Psalm 63 ~ shall

Hills around Bethlehem

Psalm 63

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

David had a lot of time on his hands being the shepherd, youngest of 8 sons to his father, Jesse. Bethlehem has only 26" of rain, a bit more than California. David was already in a relationship with God before the prophet Samuel anointed David. As a young boy, he'd had to rely on God to help him defend the sheep against a lion and bear, taking the sheep out of the mouth of the enemy. David used his shepherding time thirsting for the Lord.

The Museum of Israel has a pottery shard, correct time dating, with the name Goliath found in his home town. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9997587/

1 Samuel 17:28
When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

Samuel asked the Lord, in fear, not to send him to anoint another king. Samuel went on, to his credit. When Samuel arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the town asked Samuel fearfully if he came in peace. Samuel was looking for a man and the Lord said to him,

1 Samuel 16:7, 12
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

¹² So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

Father God, help us to give the nurturing you would have us give, direct us when we should be bold in our work. Guide us and lead us, Father, for You care for us. We place our cares with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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