David was a man of war. We can say that with confidence for that's the very reason God didn't allow him to construct the Temple in Jerusalem. But in this Psalm, David called himself a man of peace. Did David do something wrong so that God revoked his privilege, or was David a peaceful man who out of respect for God's calling never got the opportunity to enjoy it?

In 2 Samuel 7, David was told by Nathan to go ahead with his plans to build a house for God because God was with him. In the 2Sam 8:27, David prayed and confirmed his intention to do it. Then came his great sin with Bathsheba. The prophet pointed out that David's sin gave the godless reason to find contempt for God (2Sam 12:14). David and Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon after God took the life of their son as a penalty for their transgression against Uriah the Hitite, Bathsheba's husband.

Because of David's continued propensity to sin from that point on, God at some point removed David's privilege. David's final insult to God was to count the fighting men in 2Sam 24. Then on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, where David allowed 70,000 Israelitesto die for his transgression, God had enough. He allowed David to buy that place for what would become the Temple Mount, the foundation for the temple David's son would construct after his own death.

"I am a man of peace, but..." How many people have proclaimed themselves to be such, but then like David place themselves in harm's way, fall victim to temptation and find their potential for God taken down a notch or two? I can raise my hand.

David was a man of war because he was a man after God's heart, one who would not turn from his duty but would do what had to be done in obedience to God's word. But he did not relish his lifestyle and because of that fact, he was a tormented man, not to the degree Saul knew it, but enough to cause David to grieve deeply. Such is the background to the Psalms in respect to David's authorship.

Today, you may find yourself out of your comfort zone. You face incredible odds and there seem to be no way to get around the battle you see up ahead. I'd like to give you a word from God that can bring peace to your troubled spirit. After everything David did, God honored his promise to him and those under David's authority. Even when the king failed to learn from his mistakes, God was faithful to keep his word to him.

David lost privilege, yes. But David died happy knowing God's favor, even though he probably couldn't understand why. That, my friend is what God's grace does. After all is said and done, it's sufficient to cover our mistakes and lift us up out of the mess we made; high enough so we can see God's face and know his love is unconditional. That fact alone should be enough to give us blessed hope for today.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Dn. 8:1-27 1 Jn. 2:1-17 Ps. 120:1-7 Pr. 28:25-26 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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