One of my favorite biblical characters has always been King David. From when I was a boy, reading about the exploits and bravery of David as a youngster (lions and bears and Philistines!), until now when in mid-life I also admire David’s wisdom, humility and desire to follow God wholeheartedly. The historical accounts of David’s life found in the Bible will remain an example to all of us for eternity of an imperfect, sinful man who God used in a mighty way.
David lived a life full of conflict, turmoil, battle and bloodshed. He was one of the greatest warriors to ever walk the face of the earth and surrounded himself with many other great warriors (check out 2 Samuel 23 for a list of some of them). He conquered and brought peace and prosperity to the nation of Israel but always gave God the glory for what he accomplished (1 Chronicles 29:10-19). In the midst of that prosperity and victory, he realized that he was living in a better home than God, and desired to build a glorious temple to God, but he had shed so much blood that God would not let him build the temple (1 Chronicles 17).
David sinned both publicly and privately. He lied and deceived. He murdered. He committed adultery. He had way too many wives and concubines. His family was a mess – sons raping their sisters, killing each other and fighting over who would be the next king. And yet, we see David caring more about his sons than retaining control over his kingdom (2 Samuel 18:33).
David refused to allow one of his commanders to “take off the head” of a man who was cursing David as he fled from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 16:9-10). And David was unwilling to take the life of an enemy that God had anointed (1 Samuel 26:8-12). I think it is this imperfection, this realness, this tension between being a great hero and being a villain at times and having serious life struggles, that makes me like David so well. He loved God and wrote many of the Psalms praising God for who He is and what He has done, and God called Him a “man after my heart, who will do all my will,” in Acts 13:22.
As much as I would like to follow David in his good qualities, there is a greater example to follow that David was just a foreshadow of. Jesus Christ, born a little over 2000 years ago as a direct descendant of King David, lived the perfect life, making the ultimate sacrifice of His life for my sins, defeating death and preparing for me a place in heaven.
Worship King Jesus this Christmas season!
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