In the previous post, we discussed what happened when the people rejected God and asked Him to “Appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have” (1 Sam. 8:5). They got Saul, the tall, farmer-turned-king, who rallied Israel’s tribes against their enemies and shone with early promise. But pride, fear, and disobedience consumed him, and the once-chosen ruler fell by his own sword on Mount Gilboa. Then came David.
In Saul, God gave the Israelites what they clamored for. With David He gave them what they needed.
David’s story didn’t begin in a palace or on the battlefield but in the pastures outside Bethlehem. The youngest son of Jesse, he was given the lowly work of tending sheep. Alone under the stars, he learned to sing psalms of worship and to trust God’s presence. He also learned courage, protecting his flock from wild animals – a courage that would one day defend Israel itself.
After Saul’s demise, the prophet Samuel was sent to Jesse’s house to anoint a new king. Jesse presented his older sons, but God whispered, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Finally, David was called in from the fields, and, to everyone’s surprise, was anointed by Samuel as the successor-king. God has a habit of raising up the overlooked.
At first David’s service was small. He played the harp in Saul’s court to soothe the troubled king. But then came the defining moment against the Philistine giant, Goliath. Armed with only a sling, five smooth stones, and faith, David declared, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). One stone was enough. The shepherd boy became a hero.
David’s fame sparked Saul’s jealousy. The people sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). Consumed with envy, Saul pursued David. Years of exile followed, with David hiding in caves, leading outcasts, and refusing to kill Saul when given the chance. At times, David leaned on cunning or fear instead of faith, even pretending madness before foreign kings (1 Samuel 21:13). Brave and trusting, and, yes, deeply human.
When Saul fell in battle, David grieved. He mourned Saul and his son Jonathan, his dearest friend. Soon, the tribe of Judah anointed him king, and after years of conflict, all Israel followed. He captured Jerusalem, made it his capital, and brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city with rejoicing. Then came God’s promise through the prophet Nathan: “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). This “Davidic covenant” became the heartbeat of Israel’s hope.
But David’s reign was far from spotless. One evening, while others were at war, David lingered in Jerusalem. From his rooftop, he saw Bathsheba bathing. He summoned her, slept with her, and when she became pregnant, arranged the death of her husband Uriah to cover it (2 Samuel 11). It was an abuse of power. Nathan confronted him, and David confessed. Out of that brokenness came Psalm 51: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
In his later years, David faltered again. He ordered a census, placing confidence in numbers rather than God. A plague followed, another reminder that Israel’s security rested in Yahweh, not its king. As his death approached, palace intrigue swirled. One son, Adonijah, tried to seize the throne. But David named Solomon – Bathsheba’s son – as his rightful heir. On his deathbed, he charged Solomon: “Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands… do this so that you may prosper in all you do” (1 Kings 2:3). After forty years of reign, David died and was buried in Jerusalem.
So how do we remember him? Scripture calls him “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22), yet his sins were grievous. He was faithful yet flawed, victorious yet vulnerable. His life shows both the heights of devotion and the depths of failure. But more importantly, it shows God’s faithfulness.
David’s story always pointed forward. His psalms give prophetic glimpses of Christ. Psalm 110 speaks of a king-priest greater than David. The angel’s announcement to Mary echoed God’s covenant: “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign… his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32-33).
David’s reign ended in the grave. But the Son of David rose from the grave. Where David’s failures brought brokenness, Jesus’ obedience brought salvation. Where David’s kingdom crumbled, Jesus’ kingdom stands forever. David was a shepherd-king whose songs still teach us to pray. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the King of kings, who answers those prayers with life.
David’s story, warts and all, is good news for us. If God’s grace could work through someone like David – flawed, repentant, forgiven – then there is hope* for us too. His life reminds us that no earthly king can save us. Only the Son of David can.
* I wrote this blog post on August 27, 2025, the day of yet another school shooting, this time at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. The school’s theme for the year is one of hope: “A Future Filled with HOPE!” A website message to the Annunciation family was posted by the principal and pastor with the closing salutation, “In partnership, in community, in Christ” – HOPE!
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