Course: Old Testament Historical Books

Term Paper: King David

Lecturer: Bishop John Miatu

Student Name: Patrick Maiyo

Student No: BT/013/20135

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE BIBLE AND THEOLOGY

DEGREE PROGRAM

TABLE OF CONTENT:

INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1

A BIBLICAL SUMMARY OF THE LIFE OF

DAVID.................................................................................................................2

DAVID’S EARLY YEARS.......................................................................................................2

LIFE AS A FUGITIVE FLEEING SAUL.................................................................................3

LIFE AS KING..........................................................................................................................5

DAVID’S ROLE IN THE SCRIPTURES........................................................6

DAVID IN THE PSALMS........................................................................................................6

DAVID IN THE PROPHETS....................................................................................................7

DAVID IN THE CHRONICLER'S HISTORY.........................................................................7

DAVID IN THE NEW TESTAMENT......................................................................................8

DAVID’S ADMINISTRATIVE AND MILITARY

PROWESS...........................................................................................................9

WHY IS HE A MAN AFTER GOD’S WON

HEART?............................................................................................................11

DAVID WAS HUMBLE.........................................................................................................12

FAITH IN GOD.......................................................................................................................12

THE LAW…………………………………………………………………………………....12

BROKEN MAN.......................................................................................................................13

REPENTANT………………………………………………………………………………...13

THANKFUL............................................................................................................................14

NOT RELIGIOUS....................................................................................................................14

CONCLUSION.................................................................................................15

REFERENCES..................................................................................................16

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INTRODUCTION

King David was one of the greatest men who ever lived. As a boy he looked after his

father’s sheep and learned to play music on his instrument. He loved God and wrote beautiful

songs about the Lord. He was a brave soldier and a good king (Harlow, 1970).

The first 17 books of the Bible tell the story of the nation of Israel. The Books of Moses,

Genesis to Deuteronomy, tell how God created the world and all men. Sin came in and God

promised that a Saviour would come through the descendants of Abraham. In Exodus God

brought Israel out of Egypt; in Numbers they reached the border of their new land Canaan. In

Joshua, they drove out the sinful men who lived there. In Judges God gave leaders to Israel

who saved the people from their enemies (Harlow, 1970).

For all these years God had been the great Commander of the people of Israel, Joshua

chapter 5, verse 14 (5:14). The priest could learn God’s will and tell the people what God

wanted them to do. Still they wanted a king to rule over them like the other nations. The two

books of Samuel tell about the first kings of Israel. A king has the right to rule over a nation,

and to pass on his authority tp his son. The Judges from Othniel to Samson were leaders of

the nation but they could not give their authority to their sons. Samuel was the alst of these

leaders (Harlow, 1970).

Samuel may have been about 1090 years before Christ was born. David died about the

year 970 B.C. The two books of Samuel cover about 120 years of the history of Israel. Samuel

was born in the tribe of Levi. Years before this God had chosedn Aaron, a descendant of the

tribe of Levi, to be high priest (Ex. 28:1). Only Aaron’s descendants were priests in Israel but

all the rest of the tribe of Levi had special work to do in the tabernacle. Moses built the

tabernacle so Israel would know that God was with them. The most important person in the

two books of Samuel is David who became king. The Bible tells us more about Dabid than

any other man except our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. David was a picture of our Lord

(Harlow, 1970).

David is the most dominant figure in Israel’s narrative. Only Moses recieves as much

attention, but trhe narratives concerning Moses move in a very different direction. More than

by any other other person, ancient Israel was fascinated by David, deeply attracted to him,

bewildered by him, and occasionally embarrased by him, yet never discowned him. David is

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one of those extraordinary historical figures who has a literary future. That is, his memory

and presence keep generating more and more stories (Brueggemann, 2002).

A BIBLICAL SUMMARY OF THE LIFE OF DAVID

From humble beginnings as the youngest son of a Bethlehem shepherd named Jesse,

David rose to become Israel’s greatest king. He established a dynasty out of which, according

to God’s plan, came the great Messiah, the son of David, who was Jesus Christ, Saviour of

the world (1 Samuel 16:1; 1 Samuel 16:11; 2 Samuel 5:3-4; 2 Samuel 5:12; Isaiah 9:7;

Luke 1:32-33; Luke 2:11) (Fleming, 2004).

I. DAVID’S EARLY YEARS

David was a shepherd by calling, and he continued this occupation until he had reached

full manhood; the courage and strength sometimes required for the protection of flocks make

it clear that he was more than a mere youth when he first appeared upon the scene of public

life (1 Samuel 17:34-35). There are altogether three different accounts of David’s entry upon

the stage of life (Hastings, 1994).

When Saul failed to meet God's standards for kingship (1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Samuel

15:35; 1 Samuel 16:1), God sent Samuel to anoint a replacement from among the sons of

Jesse, who lived in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1). God showed Samuel He had chosen the

youngest who still tended sheep for his father (1 Samuel 16:11-12). David's good looks were

noteworthy (Butler, 1991).

In Saul's Court David's musical talent, combined with his reputation as a fighter, led one

of Saul's servants to recommend David as the person to play the harp for Saul when the evil

spirit from God troubled him (1 Samuel 16:18). Saul grew to love David and made him

armorbearer for the king (1 Samuel 16:21-22) (Butler, 1991).

At a later date the Philistines with the giant Goliath threatened Israel (1 Samuel 17:1).

David returned home to tend his father's sheep (1 Samuel 17:15). Jesse sent David to the

battlefield with food for his warrior brothers. At least one brother did not think too highly of

him (1 Samuel 17:28). Saul tried to persuade David, the youth, from challenging Goliath; but

David insisted God would bring victory, which He did (Butler, 1991).

Saul's son Jonathan became David's closest friend (1 Samuel 18:1). David became a

permanent part of Saul's court, not returning home (1 Samuel 18:2). Saul gave David a

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military commission, which he fulfilled beyond expectations, defeating the Philistines and

winning the hearts of the people. This stirred Saul's jealousy (1 Samuel 18:8). Moved by the

evil spirit from God, Saul tried to kill David with his spear; but God's presence protected

David (1 Samuel 18:10-12). David eventually earned the right to marry Michal, Saul's

daughter, without being killed by the Philistines as Saul had hoped (1 Samuel 18:17-27).

With the help of Michal and Jonathan, David escaped from Saul and made contact with

Samuel, the prophet (1 Samuel 19:18). Jonathan and David made a vow of eternal friendship,

and Jonathan risked his own life to protect David (1 Samuel 20:1) (Butler, 1991).

II. LIFE AS A FUGITIVE FLEEING SAUL

To escape from the vengeance of Saul, David fled to Ramah (1 Samuel 19:12-18) to

Samuel, who received him, and he dwelt among the sons of the prophets, who were there

under Samuel's training. It is supposed by some that the sixth, seventh, and eleventh Psalms

were composed by him at this time. This place was only 3 miles from the residence of Saul,

who soon discovered whither the fugitive had gone, and tried ineffectually to bring him back.

Jonathan made a fruitless effort to bring his father to a better state of mind toward David (1

Samuel 20), who, being made aware of the fact, saw no hope of safety but in flight to a

distance. We accordingly find him first at Nob (21:1-9) and then at Gath, the chief city of the

Philistines. The king of the Philistines would not admit him into his service, as he expected

that he would, and David accordingly now betook himself to the stronghold of Adullam

(22:1-4; 1 Chronicles 12:8-18). Here in a short time 400 men gathered around him and

acknowledged him as their leader. It was at this time that David, amid the harassment and

perils of his position, cried, “Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of

Bethlehem;” when three of his heroes broke through the lines of the Philistines and brought

him the water for which he longed (2 Samuel 23:13-17), but which he would not drink

(Easton, 2005).

In his rage at the failure of all his efforts to seize David, Saul gave orders for the massacre

of the entire priestly family at Nob, “persons who wore a linen ephod,” to the number of

eighty-five persons, who were put to death by Doeg the Edomite. The sad tidings of the

massacre were brought to David by Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, the only one who escaped

(Easton, 2005).

Hearing that Keilah, a town on the western frontier, was harassed by the Philistines,

David with his men relieved it (1 Samuel 23:1-14); and then, for fear of Saul, he fled to the

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strongholds in the “hill country” of Judah. While encamped there, in the forest in the district

of Ziph, he was visited by Jonathan, who spoke to him words of encouragement (23:16-18).

The two now parted never to meet again. Saul continued his pursuit of David, who narrowly

escaped from him at this time, and fled to the crags and ravines of Engedi, on the western

shore of the Dead Sea (1 Samuel 23:29). Here Saul, who still pursued him with his army,

narrowly escaped, through the generous forbearance of David, and was greatly affected by

what David had done for him. He returned home from pursuing him, and David betook

himself to Maon, where, with his 600 men, he maintained himself by contributions gathered

from the district. Here occurred the incident connected with Nabal and his wife Abigail (1

Samuel 25), whom David married after Nabal's death (Easton, 2005).

Saul again went forth (1 Samuel 26) in pursuit of David, who had hid himself “in the hill

Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon,” in the wilderness of Ziph, and was a second time

spared through his forbearance. He returned home, professing shame and penitence for the

way in which he had treated David, and predicting his elevation to the throne (Easton, 2005).

Harassed by the necessity of moving from place to place through fear of Saul, David once

more sought refuge among the Philistines (1 Samuel 27). He was welcomed by the king, who

assigned him Ziklag as his residence. Here David lived among his followers for some time as

an independent chief engaged in frequent war with the Amalekites and other tribes on the

south of Judah (Easton, 2005).

Achish summoned David with his men to join his army against Saul; but the lords of the

Philistines were suspicious of David's loyalty, and therefore he was sent back to Ziklag,

which he found to his dismay may had been pillaged and burnt during his brief absence.

David pursued after the raiders, the Amalekites, and completely routed them. On his return to

Ziklag tidings reached him of Saul's death (2 Samuel 1). An Amalekite brought Saul's crown

and bracelet and laid them at his feet. David and his men rent their clothes and mourned for

Saul, who had been defeated in battle near Mount Gilboa. David composed a beautiful elegy,

the most beautiful of all extant Hebrew odes, a “lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his

son” (2 Samuel 1:18-27). It bore the title of “The Bow,” and was to be taught to the children,

that the memory of Saul and Jonathan might be preserved among them. “Behold, it is written

in the book of Jasher” (Easton, 2005).

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III. LIFE AS KING

David immediately removed from Ziklag and took up his quarters at Hebron, where he

was at once anointed king over his own tribe of Judah. Thus began the cleavage between

Judah and Israel. Here he was joined, apparently for the first time, by his nephew Joab.

Abner, however, loyal to his former master, had Esh-baal (1 Chronicles 8:33), son of Saul,

anointed king over the remaining tribes at Mahanaim, a fortified town east of the Jordan. War

continued between David and Abner for several years, fortune always favoring David. Seeing

things were going against him Abner forced Esh-baal into a personal quarrel with himself and

then transferred his allegiance and persuaded his side to transfer theirs to David (2 Samuel

3:21). He did not reap the fruit of his defection, as he was immediately after assassinated by

Joab in revenge for the death of Asahel whom Abner had killed in self-defence (2 Samuel

3:27). Deprived of his chief support Esh -baal also fell a victim to assassination (2 Samuel

4:2) (Orr, 1994).

David denounced both crimes with apparent sincerity. He composed an elegy and fasted

for Abner (2 Samuel 3:33) and avenged the death of Esh -baal (2 Samuel 4:9). Yet these acts

of violence laid the sovereignty of all Israel at his feet. Of the male heirs of Saul there

remained only a son of Jonathan, Merib -baal (1 Chronicles 8:34) who was a crippled child

of 7. David was therefore elected king over the nation (2 Samuel 5:1). His sovereignty of

Judah is said to have lasted 7 1/2 years and that over the undivided people 33, making a reign

of 40 years, beginning from David's 30th year (2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Chronicles 3:4; in 2 Samuel

2:10 the text is probably corrupt). These are round numbers (Orr, 1994).

The northern tribes then crowned David king at Hebron, uniting all Israel under him. He

led the capture of Jerusalem and made it his capital. After defeating the Philistines, David

sought to move the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, succeeding on his second attempt (2

Samuel 6:1). He then began plans to build a temple but learned from Nathan, the prophet,

that he would instead build a dynasty with eternal dimensions (2 Samuel 7:1). His son would

build the Temple (Butler, 1991).

David then organized his administration and subdued other nations who opposed him,

finally gaining control of the land God had originally promised the forefathers. He also

remembered his promise to Jonathan and cared for his lame son Mephibosheth (2 Samuel

9:1) (Butler, 1991).

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David was a giant among godly leaders, but he remained human as his sin with Bathsheba

and Uriah showed. He spied Bathsheba bathing, desired her, and engineered the death of her

faithful warrior husband, after committing adultery with her (2 Samuel 11:1). Nathan, the

prophet, confronted David with his sin, and David confessed his wrongdoing. The newborn

child of David and Bathsheba died. David acknowledged his helplessness in the situation,

confessing faith that he would go to be with the child one day. Bathsheba conceived again,

bearing Solomon (2 Samuel 12:1-25) (Butler, 1991).

Able to rule the people but not his family, David saw intrigue, sexual sins, and murder

rock his own household, resulting in his isolation from and eventual retreat before Absalom.

Still, David grieved long and deep when his army killed Absalom (2 Samuel 18:19-33).

David's kingdom was restored, but the hints of division between Judah and Israel remained (2

Samuel 19:40-43). David had to put down a northern revolt (2 Samuel 20:1). The last act the

Books of Samuel report about David is his census of the people, bringing God's anger but

also preparing a place for the Temple to be built (2 Samuel 24:1). The last chapters of

1Chronicles describe extensive preparations David made for the building and the worship

services of the Temple. David's final days involved renewed intrigue among his family, as

Adonijah sought to inherit his father's throne, but Nathan and Bathsheba worked to insure

Solomon became the next king (1 Kings 1:1;b12:12) (Butler, 1991).

David's last words are a grand utterance, revealing his unfailing faith in God, and his

joyful confidence in his gracious covenant promises (2 Samuel 23:1-7). After a reign of forty

years and six months (2 Samuel 5:5; 1 Chronicles 3:4) David died (1015B.C.) at the age of

seventy years, “and was buried in the city of David.” His tomb is still pointed out on Mount

Zion (Easton, 2005).

DAVID’S ROLE IN THE SCRIPTURES:

DAVID IN THE PSALMS

The historical books recall David's skill as a musician and his concern with music in

worship (1 Samuel 16:14-21; 1 Chronicles 25; 2 Chronicles 23:18; 29:25-30; 35:15). The

many psalms assigned to David reflect this skill and interest. However, the psalms do not just

record the compositions of David; they also celebrate the promises God made to him and his

descendants (18:50; 78:70,72; 89:3, 20, 35, 49). The royal psalms (2, 45, 72, 84, 89, 110)

join with the prophets in giving voice to Israel's messianic hopes for another king like David.

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The royal psalms center on a king who meets universal opposition, is victorious, and

establishes righteous rule from Zion over the nations. His kingdom is peaceful, prosperous,

everlasting, and faithful to the Lord. He is the friend of the poor and the enemy of the

oppressor. He is the heir of the promises to David. He is himself divine (Psalm 45:6); like the

angel of the Lord, he is both God and distinct from God (Elwell, 1996).

DAVID IN THE PROPHETS

One of the recurring themes in the Book of Samuel is reference to the “Lord's anointed”

(1 Samuel 16:3, 6, 12-13; 24:6; 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Samuel 1:14, 16; 3:39; 19:21). The term

"messiah" means "anointed one, " and the idea of a messiah for Israel grows out of her

ideology about a righteous king, one who would be like David. The messiah as a figure is

integrally involved in Israel's unique understanding of her place in history: their awareness

from the beginning that God had chosen them to bring blessing to the nations. God had raised

up great leaders and deliverers for Israel during her history, and he would yet do so again in

the person of a messiah. The failures of the kings who followed David set him in an

increasingly favorable light, so that Israel's hopes crystallized around the coming of a future

king like David (Isaiah 16:5; 55:3-5; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:17-26; 36:30; Ezekiel 34:23;

Zechariah 9:9; 12:8,10). In the book of Immanuel (Isaiah 7-12), the prophet speaks about

the appearance of a wonder child who will be deliverer, world ruler, and righteous king

(Elwell, 1996).

DAVID IN THE CHRONICLER'S HISTORY

Chronicles is among the latest books of the Old Testament; it was written no earlier than

the later decades of the fourth century b.c. When comparing the Chronicler's account of

David and Solomon with that in Samuel/Kings, perhaps the most striking difference is the

material that the Chronicler has chosen to omit. With the exception of the account of David's

census (1 Chronicles 21 // 2 Samuel 24), the Chronicler has not recorded incidents that

would in any way tarnish the image of David or Solomon. The Chronicler does not report the

rival kingdom in the hands of a descendant of Saul during David's seven years at Hebron or

David's negotiations for rule over the northern tribes. He omits any account of the rebellion

of Absalom and Adonijah and the actions of Amnon and Shimei; he makes no mention of

David's sins in connection with Bathsheba and Uriah. The Chronicler deletes the narrative of

Solomon's taking vengeance on David's enemies (1 Kings 2) and does not report the sins of

Solomon which, according to Kings, were ultimately the reason for the break-up of the

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kingdom (1 Kings 11). Even the blame for the schism is shifted from Solomon to Jeroboam

(2 Chronicles 13:6-7) (Elwell, 1996).

In Chronicles David and Solomon are portrayed as glorious, obedient, all-conquering

figures who enjoy not only divine blessing, but also the support of all the nation. Instead of

an aged, bed-ridden David who only saves the kingdom for Solomon at the last minute due to

the promptings of Bathsheba and Nathan (1 Kings 1), the Chronicler shows a smooth

transition of power without a ripple of dissent (1 Chronicles 21, 28-29). David himself

publicly announces Solomon's appointment as his successor, an announcement greeted with

enthusiastic and total support on the part of the people (1 Chronicles 28:1-29:25), including

the other sons of David, the officers of the army, and others who had supported Adnoijah's

attempted coup (1 Chronicles 29:24; 1 Kings 1:7-10). Whereas in Kings Solomon's sins are

a reason for the schism and Solomon is contrasted to his father David (1 Kings 11), in

Chronicles Rehoboam is commended for “walking in the ways of David and Solomon” (2

Chronicles 11:17) (Elwell, 1996).

This idealization of the reigns of David and Solomon could be dismissed as a kind of

glorification of the “good old days.” Yet when coupled with the Chronicler's emphasis on

God's promise to David of an enduring dynasty (1 Chronicles 17:11-14; 2 Chronicles 13:5,

8; 21:7; 23:3), the Chronicler's treatment of David and Solomon reflects a “messianic

historiography.” David and Solomon in Chronicles are not just the David and Solomon who

were, but the David and Solomon of the Chronicler's eschatological hope. At a time when

subject to the Persians the Chronicler still cherished hopes of a restoration of Davidic rule,

and he describes the glorious rule of David and Solomon in the past in terms of his hopes for

the future (Elwell, 1996).

DAVID IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

David’s sins do not seem that much greater than Saul’s. How is it that David can be

described by the narrator as “a man after his [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14)? Israel

had looked at Saul's height and build— there was no one like him among all the people (1

Samuel 10:24); although God had chosen Saul, he knew what was in his heart. Human

beings might look at appearance and height, but God saw David's heart. David's heart was

such that he would face Goliath virtually unarmed and would triumph through his faith, while

Saul cowered in his tent (1 Samuel 17). The central demand of life in covenant with God,

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both from the mouth of Moses and Jesus, was to love him with the whole heart

(Deuteronomy 6:5; Mark 12:30) (Elwell, 1996).

Yet something happened to David along the way. When we first meet him in Samuel he

has taken a club to kill a bear and a lion for the sake of sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-35), but by

the end of the book, he has decided that the sheep should die for him, although this time the

sheep were people (2 Samuel 24:14, 17). David will not be the good shepherd who will give

his life for the sheep (Elwell, 1996).

The writers of the New Testament see in Jesus the embodiment of a righteous king for

Israel. They take pains to point to his descent from David (Matthew 1:1, 6, 17). The crowds

and even the demons recognize him as the son of David, the Messiah of Israel (Matthew

12:23 ; 20:30-31 ; 21:9, 15). The title “Christ” is a Greek translation of the Hebrew anointed

one or messiah. Jesus comes like David, as “the Lord's anointed” (Elwell, 1996).

Hannah's longing for a child and for a righteous king and anointed one (1 Samuel 2:10) is

heard again in Mary's own magnificat as she anticipates the birth of Israel's king and Messiah

(Luke 2:32-33, 46-55, 69). David had become the heir of God's promise to Abraham that he

would give him a great name (Genesis 12:2; 2 Samuel 7:9). David's greater son receives a

names above all others (Philippians 2:9-10). Just as David had once gone into singlehanded

combat with the great enemy of Israel so Jesus would singlehandedly triumph over the enemy

of our souls. He would establish an everlasting kingdom (Elwell, 1996).

THE SECRET TO DAVID’S ADMINISTRATIVE AND MILITARY

PROWESS

David had a band of men who worked together to make sure that his rulership was easy

and efficient and most importantly in line with God’s will:

A. Prophets. The beginning of his good fortune had been the friendship of the prophet

Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Samuel 19:18). The prophet or seer was keeper of the king's

conscience and was not appointed by him, but claimed divine authority (2 Samuel 7:3, 2

Samuel 7:1; 2 Samuel 12:1; 2 Samuel 24:11). Among the persons who discharged this

duty for David were Gad the seer (1 Samuel 22:5) and Nathan the prophet (1 Kings

1:11). All these are said to have written memoirs of their times (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2

Chronicles 9:29) (Orr, 1994).

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B. Priests. Next to the prophet came the priest. The kohen (priest) was, as the name

indicates, a soothsayer or diviner. The duty of Abiathar, David's first priest (1 Samuel

22:20), was to carry the ephod - an object used for casting lots (1 Samuel 23:6), in order

to decide what to do in cases where there was no other way of making up one's mind (1

Samuel 30:7). It is not to be confused with the dress of the same name (1 Samuel 2:18).

Later, at Hebron, Abiathar was given a colleague, Zadok (1 Chronicles 12:28), and it

became their duty to carry the ark in expeditions (2 Samuel 15:24). Shortly after the

death of David, Abiathar was deposed by Solomon for his part in Adonijah's attempt to

seize the throne (1 Kings 2:26, 1 Kings 2:27), and Zadok remained sole priest to the king

(1 Kings 2:35). David's sons also acted in the same capacity (2 Samuel 8:18). An extra

private priest is mentioned in 2 Samuel 20:26 (compare 2 Samuel 23:26, 2 Samuel

23:38) (Orr, 1994).

C. Military Officers. When still an outlaw David required the services of a henchman to take

command of his men in his absence. This post was held at first by different persons

according to circumstances, but generally, it seems, by his nephew Abishai (1 Samuel

26:6). It was only after the death of Saul that his brother Joab threw in his lot with David.

His great military talents at once gave him a leading place, and as a reward for the capture

of Jebus he was given the chief command, which he held against all rivals (2 Samuel

3:27; 2 Samuel 20:10) during the whole reign. David's special body-guard of Philistine

troops - the Cherethites and Pelethites - were commanded by Benaiah, who in the

following reign, succeeded Joab (1 Kings 2:35) (Orr, 1994).

D. Other Officials. The office of recorder or magister memoriae was held during this reign

and in the following by Jehoshaphat (2 Samuel 8:16); and that of secretary by Seraiah (2

Samuel 8:17), also called Shavsha (1 Chronicles 18:16) or Shisha (1 Kings 4:3). There

were also the counselors, men noted for their great acumen and knowledge of human

nature, such as Ahithophel and Hushai (Orr, 1994).

E. Mutual Rivalry. It was natural that there should be much mutual jealousy and rivalry

among these officials, and that some of them should attach themselves to one of David's

many sons, others to another. Thus, Amnon is the special patron of David's nephew

Jonadab (2 Samuel 13:3; compare 2 Samuel 21:21), and Absalom is backed by Amasa (2

Samuel 17:25). The claim of Adonijah to the throne is supported by Joab and Abiathar (1

Kings 1:7), as against that of Solomon who is backed by Nathan, Benaiah, Zadok (1

Kings 1:8) and Hushai. Ahithophel sides with Absalom; Hushai with David (2 Samuel

15:12 , 2 Samuel 15:32) (Orr, 1994).

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DAVID’S CHARACTER – WHY IS HE A MAN AFTER GOD’S WON

HEART?

The character of David as presented in the Old Testament is rather hard to determine. He

has been so greatly magnified by the Chronicler and by the Psalter that it is difficult to believe

all that they say about David. If it were all true, we should have to deal with a most complex

and contradictory personality (Smith, 1933).

Men are apt to give their chief attention to certain moral blemishes which disfigured the

life of this extraordinary servant of God; and either they deduce from them an excuse for their

own intemperances, or they assume that God does not hate sin so vehemently as Scripture

elsewhere represents; or else they fairly own themselves unable to reconcile the several

wicked acts of David’s life with that election and special favour which God was pleased to

bestow upon him. Now, the conclusion that the crimes of David can ever justify similar acts of

wickedness in others must be utterly delusive, if we find that David never justified them in

himself. I shall, therefore, endeavour to examine the character of this very eminent person, and

to account, from a general view of the subject, for that title of affectionate preference — “a

man after God's own heart” — by which the prophet was commissioned to speak of him

(Gatty, 2016).

In reviewing, therefore, these facts, and comparing them with the privileges their author

enjoyed, you may feel disposed to assume that God makes an irrespective choice of His

servants, and that their moral worth does not weigh against His predetermined election. If such

be the judgment you are disposed to give, from a consideration of David's career it is very

certain that you have very imperfectly studied his character, and that you would strangely

misinterpret the ways of our heavenly Father. For, without reckoning many extenuating

circumstances in our consideration of David's evil deeds — for instance, his power and

temptations as a king — his ignorance of that perfect morality which was unknown until the

Gospel was preached — that disregard, too, of human life and female virtue which has always

obtained in eastern countries — without, I say, reckoning any of these things in our final

estimate of David's character, we may safely assert that neither in the Old or the New

Testament can be found repentance so deep, humility so sincere, faith so unwavering, or

generosity so noble, as the records of David's life show; and if these excellent virtues, united

in the character of one person, are not sufficient to account for the Divine preference, then

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indeed David's privileges ate a mystery, and God's love for him is wholly unintelligible (Gatty,

2016).

DAVID WAS HUMBLE

David lived in a time where Kings didn’t have to be humble. There were no

Constitutional Monarchies. Everything and everyone around him would be kissing up to

David and telling him how wonderful he was all the time. His word was law! He wouldn’t

need God! Yet David as King never lost the humble heart of that shepherd boy spending many

hours singing to his Lord as he watched over his flock. Later as King when David danced

before the presence of God as the Ark of the Covenant made its way into Jerusalem, his wife

Michal ridiculed his “undignified” manner. David responded:

“It was before the Lord, …I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more

undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes… - 2 Samuel 6

David knew he was a King …but a “king” who served a King. That kept him humble and life

in a proper perspective (Hackman, 2015).

FAITH IN GOD

Part of why David is called a man after God’s own heart is that he had absolute faith in

God. Nowhere in Scripture is this point better illustrated than in 1 Samuel 17 where David as

a young shepherd boy fearlessly slew the Philistine, Goliath. Shortly before the duel, we see

direct evidence of David’s faith when David says, “‘The LORD who delivered me from the

paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’

And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the LORD be with you!’” (verse 37). David was fully aware

that God was in control of his life, and he had faith that God would deliver him from

impending danger. How else would one venture into a potentially fatal situation with such

calm and confidence? David knew early on in life that God was to be trusted and obeyed. As

we see in Scripture, David’s faith pleased God, and God rewards David for his faithfulness

(gotquestions.org, 2017).

THE LAW

Another reason David was a man after God’s own heart is that he absolutely loved God’s

Law. Of the 150 psalms in the Bible, David is credited for writing over half of them. Writing

at various and often troubling times in his life, David repeatedly mentioned how much he

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loved God’s perfect Word. We find a beautiful example of this in Psalm 119:47–48: “For I

delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I

love, and I meditate on your decrees.” It is not hard to see his complete adoration for God’s

Word. Also notice how David “meditates” on God’s statutes. God granted David

understanding and wisdom through daily meditation. We would do well to not only read

God’s Word but also think about it throughout the day, for God loves us to think about Him.

“Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing

wrong; they walk in his ways” (Psalm 119:2–3) (gotquestions.org, 2017).

BROKEN MAN

Despite his undoubted physique stamina, all these things contributed to David being a

broken man, even quite early in his life, prone to fits of introspection; dramatic mood-swings

(1 Sam.24:14 with 25:6, 22, 34), sometimes appearing a real 'softie' but hard as nails at others

(consider Ps.75:10 and the whole of Ps.101); easily getting carried away: be it with excessive

emotional enthusiasm for bringing the ark back, in his harsh response to Hanun humbling his

servants, his over-hasty and emotional decision to let Amnon go to Absalom's feast when it

was obvious what might well transpire, his anger " flaring up" because of incompetency (2

Sam.11:20), or in his ridiculous softness for Absalom. He had a heart cruelly torn so many

ways. All these traits are amply reflected in the Psalms: Ps.6:7; 31:10; 42:3,6; 38:8; 55:4;

56:8; 69:3,29; 88:3,9; 94:19 (what introspection!); 102:4; 116:3; 143:4. An uninterrupted

read through the Psalms makes this obvious. Please, try to read through the Psalms in one go

some time, try to make the time in this crazy life to do it at least once. Let's be aware, as aware

as we can, that this broken down mind of David was the prefigurement of our Lord's broken

life. The brokenness of his heart is what we show when we break bread (aletheiacollege.net,

2017).

REPENTANT

David did some horrid things. In some cases he arguably committed worse sins than his

predecessor Saul who God removed from being king. People may question why that is but I

feel it came down to David “owning” his offenses. When Saul was confronted about his sins,

he was quick to make excuses, begin listing the things he had done right, and try to deflect by

pointing to others. In fact he would have fit in well with a 21st century work place culture in

that respect. David was the opposite. When confronted by the prophet Nathen regarding the

murder of his loyal servant Uriah so that he could have his wife David broke down :

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Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel,

says…You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You

killed him with the sword of the Ammonites….Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned

against the Lord.” - 2 Samuel 12

When David messed up he didn’t try to blame others, he took responsibility of his own

actions; which ultimately created a heart that could be healed by God (Hackman, 2015).

THANKFUL

David was a man after God’s own heart in that he was truly thankful. “I wash my hands

in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of

all your wonderful deeds” (Psalm 26:6–7). David’s life was marked by seasons of great

peace and prosperity as well as times of fear and despair. But through all of the seasons in his

life, he never forgot to thank the Lord for everything that he had. It is truly one of David’s

finest characteristics. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give

thanks to him; bless his name!” (Psalm 100:4) (gotquestions.org, 2017).

NOT RELIGIOUS BUT HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YAHWEH

Look at what David was writing songs about (Hackman, 2015):

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened—burnt offerings

and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written

about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” - Psalm

40

Writing songs suggesting that offering and sacrifice was NOT what God has as a priority!

The religious person of that day (and of today for that matter) could justly argue from

scripture that offering and sacrifice is what God is ALL about. And to suggest that God

ultimately wanted to write his law on our hearts? Wow! That’s 1500 years before Jesus really

brought that idea front and center…much to the chagrin of the Pharisees (Hackman, 2015).

But David “got” it. Thousands of years before humanity was ready, David was beginning

to signal to his listeners that God was more interested in the condition of their hearts than

their performance of the law. And when he wrote these words, he made God smile. David

never put religious observance before intimate relationship with his father. At one point the

religious folk are upset with Jesus for ignoring religious law and ceremony. Jesus answers

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about people being of more value than those religious observances and then uses David’s

example as a defense (Hackman, 2015):

But Jesus said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and

his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which

was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? - Matthew

12:4

CONCLUSION

The Scriptures have shown us that a broken, weak and honest man before God could be

made the greatest king who ever walked this earth (apart from Jesus Christ of course). God is

calling us to such kind of devotion and any person can have a realtionship with Jesus Christ

just like David did and even more. My personal desire at the end of my life is not to leave a

legacy before men but a record before Yahweh that I was a man after His own heart.

…the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him

to be captain over his people… - I Samuel 13:22

And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of

the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised

up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have

found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. –

Acts 13:21-22

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REFERENCES:

aletheiacollege.net. (2017). Character Of David. Retrieved July 26, 2017, from

http://www.aletheiacollege.net/bl/6-5Character_Of_David.htm

Brueggemann, W. (2002). David's Truth in Israel's Imagination and Memory. Minneapolis:

Fortress Press.

Butler, T. (1991). Holman Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers .

Easton, M. G. (2005). Easton's Bible Dictionary . New York: Cosimo Classics.

Elwell, W. A. (1996). Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Grand Rapids,

Michigan, USA: Baker Books.

Fleming, D. (2004). Bridgeway Bible Dictionary (Clear, Simple, and Easy to Understand) .

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: Bridgeway Publication.

Gatty, A. (2016). 4. David: The Man After God's Heart 1: A Heart Of Hope | Bible.org.

Retrieved July 26, 2017, from Bible.org:

http://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/gatty/the_character_of_david.htm

gotquestions.org. (2017). How could David be considered a man after God’s own heart?

Retrieved July 26, 2017, from Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org/man-

after-God-heart.html

Hackman, S. (2015, January 22). 4 Qualities of David That Made God “Smile” or How to

“Get” God! – Beyond The Pale. Retrieved July 26, 2017, from Steve Hackman:

http://www.stevehackman.net/4-qualities-of-david-that-made-god-smile-or-how-to-

get-god/

Harlow, R. E. (1970). King David - Studies in 1 and 2 Samuel. Scarborough, Toronto,

Ontario, Canada: Everyday Publications Inc.

Hastings, J. (1994). Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA: Baker

Books.

Orr, J. (1994). International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Peabody, Massachusetts, USA:

Hendrickson Publishers.

Smith, J. M. (1933, April). The Character of King David. Journal of Biblical Literature, LII,

1-11. Retrieved July 26, 2017, from https://www.sbl-

site.org/assets/pdfs/presidentialaddresses/JBL52_1_1Smith1932.pdf