1. Last week, we considered the source of all the affections, namely love.
a. Love itself is a very strong affection, perhaps the strongest.
b. It is the essence of true religion, since it fulfills everything the Lord

2. And because love is the source of all our affections, and because the affections
are what move us to do what we do, it is also the source of all our spiritual
activity.
a. Edwards already told us that if you removed all affection from the world, it

1. This evening, we\u2019re going to look at two examples of the role of the affections
in the lives of David and Paul.
a. It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words.
b. There is nothing like a suitable example to bring home truth.
c. Here were two men that were moved with very strong affection which is why

2. Let\u2019s explore for a few moments then:
a. First, something of David\u2019s love and devotion to the Lord.
b. And second, something of Paul\u2019s love and devotion.

heart \u2013 the psalms he wrote.
b. They are full of examples of the great depth of his holy affection.
c. Remembering that David was merely a man as we are, let\u2019s compare our own

a. The intensity with which he sought the Lord: \u201cGive ear to my words, O
LORD, consider my groaning. Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King
and my God, for to You I pray. In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my
voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to You andeagerl y watch\u201d
(Psalm 5:1-3).

b. His earnest praise of the name and person of the Lord: \u201cO LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your
splendor above the heavens!\u201d (Psalm 8:1).

c. The depth of his thankfulness and worship: \u201cI will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High\u201d (Psalm 9:1-2).

d. The grief he experienced when he sensed the Lord had withdrawn from him:
\u201cHow long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You
hide Your face from me?\u201d (Psalm 13:1).

e. The strength of his trust in the Lord: \u201cBut I have trusted in Your
lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the
LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me\u201d (vv. 5-6).

f. His expressions of trust that the Lord will deliver him from his enemies:
\u201cPreserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. I said to the LORD, \u2018You are
my Lord; I have no good besides You.\u2019 As for the saints who are in the earth,
they are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those
who have bartered for anothergod will be multiplied; I shall not pour out
their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my lips. The
LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The
lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to
me. I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs
me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at
my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory
rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my
soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You
will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in
Your right hand there are pleasures forever\u201d (Psalm 16).

g. His love and appreciation for the Law of God: \u201cThe law of the LORD is
perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise
the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the

commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the
LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true; they
are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much
fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb\u201d
(Psalm 19:7-10).

h. His trust that he would see the lovingkindness of the Lord throughout his life:
\u201cThe LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in
green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He
guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are
with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with
oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever\u201d
(Psalm 23).

(a) \u201cThe LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The
LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? When evildoers
came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they
stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not
fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident\u201d
(Psalm 27:1-3).

(b) \u201cThe LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I
am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him\u201d
(Psalm 28:7).

k. His desire for communion with the Lord: \u201cWhen You said, \u2018Seek My face,\u2019
my heart said to You, \u2018Your face, O LORD, I shall seek\u2019\u201d (Psalm 27:8).
l. His praise of the Lord for answered prayer: \u201cI will bless the LORD at all
times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its
boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the

m. And finally, the intensity of his hatred for the Lord\u2019s enemies for the Lord\u2019s
sake: \u201cDo I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe
those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; they have
become my enemies\u201d (Psalm 139:21-22).

n. Edwards writes, \u201cThose holy songs of his he has there left us, are nothing
else but the expressions and breathings of devout and holy affections; such as
an humble and fervent love to God, admiration of his glorious perfections and
wonderful works, earnest desires, thirstings, and pantings of soul after God,
delight and joy in God, a sweet and melting gratitude to God, for his great
goodness, a holy exultation and triumph of soul in the favor, sufficiency, and
faithfulness of God, his love to, and delight in the saints, the excellent of the
earth, his great delight in the word and ordinances of God, his grief for his