We can learn something from the life of David where he knew God and God knew him.
Psalms 139
“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
We can see evidence of God’s omnipresence in this passage. But Psalms 139 showed how close a relationship David had with God.
David is well known to be God’s man even though Saul was chasing him. And despite committing awful sin, he wept in repentance, and he had a strong relationship with God.
God didn’t see David as the one who killed the giant, the king, or the one who committed adultery. God was looking at a person that keeps a relationship with Him.
God looked at the heart of David, the one that says “amid everything keep a close relationship with God:”
Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
The problems of this world do not bind David, and he has cut ties with many things. He walked with God. God looked at David for his going to church, street preaching, how many people he saved, how many victories, or how many tracts he passed. God was looking at David and his connection with him.
1 Samuel 16:18: “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.”
“I have seen” – God saw. We do not see at verse 18 a mention of playing the harp, killing a lion and a bear, wisdom that accompanied “the Lord is with him.” All we need is a connection with God. The priority is Jesus Christ first, despite having work, family, and church turning against us.
David in verses 34 and 39 shows his attribute of being prudent in matters. David kept showing his reliance on God and kept his relationship with God. David does not reason with things of this world. In verse 39, he rejects the armor of Saul in favor of reliance on God.
2 Samuel 7:2,5,18-20 “That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in? Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God? And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant.”
God knew David, and David knew God. David wanted to build a house for God. But God said no, David knows that God knows best.