Psalm 18

"The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands he hath recompensed me." Pslam 18:20 KJV

In this Psalm, David thanks God for saving him from King Saul. Often we quote the pretty verses from chapters like this, the ones we feel comfortable with, like "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress." Verse 2, but we avoid quoting those that challenge our view of God. I personally don't see God with smoke coming out of his nostrils, and fire coming out of his mouth to devour anyone. I don't think God enjoyed Saul's destruction, or that "the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness." Verse 24

I know a lot of people will complain, and say, "But it's in the Bible," and I'm not saying there isn't truth in David's words, but I'm also saying David didn't have a complete view of God, or himself, for that matter.

David reminds me of the Rich Young Ruler who came to Christ, and said, "All of these things I have done since childhood," but Christ told him there was more. Mark 10:17-22 We have a luxury David didn't, that is, to see his life from beginning to end. We see that  David did horrible things, and that God's reward for him was better than he deserved.

We also are blessed to be living Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord. Jesus perfectly lived out God's character. In seeing him, we see the Father (John 14:9), and because of this we have a better understanding of who God is, and who we are.

I feel so privileged to know Jesus, and through him, the Father, to know that God isn't just "the God of the Old Testament," but also a God of love and mercy, one who is able to save and change any who seek him, and who mourns the loss of even one soul.