The Life of DavidSample

Day 2: 1 Sam. 3-4 x Phil + Melissa Smith, Elders at UPPERROOM King David lived quite a colorful life, blazing a trail and wearing many hats along the way. Shepherd boy, anointed psalmist, fearless warrior, dancing king, husband, and father, to name a few… but David is most remembered for being the one God called "a man after My own heart." Yes, David was a worshiper, through and through... a friend and lover of God. He was a man well-acquainted with the secret place of the Most High. As a shepherd boy alone on a hillside, David discovered how to look at God and be seen by Him, sing to Him and be sung over by Him, dance before Him, tremble before Him, weep before Him, and bow low. He learned to be still and to stand in awe, and in doing so, he became enamored by the One who created the heavens and the earth. Through his childlike heart posture and sense of wonder, David was able to experience the heavens' declaration of the glory of God, knitting his heart to the One who is beauty beyond words—his Shepherd. The secret place became David's habitation, his home. As Psalm 16:11 tells us, he knew firsthand, "In Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." And he lived a life of abandoned pursuit of this one thing. From the secret place of communion and intimacy with the Lord, the anointing flowed... through David's harp and his voice... bringing every note, melody, and lyric to life. And from this place, the anointing flowed with such power that it silenced demons (1 Samuel 16:23). David did not strive to write his prayers and songs to the Lord for any other reason than simply because his heart was captured by the majesty and splendor of his Creator. Beholding Him, he couldn't not sing. Selah! Prayer: Father, I ask You to capture my heart like You captured David's. Draw me into the secret place of the Most High and to be still. May Your majesty and beauty captivate my heart until, beholding You, I am changed. And from this place, may Your river of life flow from our bellies, through our songs and words, to give drink and bring deliverance to Your bride… and Your inheritance, the nations. For this is Your delight! Amen.