With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
The verse belongs to a song David composed while Saul was hunting him and seeking to take his life. It comes from David's earlier years when he served God with integrity and purity of heart. The songs David made in this period express trust, devotion, and holiness. The song recounts his dangers and deliverances and praises God as his merciful preserver.
Within the song, the verse belongs to David's testimony that God rewarded him according to his righteousness and clean hands because he kept God's way and statutes. It teaches that God deals with people in keeping with their character, showing Himself merciful to the merciful and upright to the upright. Applied to service for Christ, it means humble, trusting workers who serve with thankfulness and joy rather than demanding a set reward may receive more than they expect.
The verse belongs to a song David composed while Saul was hunting him and seeking to take his life. It comes from David's earlier years when he served God with integrity and purity of heart. The songs David made in this period express trust, devotion, and holiness. The song recounts his dangers and deliverances and praises God as his merciful preserver.
Within the song, the verse belongs to David's testimony that God rewarded him according to his righteousness and clean hands because he kept God's way and statutes. It teaches that God deals with people in keeping with their character, showing Himself merciful to the merciful and upright to the upright. Applied to service for Christ, it means humble, trusting workers who serve with thankfulness and joy rather than demanding a set reward may receive more than they expect.