An Even Greater Blessing!

August 4, 2026

“I have been young, and now am old…” Psalm 37:25

An Even Greater Blessing!

David was overlooked when he was young. His age and his interests were not valued by his older brothers or by his parents. He found himself engaged in the humble task of being a shepherd of sheep.

He was often diminished and dismissed. He was often slighted and snubbed. He was often overlooked and omitted. David was unseen and unwanted; he was marginalized!

And yet, the Lord God wanted to use David to do more than shepherd sheep in a remote pasture. The Lord God wanted to use David to shepherd a nation in a recognized palace. The Lord God makes David into the King of Israel.

David was fearless when engaged in battle and sensitive in his expressions in music. David was a person of deep faith in the Lord God and articulate and creative in his writing of poetry and prayers. He was, and still is, the most popular King in Israel’s history as a nation.

David leads Israel into an incredible future. Israel became a respected military power as well as a nation in which the people were thriving. David recovered and brought back the Ark Of The Covenant as a great symbol of the nation’s faith in the Lord God as well as the real presence of the Lord God. Although he would not see it built, David developed the intricate plans for his son to build the Temple that would become the focal point of Israel’s worship of the Lord God.

David is known for three things; he conquers Jerusalem, he makes Jerusalem the capital of a united Israel, and he brings the Ark of the Covenant (i.e., the presence of God!) back to Jerusalem. At the same time, David is remembered for engaging in moral lapses that destroy some of the things he cherishes the most.

David acknowledges that sometimes life is difficult; there are disappointments and discouragements and even times when we are depressed and disillusioned. In Palm 37, David shares some things the Lord has taught him when dreams were coming true as well as when delight seemed impossible.

At the same time, David was a child of God who made plenty of mistakes and missteps.

David chooses to not go into battle when his rightful place was leading his army. People noticed his absence. David chooses to have an affair with a married woman. People noticed his immorality. David chooses to murder the husband of the woman with whom he has an affair. People noticed his defect.

David suffers the death of the baby born out of the affair. People noticed his deep grief. David struggled in his relationships with his children. People noticed his inadequacy. And yet, David remains the most popular King in Israel’s history as a nation.

The years pass. David begins to see more clearly the consequences of his God-honoring choices bearing much fruit. David also feels more deeply the repercussions of choices that dishonored the Lord and brought shame and embarrassment on the people he served and the people about whom he cared.

When he finds himself in the final phase of his life on earth, David takes some time to reflect on the things he has learned during his life. He is clearly open to the lessons the Lord God has taught him along life’s way.

In Psalm 37:25 David writes; “I have been young and now am old…” David remembers what it was like to be young while at the same time re-calling the perspective and wisdom he has gained from the Lord God now that he is older.

In Psalm 37, David shares the truths the Lord God has taught him through his humble beginnings, great successes, and miserable moral failures. He points to the things that cause us to stumble, things that only the Lord can provide, and things that the Lord God promises to those who trust Him. He names the promises of God as well as describes the life of holiness we are called to live.

David wants you and me to know how to discover delight even when life is still difficult. Although David is writing to anyone of any age, it seems he is especially wanting to capture the attention of those who are younger. David wants to share the wisdom the Lord God has given him with the next generation.

David wants to help people experience an even greater blessing, an even deeper joy, and an even more amazing love than they have known. He wants to help people avoid some of the experiences that have led to brokenness and emptiness as well as helplessness and hopelessness.

Like David, I am living in some of the last chapters of my life. There are some things David and I both want young men and young women to know so they can experience the best that life and the Lord God have to offer. During the previous several months, I have shared my take on the lessons David shares in Psalm 37.

I have presented these lessons in a way that one could use as a daily reflection or as a resource for small group discussion over several weeks. There is a brief reading, a few questions for reflection, a prayer, and an opportunity to take your next step towards a life of peace, joy, and love as you live near the heart of Jesus.

My prayer is that in your reading, reflection, and prayer the Spirit has confirmed what is godly in you and challenged that which still needs some refinement. May your heart, mind, and soul be open to that which the Lord is eager to show you.