King David wrote almost half of the 150 Psalms that make up this book. However, there are many whose authorship we do not know for certain. Since David was also used as a prophet, when we read his writings, we come to the conclusion that they are documents whose messages we will only fully understand through the revelation of the Lord.

The psalmist knew that there is a time for everything and that old age, when a person’s strength decreases, is the final stage of life on Earth. At this stage, the individual must already be transformed so that, with the return of Jesus, he may dwell in His house eternally. Those who do not believe in the Word of God will surely dwell forever in the lake of fire and brimstone (Rev. 20:15).

The greatest king of Israel asked the Lord not to reject him in old age, when strength wanes. Already advanced in years, David made this declaration that encourages all those in this phase of life: “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread” (Ps. 37:25). God is and always will be faithful!

David was an exemplary warrior and, in his days as ruler of Israel, no surrounding nation oppressed the people of God. There was a time when the Bethlehemite went to fight far from home. He fought against Hadadezer king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates (2 Sam. 8:3). David destroyed the entire enemy army, bringing to Jerusalem the shields used by Hadadezer’s officers. He struck down the Syrians of Damascus who came to help that king, killing twenty-two thousand men (v. 5–7). God was with David.

There is no record of a battle that Israel lost under the leadership of the son of Jesse; on the contrary, the neighboring nations were defeated and ended up paying tribute to the people of God. David was never rejected at any time, but he suffered betrayals from which few would have escaped, such as the revolt led by Absalom, his son (2 Sam. 14–18). However, the Lord always helped His servant. To this day, the Psalms of David inspire us; some contain revelations and prophecies about the Messiah.

David was an example of a faithful servant. He had virtues that, if someone today possesses them, will bring blessings to the Church of Jesus: “Then one of the servants answered and said, ‘Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him’” (1 Sam. 16:18). There are no closed doors for those who have the blessing!

Our physical strength may diminish with age, but the spiritual strength of those who fear the Lord is the greatest blessing from the Most High. It will keep us continually steadfast. No one is better than the one whose strength is in the Lord: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage” (Ps. 84:5). To God be the glory!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares