Stories of the Saints Digging Deeper

David
Introduction
Though not the first king of Israel, David is one of the central figures of the Biblical story. His story is one that we cannot hope to cover in depth in this brief space, so we will endeavour to dig into some major themes of his story, and the implications of them for our stories here today. Of all the kinds of Israel/Judah, there is none as well known as David, both for good and bad. For anyone who may think that the Bible is a sterile list of rules and principles for living a good life, you need to read Davids story. In the Bible, it spans from 1 Samuel 16 through 1 Kings 2. He also wrote about half of the Psalms; he was not only a shepherd, soldier, and king, but a gifted musician as well. Following this victory, David becomes extremely popular and Saul is murderously jealous, turning on David on many occasions. And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom? (I Sam 18:8) Following Sauls death and much turmoil, David becomes king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (2 Sam. 5:4) David wants to build God a temple, and God replied that He has no need, yet He will allow Davids son to build it. Yet God also turns the idea around and promises to David that his house will reign forever. He promises Jesus, the true King, whose reign will never end. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (2 Sam. 7:11-13) David commits adultery with Bathsheba, gets her pregnant, then lies and condones murder to cover it up. He is rebuked by Nathan the prophet (who was to David as Samuel was to Saul). Psalm 51 is Davids prayer of repentance. (Nathan said Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (2 Sam. 12:9)

A Brief History of David

The story covers so much territory that even in these pages, we can only barely cover the major points. What may be most helpful is to look at some key verses and themes from his life and story: Before Saul is dead, David is anointed as the next King. He is chosen by God through Samuel, and as we so often see with God, He chooses someone no one else would have chosen. But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (I Sam. 17:6) David defeats Goliath as a young boy, in a battle that he should never have won. But the key point here is that it was Gods power, not Davids that won the battle.1 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORDs, and he will give you into our hand. (I Sam 17:47)

The Significance of Gods Power and Promises

Through the story of David, we see a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs: emotions, events, and his relationship with God. David was the youngest of seven children, chosen by God, not by man. And in so many ways, Davids story is our story not because we have such a soap opera of a life, but because the God who chose David and

David and Goliath has become a pop culture reference to any time an underdog faces an intimidating enemy. However, using the story in this way completely misses the point of the story. David does not win this battle without Gods power. No amount of luck or determination on Davids part brings the victory.

2009-2010 Concordia Lutheran Church. Used by permission. For more information, visit www.concordialive.ca

Stories of the Saints Digging Deeper

worked in him and through him is the same God who chooses us, and works in and through us as well. Through Davids life, the Bible is clear that it is Gods hand who is guiding him in all of his successes and victories. Yet even through David experienced the power of God in ways that we likely never will, there were huge moments of weakness and sin in Davids life. David turned away from God, yet God never turned away from David. Even in the darkest moments, God did not abandon David. One of the most poignant prayers of David is a famous one from Psalm 51: Take not your Holy Spirit from me. David had seen this first-hand: when God took His Spirit from Saul, Sauls life was changed (not in a good way), and David was the intended victim of Sauls actions apart from the Holy Spirit (see 1 Sam. 18 and 19). And Gods promises to David were steadfast and never broken. As we have mentioned already, the issue of the temple became the place where God turned the tables on David and said, though you want to build me a house, David, I will establish a house for you, one that will last forever. That house was the kingdom of God, and Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise. The New Testament, Matthew in particular, speaks conclusively of Jesus as of the house and line of David, showing that Jesus was actually the coming King that God has foretold to His people in the Old Testament (Matthew 1 alone refers to Jesus lineage from David 4 times.) repentance. Repentance is, literally, a turning of the mind. When we are convicted of our sin, we have no choice but to agree with God and say I have sinned. And God assures us that, through Jesus, He has put away our sin. Yet we constantly need to be reminded of that. And we are, each Sunday, and really every day, as we come before God in repentance, seeking forgiveness. And why is this forgiveness such a big deal? Because it has implications both for now and for eternity. Without forgiveness from God which removes our sin, we would spend eternity apart from Him, because a holy and perfect God cannot abide in the presence of sinful people. And it is this same forgiveness that makes restoration between people possible too.2 The implications of this in our daily lives are enormous. Living our lives in response to this Good News that God has put away our sin changes everything. We dont live in order to gain favour from God; we already have it because of Jesus. We dont love others to get loved by God; we love others because we already are loved by God. And this makes all the difference. So, a concluding thought and question this week: as you ponder this, what else can you think of that is changed by the Good News of Jesus? How else does this impact your daily life?

We are like David?

Though we may not see many similarities on the surface, our stories are very much Davids story. God chooses us to be His, and we have many ups-and-downs in our relationship with Him. One day we feel like we can reach the world in His name, the next we would rather be anywhere than in His presence. Yet our comfort is also Davids Listen to the words of Nathan the prophet, after confronting David about his sin with Bathsheba: David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. (2 Sam. 12:13) Davids response to being convicted of sin was
2

This is why we pray forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who trespass against us in the Lords Prayer (from Matthew 6:11-15). Also, 1 John 4:7-21.

2009-2010 Concordia Lutheran Church. Used by permission. For more information, visit www.concordialive.ca