David, the son of Jesse, was an enigma. A survey through his life would present many inexplicables. He was reputedly a ruddy lad; handsome with beautiful eyes. Yet his father had ‘forgotten’ about this son when asked to present all his sons before the prophet Samuel. He was assigned the duty of watching over the flocks whilst his elders attended to more urgent matters; was he a lesser? A tiresome youngster, a pesky nuisance, his brothers had rebuked him for leaving the flocks in search of excitement. Still this less than bashful lad would challenge the mighty Goliath whilst the whole army of Israel wilted in a miasma of fear. Unfettered zeal? Youthful naivety? Optimistic derring-do? But this kid, who claimed that he had killed a lion and a bear, was now ready to take on Goliath for insulting the Name of the LORD. He donned no armor, was armed with a slingshot and a few pebbles.
With the house of Saul, he showed much regard. There is more about Jonathan than about his own siblings. His own cousins had larger roles in his army and life. David would not retaliate against Saul though presented with several opportunities to do so. Saul, his father-in-law, who hunted him like an animal, forcing him to hide and run in hills and caves. A demented king plagued by bouts of attacks, would launch spears at the one who could play his lyre to calm the spirits that so haunted him. A young man of valor, a man of war, handsome and prudent in speech, a man of music! And the LORD was with him.
He spent his time as a wandering warlord but did not abuse the local people. He slaughtered all his enemies. He allianced the Philistines, and would have been in the invading army had not the Philistine princes distrusted him. He could have by force, exacted tribute but chose instead to make requests for consideration from the likes of Nabal. When offended in front of his army, he was quick to convene a response force, but stopped short when placated by Nabal’s wife, Abigail. This same lady was widowed and was subsequently proposed to, by David.
Inaugurated King of Israel, he commanded the nation, and could require harems of fair maidens from throughout the empire, yet he had to have his comrade, Uriah’s wife. He commanded her presence and profaned the house of Uriah. A scheme was conceived to entice and deceive his loyalist to return to his house to conjugate his already pregnant wife. It was executed without success. This escalated to a plot to have Uriah betrayed and killed in battle, an opportunity capitalized by his cousin Joab to rid himself of several others; quite a few of David’s own strong men. David was hamstrung, but showed no regret or remorse on the murder of those who were his able and faithful lieutenants nor was there any evidence of anger or accounting for Joab. David summarily thought that he had put matters right; by marrying the woman!
He would willingly suffer the bilious attack by Shimei, when he had to flee his own Absalom. He imbibed the full measure of his son’s rebellion. He thought that it was the LORD who commanded Shimei’s vitriol insolence. His own fate would not have been in dispute had Absalom been successful. Words were not enough for Shimei as he continued to follow, cursing and throwing stones at David and his fleeing army. On his return, he would so mourn the death of his treasonous son till his generals doubted his sanity. In the general amnesty, he decided under oath, in the Name of the LORD, to assure Shimei of his life and released him. Yet on his death-bed, he commanded Solomon not to allow Shimei any consideration when the next opportunity to dispatch him appeared! It was also at his death-bed that he commanded retribution for Joab; for all his earlier conspiracies, but could it also be, for Joab’s slaughter of Absalom?
Yet this was the same man, the great psalmist who penned so many of the psalms in praise of the LORD. This was the same man who was described as a man after God’s heart, a man who would do much in preparation for the Temple, a man who would not have his Lord confined in a tent whilst he lived in a house, a man who would dance and sing before the LORD till his wife could stand him no longer! This same man wrote;
He spent his time as a wandering warlord but did not abuse the local people. He slaughtered all his enemies. He allianced the Philistines, and would have been in the invading army had not the Philistine princes distrusted him. He could have by force, exacted tribute but chose instead to make requests for consideration from the likes of Nabal. When offended in front of his army, he was quick to convene a response force, but stopped short when placated by Nabal’s wife, Abigail. This same lady was widowed and was subsequently proposed to, by David.
Inaugurated King of Israel, he commanded the nation, and could require harems of fair maidens from throughout the empire, yet he had to have his comrade, Uriah’s wife. He commanded her presence and profaned the house of Uriah. A scheme was conceived to entice and deceive his loyalist to return to his house to conjugate his already pregnant wife. It was executed without success. This escalated to a plot to have Uriah betrayed and killed in battle, an opportunity capitalized by his cousin Joab to rid himself of several others; quite a few of David’s own strong men. David was hamstrung, but showed no regret or remorse on the murder of those who were his able and faithful lieutenants nor was there any evidence of anger or accounting for Joab. David summarily thought that he had put matters right; by marrying the woman!
He would willingly suffer the bilious attack by Shimei, when he had to flee his own Absalom. He imbibed the full measure of his son’s rebellion. He thought that it was the LORD who commanded Shimei’s vitriol insolence. His own fate would not have been in dispute had Absalom been successful. Words were not enough for Shimei as he continued to follow, cursing and throwing stones at David and his fleeing army. On his return, he would so mourn the death of his treasonous son till his generals doubted his sanity. In the general amnesty, he decided under oath, in the Name of the LORD, to assure Shimei of his life and released him. Yet on his death-bed, he commanded Solomon not to allow Shimei any consideration when the next opportunity to dispatch him appeared! It was also at his death-bed that he commanded retribution for Joab; for all his earlier conspiracies, but could it also be, for Joab’s slaughter of Absalom?
Yet this was the same man, the great psalmist who penned so many of the psalms in praise of the LORD. This was the same man who was described as a man after God’s heart, a man who would do much in preparation for the Temple, a man who would not have his Lord confined in a tent whilst he lived in a house, a man who would dance and sing before the LORD till his wife could stand him no longer! This same man wrote;
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; 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 enquire in his temple. (Psa 27:4)
His testimony was of his single desire, his one pursuit in life; to dwell in the house of the LORD with the view of beholding His beauty, and to strenuously search and enquire into His word. Quite a confession; the distilled essence of nights of contemplation in the fields and in distress whilst on the run? Did David live and end well? Towards the end, he could not even keep himself warm. His sons were running wild; Absalom usurped the throne and made a public display of violating his concubine wives. Adonijah conspired with Joab and Abiathar for the throne. He had lost control though a king. There is a marked paucity of psalms from this era.
If I would seriously examine the life of David, as a man after God’s heart, I will have no restraint in attesting him a misnomer. Many of his knowing actions would not pass the test of a decent man, much less a godly man. David is no hero of mine. He proved himself to be severely wanting. His life story however, would be a glorious testament of a fallen sinner, saved, only by grace. A testament, all of us share.
If I would seriously examine the life of David, as a man after God’s heart, I will have no restraint in attesting him a misnomer. Many of his knowing actions would not pass the test of a decent man, much less a godly man. David is no hero of mine. He proved himself to be severely wanting. His life story however, would be a glorious testament of a fallen sinner, saved, only by grace. A testament, all of us share.
And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God. What can David speak more to thee for the honor of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant. O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (1Ch 17:16-20)
God bless.
/ckh
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