DAVID

Pre-eminently David was a shepherd:

One with a heart his flock could all rely on.

He was no hireling but prepared to jeopard

His life to fight against the bear or lion

To lead his flock or lead his men to Zion.

But the Good Shepherd, Jesus, supersedes:

In love He suffered and in grace He leads.

Into the valley, humble yet defiant,

Confident in the way Jehovah led,

David went down to battle with the giant:

A skilful sling-stone smote Goliath dead

And David carried off his severed head.

Through greater depths and through exceeding woe

The Lord has quelled a more injurious foe.

Rejected and despised, a wanderer,

David found refuge in Adullam's cave;

And needy souls who gathered to him there

Because their debts were great or needs were grave

Found that he had ability to save:

Christ, who had once no place to lay His head,

Is Saviour now as risen from the dead.

As God's anointed David had dominion

That ranged from the Euphrates to the Sea;

Hundreds of judgments hung on his opinion,

Myriads of minions hung on his decree

While Israel was glorious and free.

But Christ will shoulder just administration

As King of every people, tribe and nation.

To build the house of God was his desire

And under God he was its architect;

It was most worthy that he should aspire

To serve God in a place he would erect

But God refused to give his will effect.

Only through Christ could God acquire a place

To dwell with men in righteousness and grace.

David went in to sit before the ark

To hear Jehovah in complacency;

He laid aside his realm's and household's cark

And heard the promise God had to convey:

Sustained by this he rose and went his way.

But in God's presence our High Priest remains – 

All things by love and vigour He sustains.

Whether the waters by his feet were calm

Or he was bruised by torrents of oppression

From each experience David formed a psalm.

He raised a hymn to God through his confession

And found a song as carried through depression.

But Christ now leads a heavenly company

Surrounding Him to praise eternally.