David’s life serves as an example of what a person committed to the LORD can expect in this world. David said, “Many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust” (Psalm 40:3-4). David felt that he had a responsibility to tell people about his experience. David said, “I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation” (Psalm 40:10).

The message David’s life conveyed was primarily about forgiveness. God’s lovingkindness toward David and tender mercies were evident in the continual deliverance David had from his enemies. David said, “For innumerable evils have compassed me about: Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up: They are moe than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me” (Psalm 40:12).

David’s life was not easy, and yet he spoke positively about the way God dealt with him. David had a way of seeing things that made the worst of circumstances look pleasant. David said, “But I am poor and needy; yet the LORD thinketh upon me” (Psalm 40:17). The words poor and needy depict someone without resources who has become depressed (34, 6041). The word translated thinketh, châshab (khaw – shab´) “signifies a mental process whereby some course is planned or conceived” (2803).

David had many troubles that he had to deal with and there were times when he felt trapped, unable to escape a very difficult circumstance. In those times, David cried out to the LORD and discovered that God was paying attention and always had a plan of escape waiting for him.

If you asked David, Why has the LORD has been so hard on you?, he would probably say, “So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous” (Psalm 58:11). The word translated reward, periy means fruit and also the product or result of an action (6529). For the most part, we think of a reward as a good thing. What David was implying was that people would see through his life the result of godly actions.

David’s actions did not always produce good results. Especially when he sinned, David’s actions produced bad results. He received punishment for his bad behavior. In the context of sowing and reaping, David’s life was consistent. When he did the right thing, he got a good result and when he did the wrong thing, he got a bad result. This is what a person committed to the LORD should expect in this world.