He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (NIV)

For every one of David’s psalms we have recorded in our Bible, there are probably just as many known only to God and David’s sheep. I'm inspired to live a life so defined by prayer and praise, so continually connected to God, the True Vine, that I bear such good fruit as David. David understood that although he had received a calling in a specific sense as king, warrior, etc., he also lived his life according to a greater overarching calling: to dwell in God's presence. To commune, enjoy, draw from and seek ever-increasing intimacy with God, the source of life. David lived intentionally, consistently seeking intimacy with God.  

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This is a calling to which we too are called by Jesus in John 15:5: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." Jesus himself models this calling throughout his life, exhibiting constant connection to the Father and going away often to pray. Likewise, David's default spiritual posture was one of outpouring in prayer and worship, regardless of his circumstance. As we see above in our passage in 2 Samuel 22, David in his older age overflows with grateful praise for the Lord’s consistent deliverance and rejoices as he dwells upon how the Lord’s strong hand has been working throughout the up-and-down story of his life.  

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David viewed himself fundamentally in the context of being in God's hands, and desired to be always increasingly in God's presence. "One thing I ask from the lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the lord and to seek him in his temple"(Psalm 27:4). Thousands of years after King David, the apostle Paul writes, calling for God’s people to seek continual intimacy in God's presence: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus"(1Thess. 5:16-18).  

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Though David didn't have Paul's or Jesus' written words in his time, he partook of the same Spirit as them, writing in his own words as he remained in the same Vine, clinging to the Rock of his Salvation (2 Sam. 22:2-3), and leaving us an example of a calling broad and fruitful. Davids's legacy of continually outpouring his heart to God is now forever etched in our Scriptures as the majority of the book of Psalms.

What is my life defined by, what fruit am I bearing, and what will I leave behind? I have sinned as David did, but have I thrown myself in repentance before God like David? I have overcome challenges and had victories, but did I rejoice in my heart like David, marveling at the goodness of God and his strong hand working? More than the specific life callings I embrace, more than the sum of the parts of my life, I have a profound and all-encompassing calling as a child of God to live a life defined by connection and communion with him.  

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We now have forgiveness of sin through the atonement of Jesus, the righteousness of Jesus applied to us, and the Holy Spirit residing in us, and we are called to abide in him as the True Vine by which we will bear good fruit. What a robust and potent calling we have, what an incredible opportunity to leave a legacy, whether we are called to the role of a king like David or just a dad like me. Rest in your calling as a child of God; be assured of good fruit in your place on the Vine. Abide with God like David, praying always, rejoicing as your life bears good fruit that lasts.

Lord, thank you for your presence. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for the life you give us and the purpose and calling you set before us. Help us to bring our whole selves to you in prayer, help us to abide in you. Regardless of our roles in life, may we produce good fruit that lasts. Amen.