David is one of the principal characters of our Bible. HIs name is mentioned over 1000 times in Scripture, and it is the most referenced name in the Bible. In the New Testament, his name comes immediately after that of the Lord Jesus: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David (Matt 1.1). Interestingly, David is also the second last name in the New Testament: I am the root and offspring of David…the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (Rev 22.16-21). In other words, David is a character who seems to shadow our blessed Lord, and his life is full of meaning and lessons for all believers.

The emphasis of this character study is not so much in re-telling David’s story, although some of that has been necessary, but rather in considering the lessons we can learn from the life of David for our lives today. Therefore, this book is devotional and practical in nature, rather than being expository. Thirteen of the titles of the 75 psalms of David share details of their settings, and these 13 psalms are all arranged chronologically in this book, after each chapter, without commentary, and after the relevant setting for each psalm has been discussed. If there is no psalm that we are aware of being written in the period under consideration, then a psalm has been selected that is relevant.It is hoped that the simple reading of the psalm in its context will prove to be a selah moment of deeper reflection upon the Word of God and appreciation of our God.