David. Judge me, O Lord, for I have walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall not be weakened.”
- Psalms “Psalms 26:1 (Geneva1599) — A Psalme of David. Judge me, O Lord, for I haue walked in mine innocency: my trust hath bene also in the Lord: therefore shall I not slide.”
- Psalms “Psalms 16:1 (Webster) — Michtam of David. Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 4, section 5: David understood this from the prophet, and was overjoyful at this knowledge of the sure continuance of the dominion to his posterity, and that his house should be splendid, and very famous, he came to the ark, and fell down on his face, and began to adore God, and to return thanks to him for all his benefits, as well for those that he had already bestowed upon him in raising him from a low state, and from the employment of a shepherd, to so great dignity of dominion and glory; as for those also which he had promised to his poste”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 71:1: Two things in general David here prays for - that he might not be confounded and that his enemies and persecutors might be confounded. I. He prays that he might never be made ashamed of his dependence upon God nor disappointed in his believing expectations from him. With this petition every true believer may come boldly to the throne of grace; for God will never disappoint the hope that is of his own raising. Now observe here, 1. How David professes his confidence in God, and with what pleasure and grateful variety of expression he repeats his profession of that c”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 144:1: Here, I. David acknowledges his dependence upon God and his obligations to him, Psa 144:1, Psa 144:2. A prayer for further mercy is fitly begun with a thanksgiving for former mercy; and when we are waiting upon God to bless us we should stir up ourselves to bless him. He gives to God the glory of two things: - 1. What he was to him: Blessed be the Lord my rock (Psa 144:1), my goodness, my fortress, Psa 144:2. He has in the covenant engaged himself to be so, and encouraged us, accordingly, to depend upon him; all the saints, who by faith have made him theirs, hav”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 11:1: Here is, I. David's fixed resolution to make God his confidence: In the Lord put I my trust, Psa 11:1. Those that truly fear God and serve him are welcome to put their trust in him, and shall not be made ashamed of their doing so. And it is the character of the saints, who have taken God for their God, that they make him their hope. Even when they have other things to stay themselves upon, yet they do not, they dare not, stay upon them, but on God only. Gold is not their hope, nor are horses and chariots their confidence, but God only; and therefore, when second c”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:41: Here is, 1. David's prayer for the salvation of the Lord. "Lord, thou art my Saviour; I am miserable in myself, and thou only canst make me happy; let thy salvation come to me. Hasten temporal salvation to me from my present distresses, and hasten me to the eternal salvation, by giving me the necessary qualifications for it and the comfortable pledges and foretastes of it." 2. David's dependence upon the grace and promise of God for that salvation. These are the two pillars on which our hope is built, and they will not fail us: - (1.) The grace of God: Let thy m”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 60:6: David is here rejoicing in hope and praying in hope; such are the triumphs of the saints, not so much upon the account of what they have in possession as of what they have in prospect (Psa 60:6): "God has spoken in his holiness (that is, he has given me his word of promise, has sworn by his holiness, and he will not lie unto David, Psa 89:35), therefore I will rejoice, and please myself with the hopes of the performance of the promise, which was intended for more than a pleasing promise," Note, God's word of promise, being a firm foundation of hope, is a full foun”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 11 (introduction): In this psalm we have David's struggle with and triumph over a strong temptation to distrust God and betake himself to indirect means for his own safety in a time of danger. It is supposed to have been penned when he began to feel the resentments of Saul's envy, and had had the javelin thrown at him once and again. He was then advised to run his country. "No," says he, "I trust in God, and therefore will keep my ground." Observe, I. How he represents the temptation, and perhaps parleys with it, (Psa 11:1-3). II. How he answers it, and puts it to silen”