Songs From the Heart

Psalm 18:1

[ For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: ] I love you, Lord, my strength.

David knew early in his boyhood that God was there for him, to help him, to protect him. When he found out he could call on God for help, he tried it out. The relationship had to begin somewhere. And from that starting point, it developed into a safe place where he could hide when trouble came. He wrote about it in Psalm 32:7. 

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

 The Psalms are a grouping of songs to God simply used to praise him or sometimes used to teach God’s people. These songs were sung after battles were won and when the singer was convicted of sin and at other times. If I were going to write a song to God, I’d have to start it the way David started what we call Psalm 18, “I love you, Lord.”  

One doesn’t usually sing passionately to a stranger. God and David had a relationship that was intimate. David trusted God and allowed God to see and hear him down to the depths of his soul. Why is it hard for many of today’s Christians to share that kind of intimacy with God?

Knowing and trusting God the way David did gave him a confidence from which he sang. David knew his prayers were being heard when he sang, so he sang with passionate words. He knew God’s hand was ready to catch him when he fell, so he ran to God to ask for forgiveness in song.  Singing to God was not a religious act and not a duty. David’s songs held emotion. With David, there was no holding back.

That kind of relationship is where David found his strength. And why he wrote songs about it.

Can you feel David’s passion for God when you read his songs? I can. Thanks for seeking God with me.