I know I have been gone for a long, long time. I missed writing for my Bible Project. I should be writing on the book of Joshua. I have a very long back log already (Joshua, Judges and Ruth) but I can’t help but write about one of the most fascinating characters in the Bible: King David.
I have just finished 1 Samuel and it was amazing! I have to read the succeeding books to know the continuation but with just this book alone, I’ve learned more about King David and his humanity. It is deeply comforting. Before, I used to consider him a saint, you know, the perfect one, always doing the will of God and after God’s own heart. But then, he is also human like us. He is someone we can all relate to. To think that we can all relate to a man of God like him is a great relief. The people we look up to are like us: What an amazing feeling!
God said in Genesis that it is not good for man to be alone. As humans, we are social, relational beings. Our wellness depends on it. We experience joy, peace and security when we know that someone understands and accept us. There is no perfect world. We will face challenges now and then. But one big factor for us to hold on is the knowledge and comfort of companionship. The problems won’t go away but they are bearable if we know we are not alone and someone knows our pain so well because he experienced it himself. It is like medicine to our weary soul when someone can see, hear and believe in us as who we really are. No pretensions whatever.
Before that drama gets any longer, I have 3 amazing reasons this book of 1 Samuel showed King David’s likeness to us.
Reason # 1: King David is emotional.
Not all times but he did feel things the way we could when we are grieving, celebrating, doubtful, etc.
When the Philistines were taunting the Hebrews, he felt anger that the former were disrespecting and belittling the one true God. When his father-in-law, King Saul, tried to kill him several times, he wept and asked God why. There are at least twice in 1 Samuel that he confronted King Saul and told him his deep hurt. Why is he being repaid with murder plots for all the service and loyalty he rendered to his father-in-law?
He was also angered by Nabal’s disregard for the kindness that he and his troops showed to him. He was grateful and had that brotherly love for Jonathan with whom he had a covenant with.
Moreover, as the youngest son of his father, Jesse, he felt the need to prove himself. When Samuel looked for the next king, Jesse thought David was not qualified. They even had to call him from tending the sheep when Samuel had finished meeting all his sons. Also, when he wanted to fight Goliath, they were in great disbelief of how a boy who is just a shepherd would even have the nerve to challenge a giant. It was not explicitly stated but one could read between the lines, he was longing for his fathers and brothers’ approval and confidence in him.
Reason #2: King David is unassuming.
King David is super duper humble. Even though he was appointed with oil by Samuel himself, he didn’t seize power. His journey to kingship is really how God moved things to be. He didn’t even want to marry Michal when King Saul offered her hand to him because he thought he is not worthy of it.
And even though he deserved justice for all the evil and harmful things King Saul had done to him, he let God’s hand move and allow God to deliver justice. He was given two chances to kill Saul once and for all and get the just compensation. However, he didn’t and reasoned out that since Saul is anointed by God, only God can also remove him from position. He did not do it because Saul deserves the kingship but because he feared the One who appointed Saul. [On the side note: He also did not put justice in his hands when Nabal disrespected him and his troops. His anger were subsided by Abigail’s (Nabal’s wife) humility.]
And I find it even more profound that he never had any evil nor harmful intentions toward Saul although he has the right to. He didn’t harbor revenge but always, he pleaded and cried out to Saul. There was great injustice to him and he was forced to live like a fugitive. His family’s safety was also in danger. Yet, he accepted and respected God’s decision to allow these things to happen to him. He might not like it. It is unjust Saul is king but still he choose to overlook his reasonable hurts. I think he was holding on that in the end, God will vindicate him.
Reason #3: King David wasn’t always admired by his subordinates.
We have always thought that King David is popular and well loved by his subjects, which is why songs are written about him. [It was a song that sparked Saul’s jealousy.] But they are times when his leadership and authority was questioned, in particular, after the raid. His men even wanted to kill him.
I guess these experiences had accustomed him to not rely on people because they are fickle. Saul is his father-in-law and many times, he promised to not harm King David yet he always did. His men had also been with him for so long but after the raid, they wanted to harm him.
He can’t get consistent companionship, faithfulness, confidence and approval from his father, brothers, father-in-law and even his men. And so, he learned to trust on God.
I like David. He is a real person with human feelings, human thoughts and limitations. I look forward to reading the next books!