A Poem by David.
1Preserve me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2My soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord.
Apart from you I have no good thing.”
3As for the saints who are in the earth,
they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
4Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god.
Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer,
nor take their names on my lips.
5Yahweh assigned my portion and my cup.
You made my lot secure.
6The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places.
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
7I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel.
Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
8I have set Yahweh always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices.
My body shall also dwell in safety.
10For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,
neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
11You will show me the path of life.
In your presence is fullness of joy.
In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.
David is a key figure in the Bible. He was the son of Jesse, the great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17, 22), and father of King Solomon. In the sovereign choice of God, David the shepherd became David the King and ancestor of the future Messiah, Jesus. He was born in Bethlehem in the land of Judah, being the son of Jesse and the great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 4:17, 22). After the death of King Saul, this shepherd was chosen by God to be the chief shepherd of His people, Israel. He is notable for being the young man who stood up to the giant Goliath on behalf of the people of Israel. David had many flaws in his character, but was beloved by God.
In addition to David's various military and political achievements, he was also renowned as a musician and wrote several of the Psalms. Ruth 4.22; 1 Samuel 16.11-1 Kings 2.12, 32; 8.17-20; 9.4; 2 Kings 21.7; 1 Chronicles 2.15; 3.1-9; 6.31; 10.14-29.30; Psalms 3-9; 11-32; 34-41; 51-65; 68-70; 86; 89.3, 20, 35, 49; 101; 103; 108-110; 122.5; 124; 131; 132.1, 10, 11, 17; 138-145; Isaiah 29.1; Ezekiel 37.24, 25; Matthew 1.1, 6, 17; 12.3; Luke 3.31; 6.3; 20.41-44; John 71.42; Acts 2.25-31; 4.25,26; 7.45, 46; 13. 22, 23, 34, 36; Hebrews 4.7; 11.32; Revelation 3.7; 22.16.
Biographies of Bible Characters, People and Characters in the Bible