The Power of a Fixed Heart

 

The sweet, Psalm-singer of Israel in Psalm 57 recounts calamities and God’s deliverances out of them.  There was King Saul attempting to kill David in a variety of ways.  Such was the level of hostility against him, David likened it unto being amongst a pride of lions; or, men setting a net for him; or, digging a pit for him.  Fleeing before King Saul, David had some real survival issues.

David’s survival became a little more tenuous when one considers he “drew a line” refusing to battle back against King Saul whom David recognized as "God's Anointed".  Once, David gently stepped over that line, cutting off the hem of Saul’s garment as he slept, only to be chastised severely in his heart afterward by the Holy Spirit.  Never again, in any fashion would David lift his hand against Saul—his only option was to flee.

Why was it necessary David flee before Saul?  In a word, jealousy!  Though Saul rewarded David for killing the giant Philistine, Goliath, by giving his daughter, Michal, in marriage to David;  and though there were times when only David’s music chased away the spirits that tormented Saul; there was this jealousy—it just wouldn’t go away.  For one thing it bothered Saul that the people sang more exaltedly of the way David killed the enemy (ten thousand at one time) than Saul (a paltry one thousand).  Such exaltation simply meant David had to flee faster and farther.  All this and more, for David, would be preparation for Israel's throne.

So what was David’s response to Saul’s attempts on his life?  This magnificent psalm of praise:

                “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise. (KJV)

                “I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.
                “For your mercy reaches unto the heavens and Your truth unto the clouds.
                “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth."

                                                                                                                  Psalm 57:7,9,10,11 (NKJV)

How did David get to a point where he had such commitment to God?  The veil is drawn back partially when the prophet, Samuel, in telling King Saul God had rejected him said, God “has sought for Himself a man after His own heart” (I Samuel 13:14).  So, some things were already established in David’s heart but the “fixer” comes when Samuel searches David out to anoint him King over Israel (even while Saul is still king):  “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (I Sam. 16:13).

Therefore the Spirit of the Lord was upon David when he slew Goliath.  The Spirit of the Lord was upon David when he played upon the harp before Saul, driving unclean spirits from him.  And the Spirit of the Lord was upon David the remainder of his life making him a worshipping warrior.

Couple these two things together, David’s desire for the things of God and the anointing of the Spirit of the Lord made him a king unlike any other in Israel’s history.  Principally for this reason the Messiah (King) Jesus was known as the “Son of David” (Matthew 22:42).

Is your heart “Fixed”?