Irmela

Q3. (2 Samuel 15:1-6) What are the elements of Absalom's public relations campaign to win over the people to his side? How effective is it? What should David have done differently? Which of David's weaknesses does Absalom exploit? Absalom begins by making the public very aware of him. He and his entourage is often seen. Chariots and horses and 50 men who run beside them. He establishes himself. Almost pointing out to the public that he was heir to the throne and was getting ready to present himself to them. Someone who looked regal, wealthy and fit for the position. Not only does he play with their SIGHT, but goes further, by being at the gate very early and greeting the people that come from surrounding districts with problems to be sorted out by the king. He listens to them and shows sympathy. In other words, he plays with their emotions. He goes further by suggesting that he would help better if he had more power. He softens them towards his sympathies by lending an ear. HEARING. He goes a step further by kissing their hands. TOUCH A clever, crooked, sly and 'typical' politician. He certainly won their hearts. I do tend to agree with "Delivered". Posted 19 Nov 2012. I think the way David is reflected as a no good disciplinarian, is a bit off the mark. David won the hearts of his people years ago by his fighting campaigns. They were basically at peace now. The next king would have to win the people in a different way. I am sure David did not see Absalom's working as he did as trying a political overthrow. I think that the events that happened through Absalom are because of David's sin. He was forgiven, but the seed he had sown was now starting to bear fruit. I personally believe that David's remorse was real , and as he was forgiven, he too tried to forgive. Absalom played on that and the fact that David loved him.

Q2. (2 Samuel 13:39-14:24) Why do you think Joab conspires to get David to bring Absalom home? Why do you think David does not immediately show Absalom his favor? We do have a lot of speculative questions. David is not young anymore and the next in line to the throne is dead. Absolom is the next one who should be supporting and learning from David. (Although it does not seem like the heir to the throne is chosen by birth) David seems to have loved Absalom very much and was pining for him. Joab knew this and tried to bring back some kind of peace to a troubled king. When Absalom was not in Jerusalem, punishment for Abner's death could be ignored. When he returned to Jerusalem, some kind of punishment for his deed needed to be meted out. This was a hard option for David. I guess not seeing him and not making him absolutely welcome was David's way of punishing him. This irked Absalom no end. Could it also be that David did not really trust Absalom's loyalties anymore. (Recall Joab did not trust Abner.)

Q1. (2 Samuel 13:21-22) Why do you think David doesn't discipline his son Amnon for his sexual assault on his half-sister? What are the consequences of David's inaction? As has been said by others, we don't really know, we can only surmise , and as with any game being watched from the side lines, the spectators seem to be the better players and the know-alls, much of the time. Amnon was the first-born son and so very likely at this stage favoured to be the heir to the throne. We do not know much about David's interaction with his children, accept that there were a fair amount of them and by many women. How much interaction between father and children there was was in that time, we cannot say either. What we do know is that this happened after David's affair with Bathsheba and that David was possibly in his fifty's by this stage and the older sons in their early twenty's. Thus marriable age. Tamar must have been a beautiful teenager. The background painted above shows David to have been forgiven of his sin, but it was not something that could have been hidden from his boys. As David was consumed with desire for Bathsheba, so Amnon was consumed with desire for Tamar. David had acted and so had Amnon acted. The difference was that Amnon shamed his half-sister by not then marrying her. He abused her and then sent her packing. As the sins committed were both sexual, I guess David did not have much he could fall back on to discipline his son. David had been guilty of much more. His sin continued by murdering a loyal soldier. The consequence was a tearing apart of David's family. Absalom eventually was guilty of killing Amnon for what he had done.

Q4. (2 Samuel 12:10-14) What punishment does David deserve? What does he get instead? How does this punishment relate to the provisions of the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7:14-15? How do David's sins hurt God's glory? How do our sins reflect on Jesus Christ? The punishment was a life for a life. So David actually deserved death. David is not the one who dies but the baby born to him and Bathsheba , dies. David's sin is forgiven him, but he will get to reap the consequences of his sin. Shame will come on his reputation. He had committed the sin in secret, his concubines/wives will be sexually molested in broad daylight, for all to see, and on top of it all by his son. Many of his offspring will commit sexual sins and commit murder. Punishment /Discipline is meted out to David. In the Covenant, God promised that He would punish the perpetrator as a father would punish his son. He also added that he would have mercy on him. The nation's round about, saw that up till now David had proved to be different. He had shown clearly in his conduct that he was serving God and not following the footsteps of other earthly rulers, and now this conduct had marred that reputation. In the same way, if we sin, be it by bad mouthing someone, stealing, sexual sins, or whatever it is, we are displaying to the world that this is the way someone who follows Jesus Christ acts. It is not us they see but they see that it is way of life of a Christian. This is not a true reflection of Christ. His image is tarnished by our lifestyle.

Q3. (2 Samuel 12:1-10) Why might it be dangerous for Nathan the prophet to confront the king? What device does Nathan employ to get the king to listen to him? How does David's condemnation of the rich man's greed help him acknowledge and condemn his own actions? The king could do anything to Nathan. (Bind him and imprison him and worse even kill him.) Nathan bravely tells the king a story or parable wherein it is easy to see what had transpired, as though looking in a mirror. David often had to be judge in things that happened and would have to give his verdict . That was the type of story that Nathan used. Not something far-fetched, but something real. David judged the rich man and when Nathan pointed out that it is actually, he himself. David broke down and acknowledged his sin. He recognized that not only had he sinned against man but also against God. He repented , but paid dearly for the sin he had committed.

Q2. (2 Samuel 11) How can a "man after God's own heart" do something so ugly, so despicable as this -- first adultery and then murder by proxy to cover it up? What does this teach us about our human condition? What is our problem as humans? How can David ever recover his integrity after this? We are unpredictable and untrustworthy. Without God we are lost. We are warned to WATCH and PRAY . The devil knows our weaknesses and when we are most vulnerable he will work on them and before we know it, we will fall, if we do not call out to God to help us STAND. We are to RESIST the devil and then he will flee from us. But if we give in to him by just savouring a thought in the wrong direction, he pounces on us and leads us to where we don't want to be. Before we know it we are in sin. The way out is to confess and repent from whatever we did and allow Christ to restore as only He can. When David was approached by Nathan and his eyes were opened to what he had done, he did just that. He acknowledged his sin before God and repented of what he had done.

Q1. (2 Samuel 9:1-13) Why does David honor Mephibosheth? What does this teach us about David's character? David was true to his word. He had promised Jonathan that he would not cut off his offspring. Mephibosheth was not killed as was the usual practice when a new king ascended the throne. David trusted God not man. We even see this when Ishbosheth ascended the throne. David did not kill him or take his throne from him. David proved to be true to his word, not like Saul, whose word meant nothing. David was honorable, but human, as was later seen.

Q3. (2 Samuel 7:14-16) There is a conditional aspect in the Davidic Covenant -- that God will discipline David's descendants when they sin. How did God discipline David and his descendants? With David, there was trouble in his household. When he sinned with Bathsheba, their baby died. David's daughter, Tamar, was raped by her half-brother Amnon. Absalom, David's favourite son, Tamar's brother, swore vengeance and was responsible for killing Amnon. Absalom also tried to usurp the throne from David. Absalom was killed inspite of David's request to the contrary, in the civil war that ensued. After Solomon's son the nation was split into the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom. Then there followed some good kings and some bad kings and eventually the kingdom of Judah was also led away into captivity. But the time for the everlasting kingdom is fast approaching.

Q2. (2 Samuel 7:8-13) What are the main promises of the Davidic Covenant? Are these promises conditional or unconditional? Why does conditionality make a difference? Which of these promises is most important to you as a Christian? The promises are : A great name (v 8&9) A secure homeland for his people (v10&11a) Peace (v11b) A dynasty (v11c) A son who will build the temple (v 12-13) An everlasting Kingdom (13) God said that He would reprimand them like a father would reprimand a son. So the condition would be to act towards God as a son would react to a loved Father. Discipline would be part of the plan. Conditionality brings responsibility. There is an everlasting Kingdom in which we will have a part.

Q1. (2 Samuel 7:1-7) Why is Nathan so quick to give David approval to build the temple? What should have Nathan done instead? What is the danger of leaders and followers too quickly approving major spiritual directions without really waiting upon the Lord? David's heart is partly right about building the temple though. Which part does David have right? David had a deep desire to please God. This time he wanted to do so by building Him a House/Temple so the Ark of the Covenant could be placed in there. Nathan was the one who dealt with the spiritual guidance at this stage. David mentioned to Nathan what was on his heart. Nathan knew that David's topmost desire was to please God and so he too saw nothing wrong with this idea, and seemed to give David the go ahead from the spiritual side. Nathan should have brought the whole idea before the Lord as well before giving his approval of the project. The danger is that a good idea is maybe the right idea for a wrong time and for the wrong person to fulfill the idea. David is right about the temple to be built but not about the time.

Q4. (2 Samuel 6:16, 20-23) What has happened to Michal that she is so bitter at David? How does her bitterness cause her to misjudge what she sees? Are you bitter towards God about something in your past? What effect might it have on your spiritual life? How can you find healing from the bitterness? What would have happened if David had conformed his worship expression to his wife's preferences? There are a lot of what's and what if's . Michal, Saul's daughter, was David's first wife. When David fled the court because Saul wanted to kill him, she was left behind. David did not force her to be with him in the wilderness and wherever else he was in the years that her father had tried to kill him. She was in the safety of her home and later in the safety of the home of Paltiel, the man Saul chose to be her husband instead of letting her wait for David's return or death. When Abner wanted to see David after he was angry with Ishbosheth, whom he had put on the throne, David agreed on condition that he bring Michal to him. This was about 7 yrs after David had already been king over his tribe, after Saul's death. He couldn't have done this earlier as it could have led to the belief that he was claiming the throne from Isbosheth, Saul's son. David had promised kindness to Saul's house, and he kept his promise. He was not in favour of civil war, just to become king. God's timing, to him, was the right timing. Michal was no longer the only wife. She was now one of 7 wives. The others had all presented David with offspring and she was barren. All this could have led to feelings of bitterness and jealousy. She too was probably used to a life of luxury and being center of attraction. Another aspect could have been, that maybe , just maybe, she would have enjoyed being part of all the festivities and led the dancing and singing as Miriam did, so many years before. Our answers are just speculations by trying to be in her shoes. If she was part of all the celebrations, she would not have despised David, but would have rejoiced with him. Her bitterness makes her see David as having debased himself and becoming one of the "common" people. She does not share the joy that he has for having brought the Ark into his capital city and in worshiping God. David would have lost out on much joy and peace. Also favour with God.

Q3. (2 Samuel 6:14, 22) How would you describe David's approach to worship? What does his dancing here teach us? What do we learn about praise from the psalms he wrote? Does what others might think affect your ability to worship? No. I know that inside me I still lift my hands in worship to Him and sing with reckless abandon and twirl and move as a young person can and would probably stun the frozen, but I am not able to anymore. Also I think one needs to respect what others take to be 'orderly' when being with them. If one is uncomfortable with that then I guess one is free to worship elsewhere. God sees the hearts of the so called frozen as well. How has God been working in your life to teach you to worship him in spirit and in truth? David is seen here as a man not as a king in kingly raiment/garments. He came before God as David , the every-day man. He came as himself, the man, not as the public saw him, the king. He put aside his earthly calling and came to his Heavenly Lord and King, rejoicing, worshiping Him, with a heart filled with love and adoration. He worshiped God with all that was in him. With joy and thankfulness. David was not concerned about what people thought about him, he did not worship them, it was his God that he was worshiping with all that was in him, (one can say , thinking of nothing else but God alone. The joy that he was bringing, (what had previously been seen as God's abode in the wilderness,) the Ark of the Covenant to the capital city of the nation). David gave himself completely in his dance to the Lord. He worshiped God in this way. God saw his heart. In this I can learn too, to put aside what man sees me as, be it a pauper / teacher / preacher /king/ sailor/ housewife or whatever else, and be me , the person God created. Worship Him in spirit and in truth. Not put on a show or something for man to see. It is God we worship. Let our focus be on Him and Him alone. God was first and foremost. It was Him he praised. When he was down or whatever, he saw something that enabled him to praise God for, and soon if down, his spirits would lift in praising Him. Our very life should be one of praise to Him. Our walk and talk should all point to Him.

Q2. (2 Samuel 6:11-13) How should the ark have been transported? How are Uzzah and David responsible if they don't know the provisions of the Mosaic Law? What does David's mistake in this incident teach us about seeking to do God's will? Exodus 25:14 & 15 You are to put the poles into the rings on the sides of the Ark, in order to carry the Ark. The poles are to remain in the rings of the Ark, and not to be taken from it. Numbers 4:5 & 6 Aaron and his sons (the priests) were to take down the shielding curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it. They were to cover this with porpoise hide, and spread over it a cloth of solid blue, Then put the poles in place. Numbers 4:15 The sons of Kohath were to do the carrying of the Sanctuary and the holy implements. But they were not to touch the holy items or they would die. The above were the instructions given to Moses when they moved from one place to the next. It's very easy as an outsider to say that they ought to have known as they were taught the Torah from small. One does not know what they had been taught and what they had not been taught. Even in the time of the Judges it is already mentioned that the generation, after Joshua and the elders who were alive after he died had also died , did not serve the Lord. David loved and served the Lord and definitely wanted to please Him in every aspect of life. As the Ark was the furniture that presided in the place called the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle, and was seen as God's earthly throne, David should have first consulted the Torah as to how it was to be carried. We are to seek God's will in all things. Nothing is too minor of importance.

Q1. (2 Samuel 6:1-10) Why does God strike Uzzah? Why is David so angry? Uzzah had stretched out his hand to steady the Ark. The Ark was not being transported in the way that God had instructed it to be carried. God is certainly not One Who supports irreverence. Uzzah's act is taken to be irreverent to the Lord. Two reasons are given in the notes, viz., misunderstanding and humiliation. David had wanted to bring the Ark, symbolizing God's presence, to the capital city , to emphasize to all and sundry that the Israelites were a nation who served Yahweh. So why would God bring judgment? A misunderstanding. David feels publicly humiliated. The national celebration he has planned in front of 30,000 onlookers has ended with disaster, as if God doesn't approve of moving the ark. In people's eyes, David's relationship with God is being questioned. Not sure what the real factor is. Could it possibly be that he is angry with himself for not heeding the instructions God gave as to how the Ark and everything pertaining to it , should be transported/moved.

Q3. (2 Samuel 5:17-25) Why does David inquire of the Lord before he attacks the Philistines the first time? What would have happened if he thought he knew how to attack the Philistines, and didn't inquire of the Lord the second time? Why do we often want to figure out the process so we can act independently, rather than wait on God as a way of life? What does that say about God? What does that say about us? The Lord had watched over David and his motley group of men that had joined him, in the years that he lived as a fugitive. He eventually had gone to the Philistine king for refuge and had then settled at Ziglag. Then when Saul died , David moved all his followers back into Judah and made Hebron his capital. Later when he was made king over all Israel, David conquered Jerusalem, which did not belong to a specific tribe of Israel, and made that his capital. Previously, he had been indebted to the Philistines, because they helped him when he was in need. They now realized with his power having increased somewhat, he was no longer going to just bow to their whims, but he was now posing a threat to them politically. They went down with combined forces of all their different armies to check it all out. Ready to put "David in his place". David, who probably felt indebted to one of the kings, who had helped him, probably was a bit uncertain of the repercussions that a fight with the whole lot of the Philistines would have on his kingdom. As was his custom, David inquired of the Lord first, what he should do. Maybe their forces were more. We are not told. What is important is that David inquired of the Lord, what he should do. When he broke through the forces he gave God the glory for the victory. The second time we read that David was given specific instructions as to how to go about fighting the battle. The first time all we know is that he was given the assurance that the Philistines would be delivered into his hands. David was obedient to the Lord. We cannot say what would have been the result if David had not been following the Lord. His whole reign would possibly have been a total disaster as we see of so many of the kings who try to do it their way. God has not made us puppets but has given us a free will and the ability to choose. We can choose God's way or man's way, the last being a sure way of disaster. God's way is always best.

Q2. (2 Samuel 5:1-5) Approximately how long has it been since David had been anointed king by Samuel? (See Appendix 4. Chronology of the Life of David.) Why did the fulfillment of God's word take so long? How would you evaluate David's patience concerning this prophecy that he would be king? How would you measure your own patience concerning what you believe God has promised you? I would reckon it to be about 15 years that David was anointed by Samuel, before he became king over Judah. God's timing is not our timing. There are always things that need to be learnt or gotten out of the way, or certain aspects that need to be established before God's Word comes into fulfillment and then when the time is right it comes to pass. I think it is amazing how David did not take matters into his own hands and wipe out Saul. How he was fully prepared to support Saul and fight in his army all the years, until it was not safe for him to be in Saul's presence anymore. Even then when push came to shove, he protected his people and fought off those who would have gone further into the kingdom of Israel. Most amazing is the love of Jonathan and David. Both being aware of who they were in the kingdom's/man's point of view and also in God's view. Neither was jealous of the other's position. It truly was love born of God. David was faithful and not traitorous. David knew God's timing was best.

Q1. (2 Samuel 3:22-39) Why does Joab slay Abner? Is he justified in doing so? How does this affect his king's unification plans? Why do you think Joab is so blind? How can our spiritual blindness get in the way of God working out His plan in our lives? I personally think these questions are not so easily answered with a "this is the right answer", kind of thing. Abner was the general of Saul's army. He was also of Saul's family. Abner had initiated and stood behind the fact that Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was made king, even though he was aware that David was God's chosen candidate. Only when Ish-bosheth approached him, rightfully, for having slept with his father's concubine, did he decide to go over to David and help initiate the process of making him king. ..... Can his motives really be trustworthy. ...... By this time the brother of Joab had already been killed. Joab was the general of David's army. He was David's sister's son. His brother had been killed by Joab, who had not wanted to do this but was almost forced into it as a means self defense. Joab was hurting and bent on revenge. When he saw his opportunity, he took it. It was devious, very much so. Hebron was a city of refuge. He calls Joab back to the city where he could have been safe. ...... but calls him outside ...... he kills him the same way that his brother was killed. This time it was murder. Joab had foolishly ventured out of the city's protection to meet the one who was out and out to avenge his brother's death. From the scenes "painted" above, it seems as if Joab had more than one reason to kill Abner. Three stand out. First and foremost it was to avenge his brother's death. Then also to prevent a possibility for Abner usurping the position of general of David's army. (jealousy) Then also he did not trust Abner's motivations to be honest towards David. If he can turn traitor to the one who he put on the throne in the first place, he sure could turn to be traitor to the one he had previously tried to kill, by pursuing him with Saul. I do not think that the way he went about performing his deed , was right, but I do understand the way he thought was ultimately to protect David, and the country from further civil war. Fortunately David was wise enough to show his grief openly about this deed and could prove that it was not his intent to perform it. Throughout the years of his hiding in the wilderness and moving around seeking shelter away from Saul, David had shown that his intent was not evil towards Saul's "house". It is easy to point a finger and say that Joab was blind. Abner's past deeds did not reflect him to be very trustworthy when he was not favoured. Spiritual blindness can come in the way of God's plans, in that one tends to steer away from where He is leading, or balk from his directions. His ways are so much better to follow.

Q3. (2 Samuel 1:19-27; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14) David is gracious in his memorial psalm. How does he remember Saul's life? How does the Chronicler remember Saul's life? How do you think God evaluates Saul's life? What do we learn from this? He remembers it as it was before he went nuts and turned away from God. Before he did his own thing. He remembered him as a hero , where he was brave and served the Lord and his country as he ought. Where he brought prosperity and safety to his realm. The Chronicler remembers Saul as he was at the end of his life. Disregarding God and His will and purpose. Who am I to judge how God evaluates his life. I just know that I dare not let go of God. We learn not to carry bitterness around in our hearts. David sure gives us an example of that. Wait upon the Lord and in due time He shall bring to pass what He has promised.

Q2. (1 Samuel 30:6) From the Psalms of David, how does David seem to strengthen himself in the Lord when things are going bad? What devotional exercises does he adopt? What is the focus of his faith? He calls on the Lord and recalls how in previous occasions the Lord did not leave him in the lurch but came to his rescue. So in his cries to the Lord and together with his petitions he reminds the Lord how on previous occasions He had helped him and so he knows that He, the Rock of his Salvation will do so again. So in his struggles and tempting to give in to despair and to being crushed , David gets encouragement/strengthened in his acknowledgement of God's faithfulness. He worships and praises the Lord and 'brags' or boasts about His greatness and power. The focus of his faith is on the Lord God alone.

Q1. (1 Samuel 30:1-6) Why do the men blame David? Why is the situation so explosive at this point? What does David do in the situation? What is David feeling? Why doesn't he act immediately? David and his men had left the women and children at Ziglag, where they had settled down, while they, joined the Philistines into battle, much further North. David had not left some of the men behind to watch over the women and children, and their possessions at Ziglag. Now that they were missing and everything had been burnt and looted, it was easy to put the blame on the leader. They were all tired and hungry, disgruntled, totally exhausted after their march up North and then back again. Certainly also afraid that their women and children were being mistreated/held captive by enemies, or worse, even murdered. David cries together with his men. He too has lost everything. He turns to the Lord, to find out what the next thing is to do. I think he must feel terrible that his men turn on him. It is not his fault that the enemy made use of the opportunity to loot their place as they did. Not only that, he too is worried about his wives. not only are his family his responsibility, but the whole lot are. He is the leader who has to make the decisions. David waits on the Lord.

Q4. (1 Samuel 28:7-14) Why do you think God condemns occult practices of communicating with the dead and channeling spirits of the dead? How might such practices open Christians to victimization and oppression by evil spirits? What should you do if you've been involved in such practices in the past? That would be putting ones trust in the spirits of the dead, and not in God. We are admonished to trust and believe in God and in Him alone. Not to have other gods beside Him. The evil spirits controlled by satan are just waiting for this kind of an opportunity to infiltrate our mind and being with what is not of God. Anyone having been involved in such practices should repent and seek forgiveness and not repeat such practice.

Q3. (1 Samuel 25) What do we learn about David's character in this incident with Nabal and Abigail? What do we learn about Abigail's character? Nabal's character? Why do you think this story was included in 1 Samuel? What important knowledge does it add to our understanding? David saw an opportunity for his men to be rewarded for having kept Nabal's property safe. Yet when he did ask for it, he was wrongly accused and his men were shamed. This riled him, and he got angry. So much so that he was ready to commit murder. Abigail was a wise woman and hard-working , who wanted peace at all cost. Nabal seems to have been a fool and one who was ready to believe rumors. I think it was included to show that in spite of the fact that David and his men were on the run, and hiding from the king, they were still looking out and keeping enemies out from infiltrating the country. The other reason I do think it was added was to show that in spite of everything, David too was a man. We need God's guidance at all times.

Q2. (1 Samuel 24:12) How do we apply the principle of not lifting a hand against the Lord's anointed in our day? What provisions are there in 1 Timothy 5:19-20 for calling leaders to account. What do you think God will do to those who slander, persecute, and martyr his appointed leaders? We need to pray for the ones that God has placed in leadership positions, not fight them. When there definitely is proof that the leader has not acted right (according to two or three witnesses) then he is called to account publicly so others are warned and should heed this and not go down the same path. When they are wrongly accused those accusers too will be punished.

Q1. (1 Samuel 24:1-15) Why doesn't David kill Saul when he has the chance? What motive do David and his men have for killing a king who is trying to kill them? What is David's rationale for sparing Saul? What does this tell us about David's character? About his faith? What does it say about David's leadership ability that he is able to dissuade his men from killing Saul? David believes that Saul is God's anointed and he will not raise his hand against him. When David went up to Saul and cut off the edge of his robe, he actually proved to the king that he could have killed him but he spared his life, because he had no intention of killing the king. It was not his purpose. David was true and loyal and trusted that God, in His time would let come to pass what He had promised. It was not David's intention to take over the reins as king, His purpose was to obediently serve the king and be loyal. David was quite certain that that was what God desired of him at that moment in time. David's men were more than ready to kill Saul. They egged him on to do so and if not that they do it for him. David was very firm with them and pointed out very clearly that that was not his intent. David did not hum and ha between his decisions. What he said was final. His men did not go against him but respected his decision.

Q4. (Psalms 18, 34, 54, 56, 58, 59, 142) In these ascriptions to these psalms, how many celebrate happy occasions? How many arise from struggles? What does this tell you about David's relationship with God? What does this tell you about his faith during trials? Which is your favorite among these psalms? Why? I still need to get to the point where I love and appreciate and understand poetry. Bits and pieces I can appreciate and they speak to me and warm my heart. Ps 56:11 In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid; what can man do to me? They all basically recollect where and when David was in trouble and how, God, being his rock, defended him, or where David calls out to God to defend him. David lifts His Name high. He praises Him, during and after the problem. He is not blind or immune to the fact that his needs are met or will be met by God. David trusted God completely and with all that he had. He relied on Him for guidance. He truly could trust no man, no matter what he did for them. During trials he knew that God would shield him and be a place of refuge.