Perceive: Most likely David wrote this psalm when he was fleeing from Saul’s court. It is obvious that he is in crisis and although well meaning, some of his friends are giving him worldly advice (v 1). The psalm is divided into two main sections. In the first section, he describes his situation and the advice of his friends (1-3). In the second, he shares the reason for his faith by remembering where God is and what God sees (4-7). He seeks stability in the midst of his panic.
 
Practice:  Because we can trust our God, we can face our trials and problems. When the world around us is collapsing in, when our foundations crumble, and the walls of our life are shaking, we must remember that God is still in control. His ability to see, His ability to act, and His ability to change circumstances will never diminish. Nothing happens without His knowledge and permission. When the temptation comes to run away, we need to run to Him. 
 
Pray:  Help me today Lord. I need to see You during my trials. Give me insight into why I want to flee rather than fight. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: In the second half of this psalm, David declares his confidence in God (8-10), lifts up his heartfelt request (11-15), and finishes with a song in his heart (16-17). In the early part of his life, his father-in-law hunts to end his life. In the later part of his life, his son desires the same outcome. In both cases, the intense jealousy of these men leads them to want David’s death. However, David watched and waited for the Lord his stronghold (9). He put his situation in the hands of God and then sings a song of praise (17).
 
Practice: David was a warrior, a writer, and a musician. In his psalms, he routinely notes all three roles as well as his deep emotional state. These roles are some of the reasons he is a man after God’s own heart. Almost every time someone threatens his life; he seeks the face of his God. How would you feel if the people you love, the people who were your closest relatives, were trying to take your life? No matter what you are facing as a struggle today, take some time to pray and lift your voice in a song and start emulating one of the attributes of being a man after God’s heart.
 
Pray:  O Lord, forgive me for not leaning on You during my struggle with ___________. I will sing of your mercies today and every day of my life.  

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com 

Perceive: David wrote Psalm 59 after Saul sent men and they watched his home to take his life. Of this psalm, Spurgeon writes, “Affliction is the tuner of the harps of sanctified songsters.”[i] David complains about his afflictions and asks for deliverance from his enemies (1-4), he prays to God the Almighty for help and relief (4-5) and then renews his complaint (6-7). He declares his confidence in God (8). Saul has and continues to treat David very unjustly. The king continues to fear David. David is remembering attempted assassinations and certainly knows what to expect from the men who are watching him.
 
Practice: God’s ever-faithful love is a refuge of safety in a wicked, wicked, world. God’s innocent people rest on Him for assistance and relief from malicious adversaries. He wants to act in saving ways so that the world will see and know His power. Ways like stopping threats, corruption, false teaching, false witnesses, bad influences, slander, and opposition to name a few. Evil people who do not have faith in God and live as if He cannot perceive and will not punish, are foolish. We must be careful to remember that God hears and sees all we do as well. He scoffs at wicked men.
 
Pray:  O Lord, help me with ___________ and enable me always to trust in You knowing You scoff at the world.

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

[i] CH Spurgen, Treasury of David

Perceive: After David returns to the royal headquarters following a victorious battle, his evil father-in-law and king once again confronts him. In a strange but divinely orchestrated way, God sent an evil spirit to torment King Saul. Saul was so troubled that he sat in his home with a spear in his hand as though he was ready for war. As part of his normal duties, David was attempting to soothe the king during a troubled period. Saul reaches an internal boiling point and tries to pin him to the wall. This time David departs his presence and goes home to a temporary refuge. Saul sends soldiers to bring David back so he can kill him. Here we are given an early glimpse of the trouble between David and his first wife, Michal. She was an idol worshipper and would rather throw her husband under the bus than defend him to her father. Their marriage would never be the same.
 
Practice:  There are times to face a situation, and then there are times to flee for safety. Only you and God will clearly know the difference. This situation is a time for David to flee the presence of evil. The circumstances are so grave that he goes to his next source of help, the counselor and prophet Samuel. There are times in every man’s life when he needs good input. At this point, David has lost his job and his wife. He is about to become Israel’s most wanted man and public enemy number one.
 
Pray:  O Lord, help me to see You clearly in the daily trials of life. And when I face something that threatens my life or ministry, show me who to turn to for wise counsel. 
​
This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Initially, Saul loved David but grew in fear of him and then seeks to kill him. His attempts started with a murderous thought, then progressed to murderous actions. Not having the desired results from previous actions, Saul involves a wider circle of people, including his servants and a daughter. He orders Jonathan and all his servants to kill David as soon as they see him. Jonathan was aware of his father’s propensity to issue rash commands in the past, and on one occasion saw his dad change his mind (1 Samuel 14:1-14). Like a true friend, Jonathan confronts his father and provides him with several great reasons to reconsider his orders.
 
Practice:  Eventually every disciple faces having to choose a course of action because two people closely related to him make opposing demands. When a father influences a son to violate Scriptural commandments, the son must submit to God rather than to man. When obedience to parents becomes opposed to the bonds of love and friendship, one relationship must be sacrificed for the other. In a similar way, when obedience to God becomes opposed to the bonds of love and friendship with others, the relationship with Christ must take precedence.
 
Pray:  Great and mighty Father, I am thankful for Your example as a perfect dad who always desires godly obedience. Help me be the kind of man who seeks to serve You on a daily basis. 

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: The depravity of Saul continues to manifest itself in all sorts of schemes including the use of his daughters. Having conquered Goliath, David was the rightful recipient of Merab, the oldest daughter; however, David declines. Not being deterred, Saul offers his second daughter along with a dowry of one hundred Philistine foreskins. He secretly hoped that the Philistines would kill David during the pursuit. And if not, Michal could be a snare to him in a couple of ways. One, she could motivate David to continue his heroic life and put himself at risk in the battle for the Lord. Two, she could corrupt David spiritually since she was also an idol worshipper (1 Samuel 19:13). God continues to give David increased favor and fame while Saul grows more in his fear and anger, which cultivates in a stronger desire to kill his son-in-law.
 
Practice:  David not only pays the dowry but doubles the amount of dead Philistines. Although David succeeded in almost everything he did, he refused to use his popularity to his advantage. Most men deal with adversity much better than they can handle fame and fortune. How will you handle fame, success, praise, and honor?
 
Pray:  Lord, show me the pride in my life that will hinder me from being a godly and humble man. Help me to properly view praise and honor through the prism of Your eyes.

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Since Saul’s earlier attempt to kill David failed, he sends him out of his presence and into a more dangerous assignment where he leads a thousand men in a combat situation. Being in combat could either make or break this young leader. If he failed to perform any of his responsibilities Saul could use the failure to diminish his reputation and popularity and better yet, the dangers of war could end his life. However, David was successful in carrying out every assignment. David’s divinely assisted triumphs in these military operations had two effects on others: it added to Saul’s fears, and it increased the people’s affection for David.
 
Practice:  Sometimes the very people who strike out at us in anger and retribution are often the same people who are afraid of us. David’s growing impact from his leadership and wisdom were in direct proportion to his godly obedience. It is God’s divine presence, power, and purpose that made David successful in the eyes of his men and of the nation. Saul continues to move away from God’s direction and no longer senses His presence. Consequently, his actions reflect anger, jealousy, and evil intent.
 
Pray:  O mighty God, help me to seek You daily; to recognize Your power, presence, and purpose. Reveal themselves in direct proportion to my daily obedience.  

This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: In verse 5, the Hebrew word for success more accurately refers to acting with wisdom rather than achieving triumphs. Like Joseph, God blessed David. He was new to army life, and despite his youth and inexperience, he conducted himself in ways that were notable by others including the king. He was wise and teachable. The servants liked him, the troops followed him, and the women honored him. Instead of being pleased with the progress of this young giant-killer, Saul became suspicious and filled with jealousy.
 
Practice:  The more Saul became suspicious, the worse he reacted. He let his fear impact his behaviors. Allowing your thoughts to empower distrust and suspiciousness leads the mind quickly into a personality that demonstrates evil behaviors. Our motives often determine how we evaluate the actions of someone else. Jealousy has a progression. It starts with resentment which leads to wanting someone removed. It goes from wanting to remove someone to actively harming that person in thought, word, and actions. James 3:16 states, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”
 
Pray: Lord help me be wise and teachable like David, and when I see a rival living wise and enjoying success, enable me to rejoice and be glad for them. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: Some sinful people have attempted to describe the "love" shared between these two men as homosexual. The word “love” used to describe Jonathan and David reflects more political implications than mutual affection. Later in 1 Kings 5:1 we see a clear sample of the bond use of “love” which says, “for Hiram had always been a friend with David.” When David and Jonathan met, they quickly became close friends. Jonathan was a great warrior (1 Samuel 14:1-15). At this point in the story, we have two great warriors developing a close lifetime friendship which has political implications later seen in the full account of David's life.
 
Practice:  Every man needs at least one Jonathan in his life.  Jonathan’s are men who are of one heart and soul, as Jonathan and David.  To be able to move to the level of being a true Jonathan, every godly man must learn what it means to be broken and die to self. Then He said to them all, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  Jonathan's act of stripping his princely clothes and armor is an example of his willingness to sacrifice for his closest friend. In effect, he was transferring his royal position to his friend. He was dying to himself.
 
Pray: O mighty God, forgive me for the times I am selfish and help me die to myself for my family and my close friends. 

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

Perceive: The death of Goliath produced panic in the Philistine soldiers, and they fled in total disorder. What the Philistines assume is an easy victory; fortunately for Israel, as an impossible situation was now a turn of events. Goliath's challenges and rants for a winner take all are put where they belong, trampled beneath the feet of God’s army. Energized by David’s military success and the sight of panic-stricken Philistines, the army of Israel chased their enemy westward inflicting vengeance along the way. On returning from killing the Philistines, the Israelites plundered their enemy. The battle belongs to the Lord, the spoils of war go to the victor.
 
Practice:  David’s trophies were the giant’s weapons and his head. The weapons he puts in his tent and Goliath’s head he takes to Jerusalem after he shows it to the king. Trophies can be good, and they can be bad. God often gives us victories that include the reward of trophies. When we view our rewards as visual or spiritual indicators of God’s faithfulness, they serve to reinforce our faith. When we view our rewards as something to support our image or ego, they become idols. An idol is anything that robs God of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him.
 
Pray: O mighty God, help me always to look at my life rewards and possessions as gifts from You and not idols to control my life.