Young David, trusting God:

For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.  1 Samuel 6:7

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.   Psalm 57:7

It seems incredible to me that David wrote Psalms 57 and 142 while he was hiding from King Saul in a cave.  Saul had tried to kill David by throwing a spear at him, and had sent men to watch his house, and was now pursuing him across the mountains with as many as 3,000 select men.  Truly there was but a step between David and certain death at the hands of Saul.  (1 Samuel 20:3)  David fled first to Nob, the city of the priests.  He and his men were refreshed by eating the sacred showbread in that place before fleeing onwards to Achish, King of Gath.  But Achish refused to give David a place of refuge, so David was forced to return to Judah.  He ended up hiding in the cave of Adullam.

Those days of running and hiding from Saul were perilous for David, and for his men.  Forced from home and from comfort they would find shelter wherever they could.  What about food?  What would they eat?  Water could be scarce as well.  David was not in a comfortable position.  Hiding in the cave of Adullam was probably the lowest ebb of his life.  The book of Hebrews may speak of those days saying, "They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented - of whom the world was not worthy.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth." Hebrew 11:37b-38  That is why I find it so utterly remarkable that David wrote Psalm 57 at that time.  You cannot read that Psalm without a sense of awe.  David had more faith than 1,000 other men put together! 

At that very low ebb of his life David said, "Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul.  I cried out to the LORD:  I said, 'You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.'"  Psalm 142:4-5  And David said, "In the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by."  Psalm 57:1b  Then he continued, "I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me." Psalm 57:2  italics mine

I find that last statement to be the most amazing statement of faith I have ever read.  David trusted God like a child walking hand in hand with his daddy.  God would deliver him from Saul and not only that, God would perform all things for David.  God would perfect David, and complete all His works designed for him, and bring everything to a good and satisfactory conclusion.  Imagine a man going to work in the morning with that kind of confidence!  "I will do well today because God is for me.  God will perform His works in me."  WOW!

What makes David's statement of faith even more amazing is that he was probably only about 20 years old when he wrote it!  Listen, David was able to give away his faith in a way that most men never can.  Great men of faith find a way to give away their faith.  David did it by writing Psalms when he was in distress.  Have you ever done that?  In this way David became much more than just a king.  He became the sweet Psalmist and teacher of Israel.  And although he is dead he yet speaks to another generation.  He speaks to me.  I have collected many of his statements of faith and I treasure them in my heart.  They are ever with me when I face adversity.  God performs all things for me!

David revealed his heart of love and faith towards God in all of his Psalms.  In order that you might see his heart of faith more clearly, here is Psalm 57 in its entirety.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!  For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.  I will cry out to God most High, to God who performs all things for me.  He shall send from heaven and save me;  He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.  Selah  God shall send forth His mercy and truth.  My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.  Be exalted, O God above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.  They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit for me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.  Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.  Awake, my glory!  I will awaken the dawn.  I will praise You O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.  For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.  Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the  earth.  Psalm 57