The last time David was on the run, he was being pursued by the king he called his spiritual father. Now it is his actual son who is doing the chasing. Saul only pursued David in fits and starts, when the madness was on him. How ruthless will Absalom be?
David’s prayer for help
Psalm 4
Absalom pursues David
2 Samuel 17:25-26
David is provided for
2 Samuel 17:27-29
The prayer of an exiled man
Psalm 42, 43
David’s prayer after his betrayal
Psalm 55
An old mans prayer
Psalm 71
David’s prayer for help
Psalm 28, 143
His praises to God
Psalm 40
Many Psalms today, and it’s stretching a point to associate them all with David’s situation, Nevertheless, it is interesting to read them against the backdrop of a story like this, because we always read then against the backdrop of our own story.
Psalms 42 & 43 were definitely not written by David - they belong much later and they talk about the Temple which didn’t exist in David’s time. But they have that poignant longing for God, that love for him that is stronger than any other desire, which David certainly had. Whatever else he did, good or bad, he never lost his focus on God.
Psalm 71, in the typical way, starts with complaint and moves to praise. It ends saying “those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion.” It’s already happened. Either the ending was written later, or perhaps the faith of the writer was such that he broke through to a place of faith where he truly believed that happy day of vindication would come.
Psalm 40 rings truest to David - something of a confession (“my sins have overtaken me,” v12) something of a lament (“and my heart fails within me.” v12) and a prayer, not just for himself, but for all upright people who seek God: “may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!”” v16. David still trusts that with God he will prevail.
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