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I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every Day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.¹

Why is David so passionate for God? How can he claim God as his God and King? Amidst the number of gods the pagans worshipped, how can he make such an audacious claim? Is it any wonder that David’s name is among those included in the ‘Hall of Faith’?²

Recall that God created an oasis, a garden in Eden; it was a perfect environment. It was the perfect set-up—then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.³ The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.⁴ In God’s presence man had confidence, significance, and security. He was accepted, valued, and cared for. Yet given free will.

Man made the wrong choice which led to his fall. Although we are given the free will to choose, we are not exempted from the consequences of our choice. God had to drive them out of the garden of Eden and made sure man couldn’t enter again.⁵ Since then in God’s absence, man has felt rejected, insignificant, and insecure—laden with shame, fear, and guilt.⁶

Yet not David. Why? What differentiates him from the rest? Well, wasn’t he chosen by God to be king?⁷ Didn’t the Spirit of the LORD indwell him the moment he was anointed?⁸ From then on, he moved in wisdom, understanding, and might!⁹ Thus, he experientially knows the true God. He had an intimate relationship with him—my God and King. He understood the power and majesty of his God—Creator of heaven and earth,¹⁰ the I AM WHO I AM,¹¹ the King of kings and Lord of lords.¹² He knew his identity as the chosen one of God.

It has always been God’s purpose that we be intimate with him. He created us. David knew who he was before God—For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.¹³

Likewise, we were destined to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ.¹⁴  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among the brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.¹⁵ God chose us for a purpose. Jesus reminded his disciples, You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, . . .¹⁶

Through grace God gives us the faith to believe the truth of the gospel;¹⁷ it is the power of God for salvation.¹⁸ Even a faith as small as the tiniest seed will do¹⁹ for our salvation doesn’t hinge on what we choose to believe and do, but rather whom we believe—Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.²⁰ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.²¹