King David

The story of David's life is presented in the Old Testament, in the books 1 and 2 Samuel. This king of Israel was chosen by God when he was only a young shepherd from a peasant family. Starting off in the service of King Saul, it was the fight of David and Goliath that brought David from anonymity to the head of the army of Israel and eventually to the throne. Let’s discover the story of this valiant soldier, father of King Solomon and author of many psalms.

Who is David, King of Israel?

The man who said: “The Lord is my shepherd"

David looked after his father’s herd when he was called to be anointed by the prophet Samuel. Seeing David’s great brothers, the prophet of God almost made a mistake, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. 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). Indeed, David, whom God calls “a man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22) wrote many poems to the glory of God. In the book of Psalms, we see a David who has extreme confidence in God and loves to obey His law. David’s good heart is also seen in the rest of his life, such as when he was fleeing Saul and took refuge in a cave, and “then gathered around him all the people in distress, all the indebted and all the discontent, and he became their leader. So there were about four hundred men with him.” (1 Samuel 22:1). These rejected by society could approach David because he did not judge them, and being a shepherd had taught him to take care of others. Indeed, these men later became valiant soldiers.

David's harp

On the recommendation of a servant of King Saul, “David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.” (1 Samuel 16:21). He played the harp for the king when the king found himself tormented by evil spirits. His talent made him find favor with the king, but after David entered the king’s army, his impressive victories led to the king’s jealousy. Indeed, it is written: “Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.” (1 Samuel 18:8-9) King Saul began to hate David and tried to put him to death several times. However, David had a heart so attached to God that when he had the opportunity, in turn, to kill Saul, he refused. With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My Lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.” (1 Samuel 24:7-8)

Important Passages from the Life of King David

David and Goliath

“So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.” (1 Samuel 17:50)

“Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.” (1 Samuel 18:5)

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47)

David and Jonathan

“After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.” (1 Samuel 18:1)

“I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.” (2 Samuel 1:26)

“When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”  (2 Samuel 9:6-7)

The second king of Israel

“David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.” (2 Samuel 6:5)

“When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.” (2 Samuel 5:3-4)

David’s Repentance

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”  (2 Samuel 11:2-5)

“Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.” (2 Samuel 12:9)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” (Psalms 50:3-6)