Restoring the Soul of a King

A fictional story based on facts about how King David meditated and wrote Psalm 23

The night was bitterly cold, the kind that seeps into bones and makes old battle wounds ache with renewed fervor. King David huddled against the rough stone wall of the cave, his once-resplendent crimson cloak now tattered and caked with mud. Outside, the howling wind carried whispers of movement—soldiers positioning themselves, waiting for dawn when Absalom would probably launch his last assault.

Only a handful of men remained of his once-mighty royal guard. The few against thousands. His brave few against an army led by his own flesh and blood.

"Your Grace," whispered Commander Joab, his weathered face illuminated by the meager fire they dared to light. "Scouts report that Prince Absalom is waiting to attack. We have very little precious time."

David nodded gravely. His son, his brilliant, ambitious son, was the one whom he had taught strategy and swordplay to since the boy could walk. Now those lessons were being used against him, with devastating precision.

"How long?" David asked, his voice a hoarse rasp.

"They'll attack soon. We are not sure when."

A death sentence. Clear and simple. The once-great King David, ruler of Judah and Israel, might die huddled in a cave like a cornered fox. His dynasty would end, and Prince Absalom—no, King Absalom now—would begin his reign with patricide.

Abalsom had laid out his plan to dethrone his father well. First, he had spread lies by being everyone's friend and telling lies about David. He had caused the hearts of the kingdom to turn against David. He said David was not interested in them. David only uses you for his purposes, said the deceitful Absalom. I would treat you far better if you would only give me a chance.

Then Absalom, as advised by other wicked people who hated David, took David's wives up on the rooftop and took them sexually in front of the entire kingdom. He made a show of his power and dominance as he tore David, the once-loved king, into a despised and whipped man.

Now Absalom stood poised to attack and destroy the last vestiges of his dad. Absalom would take it all. He knew it, and King David's own team could see it happening.

David's men tried not to look defeated as they tended their weapons and wounds. They were loyal to the end, these brave, loyal few. David felt a swell of gratitude amid his despair.

"Rest while you can," he commanded them. "I will take the first watch."

None argued, though he knew they believed there was little point in keeping watch. They were only awaiting the inevitable. They were finished. But protocol and dignity were all they had left.

As the men settled into uneasy sleep, David moved deeper into the cave, to a small alcove where the firelight barely reached. He sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor and closed his eyes.

Long ago, David was a young boy who was a shepherd. He knew what it was to have the sun-browned skin and parched lips from the wind. He had fought lions and bears to keep his sheep safe. David had led his sheep through the wilderness, taken them to great pastures, provided water, looked for the lost sheep, and sang and played his harp for the sheep. He knew what it meant to be a shepherd. His sheep knew what it was to lie down beside the still water in peace and tranquility without a worry in the world.

Now, as his son, the army, and all his enemies sought to kill him, David began to meditate on his life and mostly his God, I AM, the LORD. The sounds of his men's restless slumber faded. The pain in his tired body subsided, and he found himself at peace in that meadow.

David thought about the LORD and how the great I AM was his Shepherd, just as David had once been to his sheep. Circumstances were horrible; friendships had crumbled, loyalty had been broken, and even family wanted to kill family, but the truth of David's relationship with God loomed greatly in his heart.

David thought that he, like his sheep before, was not able to deal with all that was going on, but The LORD, I AM, his Shepherd, was able. David remembered how the sheep didn't even know what they needed, but he did. His physical body remained motionless, and his breathing began to steady.

The thoughts still raged, "My son hunts me," "My own child seeks my death. ""Where did I fail him? ""What could I have done differently?"

David had to refocus on his Shepherd and drink the healing waters of meditation. When he focused his mind on the LORD, the aches of battle began to ease, and heaviness lifted from his shoulders.

He knew his men were willing to die with him, but as he thought on his Shepherd, he realized that not only did the LORD I AM give him food and water, but God also guided his steps.

He knew that his Shepherd would take care of him today and forever.

David realized that he only saw failure, his end, but looking to his Shepherd, he knew God could make another ending.

David realized that his Shepherd was even now giving him a banquet in the middle of the storm. His life was in danger, but more than that, his Shepherd was there. God had brought David back to reality, true reality, from the fallen reality of the battle and the attack.

He knew that his Shepherd could protect, provide, guide, and give him the peace he felt flooding over him.

David felt like he had taken a spiritual and emotional bath. He had put on perfume, combed his hair, and stood in confidence in the Lord. He realized that goodness and mercy from God had seemed to pursue him all his life.

there was no need to worry, no need to fear, no need to fall into discouragement and despair because his Shepherd was there

Now, David began to realize that his enemies were already defeated. Absalom thought he had David cornered and desperate, but his Shepherd was at work even in the darkest moment.

What Absalom meant for harming David's Shepherd was turning to good, as the Shepherd does for all his sheep.

David knew though he was facing imminent death, he could trust his Shepherd to make a way. David's biggest mistake had been losing focus on his Shepherd. His fear had come from hearing all that was said about him, from having to run for his life, and from the humiliation and shame he felt to be betrayed by his own family and best friend.

His lack of faith was the real mistake. He forgot who he was and "whose he was." His mistake was thinking like a king and not like a sheep. He wanted to think and feel like a warrior when God wanted him to look to the great I Am as the warrior.

Through all the meditation, David returned to himself and turned his eyes back on his Shepherd. David was a sheep again. He trusted completely.

The battle was still on. His family still wanted him dead. The kingdom had turned against him, but David now knew that God would take the disaster and do something great with it.

Time to step back into this present reality to see all that the Shepherd will do.