David was the forgotten son, the man pursued relentless through the wilderness, who despite all the odds became Israel’s greatest king, and a type and shadow of the Messiah. We are told that one day again David will reign when the Lord sets up His millennial kingdom. We are also told that somehow David touched the Lord’s heart and we are even told, he was a man after the Lord’s heart. But who was he and what can we learn from his story?

 

Was David a Real Person?

 

Many believers will emphatically say that David was a real person, but sadly, some will say no and that they are just stories. So, it is important to address this question upfront.

 

Is there any proof that David was real?  Well, up until recently, they could find little evidence that he existed. But recent archaeological evidence has come to light, and it has proven David was real and his name was highly respected.

 

In the book, “In the Footsteps of King David: Revelations from an Ancient Biblical City,” we find powerful evidence regarding this boy who defeated the giant Goliath and became an incredible king. 1

 

We know that David fought Goliath in the Elah Valley, west of Jerusalem. Much evidence has been found to support that David was a powerful leader who fought against the Philistines. In fact, Israel would face many wars with the Philistines, a people that research now shows came from Crete2.

 

“Inscriptions of the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses III, which mention the Philistines as one of the “Sea Peoples,” and analysis of the linguistic characteristics of the Philistine names known to us (such as Achish, a Philistine ruler of Gath, and Goliath).”3

 

 

To Another

 

We know that the Children of Israel sought a king to rule over them, and they chose Saul. He was a tall man and, according to their opinions, was perfect to be their king. But Saul soon revealed that his heart was corrupt and self-serving. He was more concerned with his public image and not about walking right before the Lord or truly serving the people. At the time, God’s delegated voice on the earth was Samuel who had anointed Saul king. Soon, Saul sees himself as being over Samuel and rebels against the Lord. The Lord tells Saul, through Samuel, that He was taking the kingdom from him and giving it to another in his place.

 

In First Samuel, chapter sixteen we are first introduced to David. Here Samuel turns up at Jesse’s house, the father of David, to anoint the replacement king. Despite this being such an extremely important and prestigious event, Jesse has all his sons present except David.

 

Samuel goes through each son, and from outward appearance, they look perfect, but the Lord tells Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature…”

 

After going through all of Jesse’s sons, we are told:

 

“And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are these all the young men here?’ Then he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.’ So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.”

1 Samuel 16: 11-13

 

Even though Samuel, the anointed and respected prophet, had just anointed David as king, his family failed to recognize it and refused to honor David as king.

 

The Armor Bearer

 

We are then told that after Samuel had anointed David, the Holy Spirit left Saul, and he was tormented by an evil spirit. Consequently, Saul sought out a skillful musician to play and comfort him.

 

“Then one of the servants answered and said, ‘Look, I have seen a so of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”

1 Samuel 16: 18

 

We start to see that what made David so great was all the things he did behind the scenes as part of his worship and relationship with the Lord. David was a skillful musician because he used his instrument to worship the Lord. We see how many wonderful Psalms he wrote that reveal his heart and mind in some of the most challenging times. It is this life of private and intense worship that truly made David.

 

As we look at Saul and how David playing an instrument and perhaps singing to the Lord could ease Saul’s torment and bring peace to his life, we learn something powerful about true worship. One such Psalm written by David says:

 

‘Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”

Psalm 8: 2

 

Saul discovered that as David worshiped, the tormenting spirit was stopped.

 

“So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer…And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart him.”

1 Samuel 16: 21, 23

 

True worship can change the spiritual climate and cause His peace to fill the atmosphere.

 

Looking at these verses we find that David is not just the true anointed king, but now he is the armor bearer of king Saul. We also see here how God brings forth first in the spiritual realm and then it manifests in the natural. Saul was the still king, but David was declared king in the spiritual, and that meant in a matter of time David would become the king.

 

David and Goliath

 

With the anointing of God comes confidence before God and His authority in your life. David was now the true anointed king, and he was the armor bearer of the unanointed king Saul. The power of the anointing and His authority are clearly seen on the day of battle. Well, once again, the Philistines rise up against the Children of Israel, and the tall king Saul found that there is always someone bigger and greater than you.

 

Saul calls his troops to the battlefield, except they are not fighting. Instead, the Philistines and their champion, Goliath, taunt and mock them, and they are paralyzed in fear.

 

So where was David?

 

Well, Jesse had sent his older sons to go to the battlefield, but as for David, well, we are told:

 

“David was the youngest. And the tree oldest followed Saul. But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”

1 Samuel 17: 14, 15

 

David was spending most of his time tending to his father’s sheep. Of all the brothers, David had the most right to be on the battlefield. After all, he was the true anointed king, and he was the armor bearer of the current king.

 

Unfortunately, king Saul was not fighting and clearly didn’t plan to fight, because his armor bearer was not with him.

 

At this time, David was still a young teenager, perhaps around fourteen, and his father may have seen him as too young to fight. Either way, David was not where he should be as the anointed leader of the Children of Israel. And when God’s anointed leaders are not where they need to be on the day of battle, it is not a good thing.

 

Eventually, Jesse sends David to bring food to his brothers and get an update on how they are doing. David comes to the Valley of Elah, and here he sees Goliath. he is shocked that no one is standing up against him. Sadly, Saul and the army have lost sight of who their God is and who they are because of Him. But this was not so for David.

 

Although David sees just how terrifying Goliath is and hears his taunts, David responds:

 

“What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1 Samuel 17: 26

 

To some, David would have sounded arrogant. But it was a proclamation to those who, like David, know their God—yes, a proclamation of what their God will do for His covenant people. Well, David’s older brother saw David as arrogant and insolent and immediately told him so. David’s response?

 

“Is there not a cause?”

1 Samuel 17: 29

 

David is then brought before Saul, and where the anointed David explains to Saul:

 

“Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

1 Samuel 17: 12

 

We can clearly see the impact and power of the anointing to change your perspective and give you confidence and boldness. Saul, who is paralyzed by fear, then tells David that he cannot defeat Goliath. After all, David was a kid, and Saul nor his army could defeat Goliath; how could David possibly do it? But David is unmoved and explains:

 

“Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defiled the armies of God.”

1 Samuel 17: 34- 35

 

In David’s statement, he declares that his days of tending his father’s sheep are over, and he knows this is a divine appointment for a divine promotion. David builds his faith by remembering all that His God has done before, and because David keeps such a powerful relationship with the Lord, he declares victory.

 

Next, Saul gives David his armor, but it is too big. David then runs to the battle, and while Goliath seeks to belittle David, David remains unmoved. Taking one of his smoothed stones and his slingshot, David runs to Goliath and, firing one stone takes Goliath down.

 

After David defeats the Philistines, we are told he took Goliath’s head to Jerusalem and put Goliath’s armor in a tent.

 

Saul Begins to Resent David

 

While David had done a great thing for both the king and Israel in defeating Goliath, he now becomes a threat to Saul. At the same time, we are told:

 

“Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”

1 Samuel 18: 1

 

David and Jonathan then made a covenant. As part of the covenant, Jonathan took off his coat and gave it to David, along with his armor, sword, bow, and belt.

 

We are then told that David followed Saul and “behaved wisely.” The Hebrew is “sakal,” which means prudent, circumspect, and to act with insight. This is important as we look at what happens next. Saul and David go out and fight together. When they return, the women rejoice and declare:

 

“Saul has slain his thousands, and David slain his ten thousands.”

1 Samuel 18: 7

 

Saul, whose name means desired, always worried about his public image. Hearing them declare that David was a magnitude greater than him was not taken well. Saul kept a close eye on David, and his resentment of him started to grow.

 

What happened next, well:

 

“And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hands, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, ‘I will pin David to the wall!’ But David escaped his presence twice. Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul.”

1 Samuel 18: 10-12

 

An interesting point raised by Benjamin Johnson is, “With great narrative irony, David is the cause of both Saul’s trouble and Saul’s relief.” 4

 

We are told that David continued to act wisely, which was a further source for Saul to fear David.

 

David Marries Michal

 

We are told that “all of Israel loved David” (1 Samuel 17: 16). This created a problem for Saul, so in a desperate attempt to kill David, Saul offered his daughter Merab to David if David went out and fought the Philistines. However, Saul gave Merab to another. Well, Saul’s plan backfired because instead of David being killed, he won more victories.

 

We then learn that Saul’s daughter, Michal, loved David. So again, Saul offers Michal to David but this time, David must bring back to Saul two hundred foreskins of the Philistines. The anointed David was successful, and Michal became David’s wife.

 

“Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him; and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.”

1 Samuel 18: 28, 29

 

Saul Persecutes David

 

Saul had tried using his daughters as pawns for his wicked goals. He then told Jonathan of his plan to kill David, but Jonathan, out of his love for David, warned him. He told David to stay “in a secret place and hide” (1 Samuel 9: 2).

 

If we turn to Psalm 27, we can see David’s thoughts and heart. Saul is consumed by his desire for power and to be seen as great in front of the people, and he doesn’t care how he achieves his goal. David, on the other hand, well, we are told-

 

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of Hos tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”

Psalm 27: 4, 5

 

Jonathan then appeals to his father for David’s life, and Saul swears an oath that David won’t die. So, David, who had been in hiding, comes and appears before Saul. But a new war breaks out, and David is once again triumphant. When David came back before the king, Saul was tormented, so David began once again to play his musical instrument. But once again, Saul became enraged and threw a spear at David. Consequently, David fled.

 

Saul then sent troops to David’s house to watch and wait for him. But Michal warned David and let him down through a window. Michal then made it look like David was lying in his bed and claimed that David was sick, giving David time to flee.

 

If we look at Psalm 59, we can understand what was going on inside David during this trial. Upon hearing his enemy’s plans, David turns to the Lord.

 

“But You, O Lord shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense.”

Psalm 59: 8, 9

 

Here we see the Lord has a title as his Strength, and David entrusts himself to the Lord. It didn’t look good for David, but David knew Him whom he trusted.

 

David went to Samuel and reported to him all that Saul had done. Samuel and David then go to Naioth, the place of the prophets. Saul, upon hearing that David is with Samuel, sends troops to arrest him. But when the soldiers arrive to take David, well, the Lord moves and:

 

“And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.”

1 Samuel 19: 20

 

Instead of recognizing that he is not just fighting against David but the Lord, Saul continues his attacks. Saul then sent more troops, and the same thing happened. Prideful Saul tried a third time, and once again, they prophesied. Well, in a final effort, Saul came himself, and guess what happened? Saul began prophesying. We can see that God, in His mercy, is seeking to reach Saul.

 

David on the Run

 

We are told that David fled and came to Jonathan to ask him:

 

“What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”

1 Samuel 20: 1

 

Jonathan seeks to reassure David that his father is not out to kill him. So, David asks Jonathan to do a favor to determine where Saul is really at regarding David.

 

The next day is a new moon, and David would be expected to sit next to Saul, but David plans not to come but rather to hide in a field. Then Jonathan is to monitor Saul’s response. Jonathan agrees, and both he and David make a covenant together. Jonathan understands that David will be the next king and not himself, so he asks David to show lovingkindness to his family.

 

Then, they agree that arrows will be used to signal to David whether things are good or that he needs to flee.

 

Well, Saul becomes outraged and declares that David must die. Jonathan, recognizing David is indeed in danger, warns David.

 

David and the Holy Bread

 

David then went to the priestly city of Nob and met the priest Ahimelech. David then explains that he is on top secret business for the king and asks for bread for him and his group of men. Ahimelech informs David that the bread that they have is holy bread. David responded:

 

“Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.”

1 Samuel 21: 5

 

The priest then gave bread to David and his men. After eating, David is given the weapons of Goliath that he had taken from him when he defeated him. From here, David and his men flee to Gath.

 

Gath

 

Gath was one of the five cities of the Philistine Pentapolis, located on the border with Judah. Egyptian inscriptions confirmed its existence.

 

David now began a season of running and hiding in the wilderness. During these difficult wilderness years, during which David would endure many trials, God made David. Gath comes from a Hebrew word that means “winepress,” and indeed, David finds himself in a new period in a winepress. Gath was the chief city of the Philistines, and this, of course, was where Goliath was from.

 

When David comes to Gath, they recognize him and so David fakes madness to convince them that he is insane.

 

Adullam

 

From there, David went to the cave of Adullam, which means “justice of the people.” And it is here that we are told:

 

‘And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there about four hundred me with him.”

1 Samuel 22: 2

 

We are told that David’s father’s house heard David was here and came to him. In addition, we see men who are in distress, debt, and discontented. If you are trying to build something, you typically don’t want to start with such a group. Distressed comes from “matsowq,” meaning stressed or in anguish. Debt comes from “nasha,” meaning to be in debt to creditors, and then discontented comes from “nephesh,” meaning breathless, broken, spiritually dead, and empty. We have all learned that we have become like the company we keep. This seems a recipe for disaster, but David makes these men mighty men. This young man, David, doesn’t become like them, but rather makes these men like him.

 

Saul Murders the Priests

 

 

When Saul hears that David and his men have been discovered, he has a fit. He is in Ramah, and he begins rebuking the men who were Benjamites, but Doeg the Edomite explains that he saw David meet with Ahimelech, the priest.

 

Saul is outraged and has Ahimelech come to him along with all the priests. Saul feels that Ahimelech has conspired against him, and so has him and the priests put to death. In total, eighty-five priests were killed that day.

 

Keilah

 

David is then told that the Philistines have been robbing the threshing floors of Keilah, so David seeks the Lord on whether he should go up against them. Here, we see the difference between Saul and David. Saul is killing innocent priests because he is concerned about himself, but David is willing to put his life on the line because he is concerned for the people.

 

The Lord tells David that indeed he should attack the Philistines and he “struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keliah.”

1 Samuel 23: 5

 

 The son of Ahimelech comes to David and brings with him the ephod. David takes the ephod to ask the Lord whether the people of Keliah will betray him to Saul. The Lord tells David, that they will, so David and his men, which at this point number around 600, fled into the wilderness.

 

“Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hands.”

1 Samuel 23: 14

 

David, we are told, was in the wilderness of Ziph. If we read Psalm 23, we can see how even in the midst of this dark hour, when David walks through “the valley of the shadow of death,” he fears no evil.

 

Here, once again, Jonathan comes to David, and they make a covenant. Shortly afterward, Saul discovers where David is and goes to the wilderness of Ziph. However, David fled to the Wilderness of Maon, but Saul soon discovers this and seeks to trap him there.

 

It looks like Saul has indeed encircled David and his men, but when he hears that the Philistines have invaded again, he is forced to leave.

 

“Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your Name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.”

Psalm 31: 2- 5

 

As we read these Psalms, we can see that David trusted in the Lord, crying out for His help, and the Lord always delivered him.

 

David Spares Saul

 

Once Saul had dealt with the Philistines, he returned to pursue David. By now, David had fled to the Wilderness of En Gedi. Here again, they appeared to have David trapped.  Saul took a moment and went into a cave to relieve himself. Little did he realize that David was in that very cave.

 

Now, David has a golden opportunity to kill Saul and end his oppression, but David walks in holy fear and won’t touch the Lord’s delegated authority. David understood the rules of authority: We have authority because we walk under authority, and as such, you honor authority.

 

“And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.”

1 Samuel 24: 4b-5

 

David cut off the tzitzit or the tassels of his garment which represented Saul’s authority. Remember, this was exactly what Saul did when he tore off the tassels (or tzitzits) of Samuel’s garments, and as a result, the Lord took from him kingship. So, unlike Saul, David is convicted when he cuts off the tassels. If we read Psalm 57, we see what was in David’s heart:

 

“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 the calamities have passed be. I will cry out to God the Most High, to God who performs all things for me.”

Psalm 57 1-2

 

 

To better understand why David was convicted when he cut off the corner of Saul’s robe, we must notice that the word for corner in 1 Samuel 24 is “kanaph,” meaning the wing. Now, in Psalm 57, the Hebrew word used for “wings” here is also “kanaph.” David had placed himself under the tassels or authority of the Lord, and as a man under authority, he could not touch someone who was a delegated authority of the Lord.

 

“And he said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should for this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.”

1 Samuel 24: 6, 7

 

After Saul left the cave, David followed and called out to Saul. David then sought to show Saul that he had the opportunity to hurt Saul but didn’t because David was not out to hurt him.

 

“Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.”

1 Samuel 24: 12

 

Saul responded in kind, recognizing that David will one day be king and that “the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.” But Saul then asks David to swear that he will not cut off the family

 

Samuel Dies

 

Now, Samuel has passed away, and the people have gathered at his home in Ramah to mourn for him. David recognizes that he can’t trust Saul, and with Samuel’s death, things are even more treacherous for him. So, David and his men fled to the wilderness of Paran.

 

David passes through Carmel, and there is a rich man with three thousand sheep. David sends his men to greet the man, Nabal, and explains that they had done him no harm but were requesting food. However, Nabal responds by insulting David and his men.

 

When they return to David and inform him what happened, David is outraged, considering his men have protected the man’s sheep during this time. David takes four hundred armed men to deal with Nabal, but his wife, Abigail, makes food and intercedes. Abigail does not tell her husband what she has done and goes to David and his men with the food.

 

“Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.”

1 Samuel 25: 25

 

The Hebrew word for “scoundrel” is “bliya’al” and means Belial or evil. The name Nabal means fool.

 

Abigail continued her intercession and explained-

 

“Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days.”

1 Samuel 25: 28

 

 

David had planned to kill all the males by morning but relented because of Abigail. When Abigail went home, her husband was having a party and was drunk, so Abigail delayed until morning to talk to her husband. The next morning, upon hearing the news, Nabal is struck, and we are told ten days later he died.

 

Upon hearing about what happened, David calls Abigail and proposes to her, and she becomes his wife. During this time, we are told regarding David’s wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, that Saul had given her to another man.

 

David Spares Saul Again

 

Saul then sent three thousand men to the wilderness of Ziph to capture David. Things were not looking good for David, so David sought the Lord.

 

“Save me, O God, by Your Name, and vindicate me by Your strength. Her my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them.”

Psalm 54: 1-3

 

How many of us are disciplined in our words, especially during a major trial? Yet David is confident in his words because he learned to discipline his tongue and declare the greatness of his God.

 

“I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your Name, O Lord, for it is good. For He has delivered me out of all my trouble; Abd my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.”

Psalm 54: 6, 7

 

During the night, David and some of his men went down to the camp of Saul. Once again, they could kill Saul, but David refuses to let anyone touch Saul. However, David took the spear and jug of water by Saul’s head. We are told that by the Lord’s doing, Saul and his men had fallen into a deep sleep.

 

David and his men went a great distance away and then called to one of Saul’s men guarding Saul. Upon awakening him and Saul, David demonstrates that once again, he had an opportunity to kill Saul but didn’t. Saul then explained:

 

“I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”

1 Samuel 26: 21

 

We are told that Saul returned to his place, and David went to David’s. However, as we know, leopards can’t change their spots, and neither could Saul lose his hatred of David.

 

David Teams Up with the Philistines

 

David feared that Saul would continue to pursue him, so he and his men went to the Philistines. Here, David and his six hundred men went to the king of Gath, and here they dwelled. Upon hearing that David had fled to Gath, Saul finally stopped pursuing him.

 

David stayed around a year and a half and fought several battles. But the Philistines decided to attack Israel. Saul, upon seeing the Philistines, becomes fearful, so he inquires of the Lord. Unfortunately, Samuel was dead, and the Lord did not answer Saul. So, Saul sought a medium and asked her to bring up Samuel.

 

We are told that Samuel perceived the person the medium conjured up as Samuel.  The person warns Saul that the Lord has cut him off. Saul is filled with fear and initially refuses to eat.

 

The Philistines then turn on David and his men, so they depart and head back to their home.

 

The Amalekites

 

David’s breakthrough is close, but the true enemy has launched a massive counterattack against David. But what was meant for evil against David would turn out to be for his good. Because, instead of being in the battle where he would have faced Saul and perhaps been forced to kill him, David is otherwise distracted.

 

So upon returning home to Ziklag, they find the Amalekites have raided the town, taken the women and children captive and burnt the buildings down. It is a horrific event, and the people start to turn on David.

 

“So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’

1 Samuel 30: 8

 

In reading the account, we see that David allowed the men who were weary to remain behind, and when he and the rest of the men return with the spoil, David splits it evenly with everyone, including those who remained behind.

But some of those who fought with David complain and David’s response again reveals his character and heart:

 

“Then all the wicked and worthless men (men of Belial) of those who went with David answered and said, ‘Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may led them way and depart. But David said, ‘My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike”

1 Samuel 30: 22-24 (literal translation added)

 

David and his men attacked the Amalekites and utterly defeated them. He also saved all of their wives and children. Further, they gained the spoil.

 

Now, during this battle, while David is distracted, Saul fights the Philistines, who strike Saul down, though they don’t kill him. As Saul lies severely wounded, he calls for his armor-bearer to kill him. Saul then fell on his spear and died.

 

Saul is Dead

 

David and his men are at Ziklag and are resting. Then on the third day, a man came and reported to David that Saul and Jonathan were dead. David asked the man how he knew Saul was dead and he explained that he found Saul leaning on a spear in pain but not yet dead. He begged the man to kill, so the man did.

 

David tears his clothes and mourns for Saul. He then struck the young Amalekites that killed Saul and killed him.

 

David Anointed King of Judah

 

Saul reigned from around 1052 for around 40 years (Acts 13: 21).  David was born around 1040 and killed Goliath around 1025 BC. Saul died around 1012 BC, meaning David spent over twelve years in the wilderness. The men of Judah then anointed David as king of Judah.

 

Meanwhile, Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, was made king of Israel at the age of forty, and he reigned for two years. Meanwhile, Judah refused to follow him and submitted to David, who was king over Judah for seven and a half years.

 

“Now there was a long war between the house of Saul an the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.”

2 Samuel 3: 1

 

The skirmishes involved Abner and his men supporting Saul’s descendants and David’s men.  Now, Abner starts sleeping with Saul’s very attractive concubine. This upset Ishbosheth and resulted in a feud between Abner and Ishbosheth. Abner explained that he had given the kingdom to him, but now would support David.

 

Abner joins David, but Joab, who was in charge of David’s men, becomes jealous and fearful of Abner, so he kills him. Not long after, Ishbosheth is also killed, and the struggle between the house of Saul and David finally comes to an end.

 

“David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned  over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-six years over all Israel and Judah.”

2 Samuel 5: 4, 5

We know that thirty is the age at which a priest begins ministry, and it was no coincidence that David would begin reigning at the age of thirty. We are also told that in making him king, the Lord was making him the shepherd over His people (1 Chronicles 11: 2)

 

Jerusalem and the Lord of the Breakthrough

 

As soon as David is declared king, the Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, refuse to allow David to come to Jerusalem. But David took the city of Zion, and it became known as the City of David.

 

“And David built all around from Millo an inward. So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.”

2 Samuel 5: 9b, 10

 

At this point, David gets the revelation that he is finally king, and we are told:

 

“So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.”

2 Samuel 5: 12

 

This revelation, in part, appears to go to David’s head, and David then begins to take for himself both wives and concubines.

 

Jerusalem is the place where the Lord chose to put His Name, and it is here that Abraham, at the “Temple Mount,” sought to sacrifice Isaac. This is a special site to the Lord and to the Children of Israel. The taking of Jerusalem and making it the capital caused a shift in the spiritual realm.

 

Now, upon hearing the news of David, the Philistines launched an attack against him. David had fought against the Philistines repeatedly. Once again, David sought the Lord’s instruction on whether or not he should go against the Philistines, and the Lord instructed him to go.

 

“So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, ‘The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of waters.’ Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.”

2 Samuel 5: 20

 

So, after taking Jerusalem, the Lord reveals Himself as the Lord of the Breakthrough to David. Now, once again, we are told the Philistines launch a counterattack, so David again seeks the Lord. This time we are told:

 

“And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly, For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

2 Samuel 5: 24

 

This sound of rustling on the tops of the mulberry trees was believed to be the Lord riding the Mercy Seat as the Lord of the Hosts of the Army of heaven going to battle.

 

David’s Mighty Men

 

You may recall how those in debt, depressed and in distress had come to David at the Cave of Adullam. Well, David had changed these men and made them mighty men.

 

We are given a list of these mighty men in 2 Samuel 23: 8-39 and 1 Chronicles 11: 10-47. They are also called ‘the Thirty’ in 1 Chronicles 12: 4, though in reality, there were 37 men. These men were highly trained warriors who were mighty in battle, having considerable military skill and the blessing of God in their lives.

 

The Ark of the Covenant

 

We see how the Lord had restored Israel as one nation under David and that Jerusalem is the capital. Now the Lord wanted to restore the nation spiritually, which meant bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.

 

David understood that the Lord of Hosts dwelt on the Mercy Seat between the cherubim (2 Samuel 6: 2), so David decided to bring the Ark back. In typical David style, they have a major celebration and parade as they carry the Ark back.

 

Unfortunately, they failed to follow the rules regarding transporting the Ark, and bring it on a cart. When they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, the Ark started to move, and fearing it might fall off, Uzzah touched the Ark to stabilize it.

 

The Lord then struck Uzziah dead, which caused David to become offended and angry at the Lord. Consequently, the Ark is forced to remain at the house of Obed-Edom, who becomes blessed as a result. David, seeing how Obed-Edom is blessed, knows he must bring the Ark to Jerusalem. This time they brought the Ark back correctly.

 

David went before the Ark dancing in worship before the Lord

 

“Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.”

2 Samuel 6: 14, 15

 

To understand why David was so flamboyant in his worship, we must understand that man. We will look at this next. Unfortunately, his wife Micah, upon seeing David leaping and dancing, is outraged. We must remember that at this point, Micah had been given to another man by Saul, but it is clear that she remained loyal to Saul. Michal, like her brother Jonathan, had a great love and respect for David.

 

David’s response to her was, “And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight’ (2 Samuel 6: 22). Michal, as a consequence, never had a child.

 

David A Man After God’s Heart

 

If we look at Psalm 101, we see a code of conduct for David. As we read it, David held himself to the standard of Heaven. To David, humility meant walking submitted to the authority of Heaven.

 

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes…”

Psalm 101:

 

 

Sadly, David would fail in this area after he became king. More on that later. Now let’s add Psalm 101, Psalm 15.

 

“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?”

Psalm 15:1

 

David’s whole life was about the pursuit of the Lord. While David made many mistakes, his heart was always after the Lord. He understood that everything belonged to the Lord (Psalm 24: 1-2), and the only way to come into His Presence was with clean hands and a pure heart.

 

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the Secret Place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.”

Psalm 27: 4-5

 

In these verses, we see David’s heart and that the Lord was a priority to him. He also understood that the Lord was keeping him, and as we look at his life story, the Lord truly did. The key was abiding in the Secret Place of the Lord’s Presence.

 

His heart was captivated by the Lord and his worship affirmed it.

 

A House for the Lord

 

As we have seen, David’s heart was after the Lord. After bringing the Ark back, he knew that It needed a house or tabernacle to hold it. David saw the Ark in a tent, and it broke him. He wanted to build something that he felt was desiring the Ark and the Presence of God. He explained this to the prophet Nathan.

 

The Lord then tells Nathan to prophecy to David, that his son will build a house or the Temple for the Lord. David’s response was to worship and give thanks to the Lord as usual.

 

It is worth pointing out again, that when the Lord reveals why He made David king, He explains, “whom I have commanded to shepherd My people” (2 Samuel 7: 8). When we think of a king, we never imagine that they are to shepherd the people, but that was how the Lord saw it, and David was a shepherd to the people.

 

Mount Zion

 

David established Jerusalem as the capital, and of course, he wanted to build a Temple for the Ark there. But there is more behind the city of Jerusalem, or as it is also called, Zion. What is it?

 

Jerusalem is called the City of God, and even in these Last Days, it is at the center of God’s redemptive plans and the cup of trembling.

 

Zion would be mentioned by the prophets of old, and in the New, well, we are told:

 

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels.”

Hebrews 12: 22

 

David, while he was a king, was also a prophet. David understood that Jerusalem was where the Lord chose to put His Name. It was here that Abraham would be sent to offer Isaac. Here, the Lord would show Abraham that one day, He would present Himself as the provision for men’s sin. No wonder David prophesied in Psalm 22 and accurately captured what would happen to the Messiah in the city of Jerusalem.

 

Great in Name and Heart

 

The young king, David, continued to do great exploits and expand the kingdom. David defeated many kings, and his name became very great. Recent archaeological evidence has found that the term “House of David” was indeed a prestigious title of great respect during David’s days and for many generations after him.

 

We also see that David was a faithful man with a great heart. When he found out that Mephibosheth, the last member of the House of Saul, was still alive, he had him brought to his house.

 

Mephibosheth was lame due to an accident. He was brought before David, who explains that from that day, he was extremely well taken care of and ate at the table of David. David had made a covenant with Saul and Jonathan, and he refused to break his vow.

 

When Kings Go to War

 

As we have seen, David sought to walk right before the Lord. However, when we are in the wrong place at the wrong time, bad things can happen. Before we go further, it is important to note that the story of David is found in the Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. The Book of Chronicles was focused on Judah, while Samuel and Kings, the whole of Israel and Judah. Each book has a slightly different focus and can help us gain a clearer picture of what happened and the revelation the Lord wants us to see.

 

We are told that in the spring, kings go to war. Today, we see many wars in the Middle East or even in other countries that wait until Spring. As a king, David was to be at war, but he decided to remain home.

 

David became restless and later got up from his bed and went out on his roof. Here, he caught sight of Bathsheba bathing, and David lusts after her. He has her brought to him, and he ends up getting her pregnant. However, she was married, and her husband, Uriah, was off fighting.

 

David, in recognizing his wrong, brought Uriah home in the hopes of having him sleep with his wife and assume the child was his. But Uriah is an honorable man, and seeing all the men at war, he deems it inappropriate to sleep with his wife.

 

David then gets Uriah drunk and, the next day, has him sent to the front line, where, just as David had hoped, Uriah is killed. After Bathsheba mourns for her husband, David takes her as one of his wives. David feels like everything has worked out perfectly, but God is not happy.

 

Nathan is sent by the Lord to David and tells him a story or a parable. When Nathan finishes, he tells David that he is the man:

 

“Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?  You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have de

Despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.”

2 Samuel 12: 7-7

 

David then loses the son that Bathsheba was carrying. In looking at Psalm 51, we gain a great image of how broken David and he said:

 

“For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before m. Against You, You only have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight- that You may be found just when You speak and blameless when You judge.”

Psalm 51: 3, 4

 

David then makes a profound statement:

 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your Presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”

Psalm 51: 10, 11

 

David witnessed the Holy Spirit being taken from Saul and its impact on his life. The Holy Spirit and the Lord’s Presence were everything to David. Here, we see that David recognized his greatest treasure was the Lord and feared losing His Presence.

 

Unfortunately, David lived in the Old Testament, when people could only cover up their sins; there was no complete remission of sin, which is found in Christ.

 

Ammon and Tamar

 

The consequences of David’s sin continue to impact his family. Sadly, we fail to see the bigger picture of the wreckage that our sin can cause. David’s daughter Tamar, sister to Absalom, was loved or, more accurately, lusted after by her half-brother Ammon.

 

Ammon, working with a friend, sets up a trap so Ammon can sleep with Tamar. He claims to be sick and asks for Tamar to take care of him. David falls for the trick and sends Tamar to Ammon. Tamar, however, refuses his advances, so he rapes her. After the rape, the love Ammon had for Tamar because of guilt became hatred.

 

Well, Absalom and David soon hear what happened, but David, despite being angry, does nothing. Absalom bought his time and, two years later, sees his opportunity and has Ammon killed.

 

Word got back to David that Absalom had actually killed all of his sons, though later he is told it was only Ammon. Absalom then flees.

 

Absalom’s Challenge

 

“And the spirit of David the king desired to go forth to Absalom, for he was consoled over Ammon because he was dead.”

2 Samuel 13: 39 Targum Jonathan

 

At this point, Absalom has been gone for three years, and David is clearly broken over Absalom, but Absalom’s return is not the one David had hoped it would be. Absalom had spent the time developing a plan to take the throne from David. The killing of Ammon had opened a door in Absalom’s life, and soon the enemy was working overtime.  Absalom had felt rejected by his father, which further stirred the embers of his rage. Absalom believed that the key to his freedom and revenge would be through regicide and patricide.

 

The first step in his diabolical plan was to win the hearts of the people. Absalom returned and David forgave him. But Absalom took for himself horses, chariots, and soldiers. He then began to convince the people that he was the one who truly heard them and was concerned about them, certainly not his father David.

 

Absalom’s plan continues to unfold and soon, his father David has to flee-

 

“The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

2 Samuel 15: 13

 

Absalom was a powerful politician and could manipulate people to achieve his nefarious goals.

 

“So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up. Then someone told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.’ And David said, ‘O Lord, I pray,’ turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

2 Samuel 15: 30, 31

 

David could never have imagined the consequences of sin and how he would find himself here, nor could he even dare dream that the Messiah would find Himself in this very place, the Mo8unt of Olives, about to pay the price for the sin of all mankind.

 

Sex and Betrayal

 

“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trust, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”

Psalm 41: 9

 

Who was this man that we read about who has so deeply wounded David? Well, first we need to look at the curse over David for his sin with Bathsheba.

 

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you that will be from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do things before all Israel, before the sun.”

2 Samuel 12: 11, 12

 

Now remember he is under an Old Testament Law, and he is stuck. There is no power of the Cross to offer him hope.

 

Let me introduce to you David’s advisor, Ahithophel. This evil man acted as a close friend and advisor to David, but he was a self-seeking, self-serving man who only cared about his advancement.

 

When Absalom betrayed David, Ahithophel jumps ship and becomes the faithful advisor to Ahithophel. Part of his advice:

 

“Go to your fathers concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”

2 Samuel 16: 21

 

Absalom had created David derangement syndrome, such that doing such an evil act instead of causing the people to be outraged, they rejoice because of their hatred of David.

 

Now read Psalm 55, and you begin to see the heart of David during this painful season.

 

“My heart is severely pained within me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.”

Psalm 55: 4, 5

 

David wants to run and hide. He adds regarding this person causing such pain:

 

“But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in the throng.”

Psalm 55: 13, 14

 

Betrayal is painful. To watch all that they did to David and to see a nation rejoicing in it was hard for David. In this dark hour, what is David to do?

 

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55: 22

 

When all hope seems lost and he is a broken man, David knows that he has a good God and can trust Him. He has come to a place where even if the Lord slays him, he knows he can trust Him.

 

It is worth pointing out that as David was dying, he spoke to Solomon, warning and reminding him of this man.

 

Absalom

 

Absalom’s degradation continues as he follows the advice of Ahithophel and takes his father’s concubines. He then is advised to take 12,000 men and to take and kill David.

 

“And the saying, pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.”

2 Samuel 17: 4

 

It is hard to imagine how these elders had once stood by David but now wanted him dead and were pleased with a plan to have him killed. Absalom then began to pursue his father, much like Saul.

 

Absalom, in his pride, failed to remember all that the Lord had done for his father and that the very fact that he was king was a miracle of God protecting him from Saul. But Absalom and the elders had no fear of the Lord. But just as the Lord had done for David before, the Lord did for him again.

 

Ultimately, everything would climax at a battle in the woods of Ephraim. The name Ephraim in Hebrew means, “I shall be doubly fruitful.” A prophetic proclamation of how God would indeed restore David once again.

 

“The people of Israel were overthrown there before the servants of David, and a great slaughter of twenty thousand took place there that day. For the battle there was scattered over the face of the whole countryside, and the woods devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.”

2 Samuel 18: 7, 8

 

Absalom, we are told, was riding his mule when his head got caught in a tree, and he was accidentally hung.

 

We are then told that Joab blew a trumpet which was a shofar or ram’s horn. The shofar sound caused the battle to halt. There is a claim that the enemy doesn’t know when he hears a shofar sound if it is God or not. At Mount Sinai, we see how the sound of shofars sounding louder and louder were heard as the Lord came down.

 

Joab then sends a messenger to inform David that Absalom is dead, and the battle is over. David becomes overwhelmed and depressed in mourning.

 

David’s Men Kill the Giants

 

The younger David’s story started with the slaying of a giant, Goliath. But now he is older and worn. He has endured a lot, and we are told the Philistines attack yet once again.

 

This time, as David was fighting, he grew faint, and the son of one of the giants saw an opportunity to kill him. However, Abishai, one of David’s mighty men, came to his aid and killed the giant.

 

“But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, ‘You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”

2 Samuel 21: 7

 

David had poured into these men and made them mighty men, and now it was time to let them be such. As David honored them and they honored David, all were blessed. They understood that it was important for David to be in Jerusalem reigning and blessing the nation and that now they should be fighting for him. The result was that they went out and killed all the giants, and David was able to actually be king again.

 

 

David Takes A Census of the People

 

By this time, David is an older man, and he takes a census of the people. To understand the full story, we have to combine the accounts of First Chronicles chapter 21 and Second Samuel chapter 24.

 

First, we discover that Satan was behind David’s disastrous decision to do the census.

 

“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.”

1 Chronicles 21: 1

 

In the two accounts we see the Lord was angry at the Children of Israel, and David became offended. In the other account, we read:

 

“Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.”

2 Samuel 24: 1

 

However, if we read the Targum, it says:

 

“And the anger of the Lord continued to be strong against Israel, and it incited David against them, saying, ‘Go, count Israel and those of the house of Judah.”

2 Samuel 24: 1 Targum Jonathan

 

So the Lord’s anger toward the people stirred up David, and Satan saw the opportunity and provoked David to number the people in violation of the Word. The consequence of David’s action was judgment. The Lord sent a message to David through the prophet Gad.

 

“GO and tell David, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.’ So Gad came to David and told him; and said to him, ‘Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there by three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.’

2 Samuel 24: 12-13

 

Sadly, David was more concerned about himself than people.

 

The Lord sends a plague, and 70,00 men die. However, when the angel came to Jerusalem and what is today the Temple Mount, the Lord relented.

 

“And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, ‘Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.”

2 Samuel 24: 16, 17

 

The Lord, in His mercy, seeing the site where Jesus would pay the price, relents. In His mercy, He then opens the eyes of David, who sees the angel and is finally convicted of his wrong.

 

David then seeks to buy the threshing floor. The owner, Araunah, offers it for free, but David explains:

 

“No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.”

2 Samuel 24: 24, 25

 

David’s Last Days

 

After the census, David began to make preparations for the building of the Temple. In First Chronicles chapter twenty-two, we see that David had secured the various sources and personnel to build the Temple. But David knew his time was running short.

 

David was now seventy years old, and he was struggling to stay warm, they brought a young virgin in the hope she would help. They find a young, beautiful lady, but although she tends to David, David refuses to sleep with her.

 

As his children recognized that David’s time was limited, Adonijah, who was next in line after Absalom, started to boast that he would soon be king. He gathered for himself chariots, horsemen, and fifty men to run before him, declaring that he would soon be king.

 

However, Nathan, the prophet, Benaiah, David’s special guard, and Zadok, the priest, refuse to participate in Adonijah’s coup.

 

David then anoints Solomon as king, declaring:

 

As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.”

1 Kings 1: 29, 30

 

David then called Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet and then anointed Solomon as king.

 

David then provides a series of instructions to Solomon:

 

“I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man, And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statues, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His Word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.”

1 Kings 2: 2- 4

 

David is Promoted to Heaven

 

We are told:

 

“The period that David reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.”

1 Kings 2: 11, 12

 

As we saw prior to his death, David has put aside a mass of wealth to build the House of the Lord. In addition, we are told:

 

“All this’ said David, ‘The Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans.” And David said to his son, Solomon, ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God- my God- will be with you. He will leave you nor forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”

 

 

David made many mistakes, yet he truly loved the Lord. His life of worship still blesses and challenges believers today to draw closer to the Lord. Through it all, David discovered the greatest treasure was the Lord and, up until the end, sought after Him. David was a king and prophet who we are told will one day reign again. David prophesied of the Messiah and, in Psalm 22, gave a vivid prophecy of Jesus on the Cross.

 

David’s life, though powerful at times, demonstrates the weakness of the flesh and the need for the finished work of the Cross and the mighty Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

1. Garfinkel, Yosef; Ganor, Saar; Hasel, Michael G.. In the Footsteps of King David: Revelations from an Ancient Biblical City (p. 9). Thames & Hudson. Kindle Edition.
2. Garfinkel, Yosef; Ganor, Saar; Hasel, Michael G.. In the Footsteps of King David: Revelations from an Ancient Biblical City (p. 19). Thames & Hudson. Kindle Edition.
3. Garfinkel, Yosef; Ganor, Saar; Hasel, Michael G.. In the Footsteps of King David: Revelations from an Ancient Biblical City (p. 19). Thames & Hudson. Kindle Edition.
4. Johnson, Benjamin J. M.. David: A Man after God’s Own Heart (Cascade Companions) (p. 33). Cascade Books. Kindle Edition.
5.