Why was David's life so sorrowful?

[WilliamBo]

"For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away."

-Psalms 31:10



When I read the Psalms of David, most of them feel depressing. Why was David so depressed in his Psalms? I know he praised God a lot but so many of them are like the verse posted above.

Was it because of enemies? Was it because of sin in his life? I find it interesting because he had such a hard life but never let go of God, while Solomon had a glorious life without enemies, and then Solomon turned to different God's.

One reason I'm curious is because when I read the words of David's Psalms, I think "wow, that's exactly what I am feeling", ive always felt this very strong connection to David... but I can't tell if David was feeling it for the same reasons as me... as I feel much of my suffering is self-induced from sinful habits and consequences from bad choices ive made in the past, while David was afflicted unjustly a lot.

I feel like this could be a good discussion.

 

[friend of]

His reverence for God was so great that his own efforts by comparison were greatly lacking and he was highly sensitive to his own shortcomings.

"wow, that's exactly what I am feeling"

Totally! Another Psalm filled with grieving is Psalm 38 Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 38 - New International Version

 

[Mountainmanbob]

I think David's sin and conscience had worn him down.

I kind of understand.

Our sins of the past and daily sins should sickness us more and more each day. I consider that part of the Sanctification process.

Most of the ones that I know that are not concerned regarding their sin (thinking it's all good and that they are covered) (and seem to return to their sin with no real concern) usually turn out to be not truly Born Again.

Jesus spoke of the wide road that goes down to the hot place.



M-Bob

 

[brinny]

David sinned abominably. YET, he knew WHO to go to ABOUT that sin(s). In addition, Saul's attempt to kill David in cold blood, and without cause was enough to run anyone ragged and lose their ever-lovin' mind. He was on the RUN like a hunted animal from Saul.

Here's the bottom line. God called David What, exactly? Well at least Two things:

A man after His own heart.
The "apple of His eye".

Here's what never ever changed about David:

He LOVED God with all that was in him (from when he was a boy as a shepherd), and he "feared" God. THIS is why, as a boy he slew a lion and a bear. THIS is why, when he was still a boy, and too small to even wear the king's armor, he RAN TO that ol' giant as the king and his entire army were cowering and quaking in their armor.

He feared God. When one "fears God", they fear "NONE else".

There is a REASON that God has made promises for David's sake of an eternal nature.

And it had ev'ry thing to do with David's "heart for God".

Heart for God = "wise-hearted".

Now all in the Psalms, David pours out his angst-es-es, his fears, and ALL that was in his heart. And what inevitably happens in those Psalms is, that they end in David praising and glorifying God. What also is the theme is of David DELIGHTING in God, and God DELIGHTING in David.

This is why God called David a man after His own heart, and the apple of His eye.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." ~Pr 9:10

 

[inquiring mind]

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or accomplished in life, troubles will come, and no matter how much favor you have, no matter how bad you want something undone or fixed that you’ve messed up in life... the Lord’s answer is not always fast. God wants us to learn from our disobedience and sin, and this was true in David’s case too.

David's primary thought in life seems to have always been to have a relationship with God. But, all his suffering was not unjust. Despite all David’s successes, life and his eventual sin also brought him to a period of severe trial and doubting, a time when he had to cry out for the Lord’s attention... and then wait for His help. Murder, adultery, as well as the added burden of family problems and the death of his son all brought David very low.

Just like with David, the Lord blesses those who are faithful and continually call on Him by putting them on a path of joy and peace. Life and a sinful nature will still pull at us, but we have to stay on the path because there’s usually no quick fixes when He’s helping us get back.

 

[icxn]

Ecclesiastes 2:

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

David was a type of Christ and many of his psalms are primarily applicable to Christ. Since we are called to follow in His footsteps, it is also no wonder that you find the psalms applicable to yourself as well. They were inspired for this very reason, so that we can use (pray) them in times of need.

 

[bling]

Could you not say the same thing about Christ's life?
Lamentations in the Psalms by David about himself (an individual) are often written as diatribes (two sides of an imaginary debate with the negative given first, but at the end God is with Him.

 

[WilliamBo]

His reverence for God was so great that his own efforts by comparison were greatly lacking and he was highly sensitive to his own shortcomings.



Totally! Another Psalm filled with grieving is Psalm 38 Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 38 - New International Version

That's a great Psalm, thank you for that.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

Was it because of enemies? Was it because of sin in his life? I find it interesting because he had such a hard life but never let go of God, while Solomon had a glorious life without enemies, and then Solomon turned to different God's.

Sin and enemies will bring sorrow. Lack of adversity can make you "fat, dumb and happy" but actually be worse for you as you noted in Solomon.

One reason I'm curious is because when I read the words of David's Psalms, I think "wow, that's exactly what I am feeling", ive always felt this very strong connection to David... but I can't tell if David was feeling it for the same reasons as me... as I feel much of my suffering is self-induced from sinful habits and consequences from bad choices ive made in the past, while David was afflicted unjustly a lot.

God certainly can use discipline to bring attention to actions he does not approve of in our lives, but we all have made bad choices. Hopefully that is in the past. Now so many get religion and expect that if they are faithful God will take away all their pain, he may, but he may also just make you a stronger person that can handle the suffering.

As I age and see how God has worked in so many people, it amazes me how much he can use imperfect people for his plan. That is God's love and mercy in action. We don't have to be saints to be helpful. Look at Peter who denied Christ.

 

[FireDragon76]

"For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away."

-Psalms 31:10

When I read the Psalms of David, most of them feel depressing.

First off, the Psalms are poetry and they are not above using hyperbole.

Secondly, the "depression" thing; you're seeing concerns brought to God. Do you never complain to God or express doubts to God?

Complaint and lament of a religious nature were and are part of Jewish spirituality. Even today, in modern times. At Auschwitz, a few Jews even put God on trial. Some Jewish and Christian theologians have even said that protest is an expression of a purer kind of faith.

Was it because of enemies? Was it because of sin in his life? I find it interesting because he had such a hard life but never let go of God, while Solomon had a glorious life without enemies, and then Solomon turned to different God's.

Solomon tolerated his wives other religions. To my knowledge there is no implication he stopped believing in God. Solomon is a generally respected figure among Jews and Christians.

One reason I'm curious is because when I read the words of David's Psalms, I think "wow, that's exactly what I am feeling", ive always felt this very strong connection to David... but I can't tell if David was feeling it for the same reasons as me... as I feel much of my suffering is self-induced from sinful habits and consequences from bad choices ive made in the past, while David was afflicted unjustly a lot.

As far as the actual historical figure goes, David was probably more like a mobster or warlord. He had plenty to lament. He was not allowed to build a temple, after all, because he had become so bloody.

 

[WilliamBo]

As I age and see how God has worked in so many people, it amazes me how much he can use imperfect people for his plan. That is God's love and mercy in action. We don't have to be saints to be helpful. Look at Peter who denied Christ.

In what ways have you seen that?

 

[WilliamBo]

First off, the Psalms are poetry and they are not above using hyperbole.

Secondly, the "depression" thing; you're seeing concerns brought to God. Do you never complain to God or express doubts to God?

Complaint and lament of a religious nature were and are part of Jewish spirituality. Even today, in modern times. At Auschwitz, a few Jews even put God on trial. Some Jewish and Christian theologians have even said that protest is an expression of a purer kind of faith.



Solomon tolerated his wives other religions. To my knowledge there is no implication he stopped believing in God. Solomon is a generally respected figure among Jews and Christians.



As far as the actual historical figure goes, David was probably more like a mobster or warlord. He had plenty to lament. He was not allowed to build a temple, after all, because he had become so bloody.

It says in either Kings or Chronicles or numbers, one of those books that tells the history of all the kings of Israel, it says in one of those books that Solomon rejected God and it doesn't say anything about him turning back to God

 

[1213]

...
When I read the Psalms of David, most of them feel depressing. Why was David so depressed in his Psalms? ...

Maybe one reason could be this:

“For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”
Ecc. 1:18

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

In what ways have you seen that?

My neighbor was abused as a child. He dealt with it by drinking too much. We discussed it much, he wanted comfort and the pain to go away. He said he prayed all the time for God to take the pain away. My comfort was that he had friends that were there to help him through it. That was the answer to his prayers. Despite his shortcomings, he still believed in God, even if he was not perfect. My new neighbor is the best neighbor ever. He is so kind and thoughtful, but does not believe in God. So often tragedy and bad things are what bring us closer to God. That is God's plan, that we grow closer to him. Don't judge how perfect your life is to determine how perfect God is.

 

[AnticipateHisComing]

In what ways have you seen that?

The other way is to learn to forgive as God does. The world is imperfect. When I feel I am wronged and need to forgive another, I think how many times has God forgiven me. God doesn't expect us to be perfect. We should want to be perfect, at least better with Christ living in us.

 

[WilliamBo]

Maybe one reason could be this:

“For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”
Ecc. 1:18

I love that scripture, and the other one from Ecclesiastes posted. It's sad to see how many people are lost.

 

[GTW27]

"For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away."

-Psalms 31:10



When I read the Psalms of David, most of them feel depressing. Why was David so depressed in his Psalms? I know he praised God a lot but so many of them are like the verse posted above.

Was it because of enemies? Was it because of sin in his life? I find it interesting because he had such a hard life but never let go of God, while Solomon had a glorious life without enemies, and then Solomon turned to different God's.

One reason I'm curious is because when I read the words of David's Psalms, I think "wow, that's exactly what I am feeling", ive always felt this very strong connection to David... but I can't tell if David was feeling it for the same reasons as me... as I feel much of my suffering is self-induced from sinful habits and consequences from bad choices ive made in the past, while David was afflicted unjustly a lot.

I feel like this could be a good discussion.

When one has stood in The Presence of The Holy of Holys, how can one not feel like a worm, and how can one not help but brag about The Lord of Lords, and The King of Kings.

 

[WilliamBo]

When one has stood in The Presence of The Holy of Holys, how can one not feel like a worm, and how can one not help but brag about The Lord of Lords, and The King of Kings.

I always feel like a worm and like the chief of sinners but I dont know if I have stood in that presence before