Bible Studies

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The Story of David
Part I: The Boy

I love the story of David. It is one of disobedience and remorse, obedience and forgiveness, and the consequences of not following God's will. It contains violence, drama, adultery and even murder. So, I often ask, "How can David be a 'man after God's own heart' with all of the wrongs he committed"? The answer IS David's heart. He loved God with ALL of his heart. That doesn't mean God wasn't hurt or upset, even angered by David's sin, or with our sin. It just means that if we love Him with our whole heart and are truly sorry, He is faithful and just to forgive us. We are only human; that is the way God made us. The point is to strive for perfection and when we do fall, to pick ourselves up and run into our Father's arms.

To understand David's story, we begin with Saul. Saul was the king of Israel, but God had become displeased with him. Saul was impatient and disobedient. Because of Saul's sin, God chose David, "a man after God's own heart" to become King. (I Samuel 13). When Saul again disobeyed God, He was told, "To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed (listen) is better than the fat of rams." (vs. 22). No matter what we think we can or cannot offer God, all He wants is our obedience. He just wants us to listen and obey!

In the story, God sends the prophet Samuel to find Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one of his sons as the future king. Jesse parades seven of his sons, rugged and handsome, in front of Samuel. Each time Samuel thinks, "Surely this is the one?" But God tells him, "Don't consider his appearance...man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart". (I Sam. 16:7). When Samuel asks Jesse if these are all the sons he has, Jesse tells him the youngest is out tending the sheep. When little David comes in, the Lord tells Samuel, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." (vs. 12).

So, here is David. He's just been anointed king. But it will be a long time before he actually takes the throne. We'll stop here with a Psalm that David wrote:

"I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:1-2).

The story continues in Part II: The Warrior.

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