King David stands as one of the most significant figures in the Bible, a man who journeyed from shepherd to king, all while cultivating a deep relationship with God. David's life was marked by incredible victories, such as his defeat of Goliath, and profound struggles, including his moral failures. Despite his imperfections, David was known as a "man after God's own heart," a title that speaks to his unwavering faith and desire to follow God’s will. Through his psalms, reign, and the promises God made to him, David’s life offers powerful lessons about faith, repentance, and leadership that continue to resonate with us today.
David and Goliath's battle is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. David, a young shepherd boy, was sent by his father to bring food to his brothers who were fighting in King Saul's army. While there, he encountered the giant Philistine warrior, Goliath, who challenged the Israelites to send a champion to fight him. David, armed only with a sling and five smooth stones, boldly faced Goliath, stating that his faith in God would deliver victory. With one stone, he struck Goliath in the forehead, causing him to fall. David then used Goliath’s own sword to kill him, a victory that led to Israel's triumph over the Philistines.
David’s early life was humble. He was the youngest of eight sons born to Jesse, a farmer from Bethlehem. As a shepherd, David spent much of his youth tending to his father’s sheep. It was during these years that he developed courage and a deep trust in God, protecting his flock from wild animals like lions and bears. His time as a shepherd also gave him the opportunity to cultivate his musical skills, playing the harp and composing psalms of worship.
David’s faith and bravery during his early life set the stage for his future role as king. Even before facing Goliath, David had been secretly anointed by the prophet Samuel to become the next king of Israel. His victory over Goliath brought him national recognition, marking the beginning of a journey from shepherd to warrior, and eventually to the throne of Israel
Before David’s coronation as king, King Saul’s jealousy toward him grew deeply rooted. Saul initially welcomed David into his service after David defeated Goliath, giving him military responsibilities and favor within the kingdom. However, when the women of Israel began praising David more than Saul, singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands,” Saul’s pride turned into jealousy. From that point, Saul perceived David as a threat to his throne and began to view him with suspicion and hatred.
David's relationship with Jonathan, the son of King Saul, is one of the most famous friendships in the Bible. After David defeated Goliath, Jonathan was drawn to him, and they quickly formed a deep bond. The Bible describes Jonathan’s love for David as being like that for his own soul. Their relationship was marked by loyalty, mutual respect, and selflessness. Jonathan even went against his father, Saul, to protect David, knowing that God had chosen David to be king. They made a covenant to protect each other's families, and Jonathan consistently helped David escape Saul’s attempts to kill him.
Saul’s jealousy only intensified as David continued to succeed in every mission Saul gave him. Even though David remained loyal, Saul’s fear and envy of David’s rising popularity drove him to repeatedly attempt to kill David. The Bible describes how the Lord’s favor had left Saul and was now with David, which further heightened Saul’s sense of insecurity and desperation to retain power.
David became king of Judah around 1010 BCE, after the death of King Saul. He was anointed by the tribe of Judah first, and later, after a civil war with Saul's son Ish-bosheth, David was made king over all Israel approximately seven years later, uniting the nation under his reign for 40 years.
God chose David to be king because of his heart and faith. Unlike Saul, who was chosen partly due to his outward appearance, David was selected based on his inner qualities. He was known for his deep trust in God, humility, and a willingness to serve God faithfully. Though he was the youngest of his brothers and a simple shepherd, God saw his potential to lead the nation. David's faith and reliance on God, exemplified in stories like his victory over Goliath, made him the ideal choice to lead Israel.
Initially, David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah, but after seven years of civil conflict, he was crowned king over all the tribes of Israel, uniting them under his rule. His reign marked the establishment of a united kingdom, bringing together the northern and southern tribes. David demonstrated political and military prowess, expanding Israel’s territory and securing its borders.
A significant event in David's reign was his effort to unite the nation religiously by bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. After an initial failed attempt that resulted in the death of Uzzah, David successfully transported the Ark into the city with great celebration. This act solidified Jerusalem as both the political and spiritual center of Israel, symbolizing the unity of the tribes and David’s dedication to God. His public worship during the event, including dancing before the Ark, demonstrated his deep faith and helped to foster national religious identity.
God’s covenant with David, often referred to as the Davidic Covenant, is another cornerstone of his reign. Through the prophet Nathan, God promised that David's dynasty would endure forever. One of David’s descendants would establish an eternal kingdom, a promise Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This covenant not only guaranteed David’s legacy but also positioned his family as central to the unfolding of God's plan for Israel and the world.
Nathan the prophet played a critical role in David’s spiritual life. He served as God's messenger and provided counsel to David during his reign. Nathan’s relationship with David, while marked by truth-telling, was also one of care and guidance, as he later assured David of God’s ongoing favor and his future legacy through the Davidic covenant.
David’s greatest moral failure was his sin with Bathsheba, which involved both adultery and murder. While his army was at war, David saw Bathsheba bathing and, overcome by desire, summoned her to his palace. Despite knowing she was married to Uriah, one of his loyal soldiers, David committed adultery with her. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to cover up the sin by recalling Uriah from the battlefield, hoping he would sleep with his wife. When Uriah refused out of loyalty to his comrades, David arranged for him to be placed on the front lines of battle, where he was killed.
Nathan confronted David by telling him a parable about a rich man who took a poor man’s only lamb. When David reacted with anger at the injustice in the story, Nathan revealed that the story symbolized David’s own actions. David immediately recognized his sin and repented, saying, "I have sinned against the Lord." Despite his repentance, Nathan warned David that the consequences of his actions would be severe. The child born from Bathsheba died, and David's household would experience turmoil and rebellion as a result of his sin.
Although David’s sin was great, his genuine repentance allowed him to receive God’s forgiveness. Psalm 51 reflects David’s sorrow and plea for mercy. However, the consequences of his actions reverberated throughout his reign, with family conflicts and personal losses, particularly the rebellion of his son Absalom. David's story serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the importance of true repentance.
David is most famously known for writing many of the Psalms in the Bible. Out of the 150 psalms, David is traditionally credited with composing 73 of them. These include well-known psalms such as Psalm 23 ("The Lord is my shepherd"), Psalm 51 (David's prayer of repentance), and Psalm 139. Some of the psalms attributed to David are Psalms 3–9, 11–32, 34–41, and 51–65, among others.
David did not write an entire book in the Bible, but his life and deeds are central to the narratives found in 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles. His story is also referenced in several New Testament books, including Matthew, Luke, Acts, and Romans.
Although David is most often associated with the Psalms, he did not write them all himself, and there are contributions from other authors like Asaph and the sons of Korah.
King David died of natural causes around 970 BCE after ruling Israel for 40 years. In his later years, David's health declined, and he was bedridden. Before his death, David gave specific instructions to ensure a smooth succession. His son Solomon, whom he had with Bathsheba, was chosen as his successor, fulfilling God's promise that David's dynasty would continue through Solomon. David's death marked the end of a significant era in Israel's history, but his legacy endured through the Davidic line.
Solomon succeeded David as king, following a period of political tension. Although another son, Adonijah, attempted to claim the throne, David made a public declaration of Solomon’s kingship with the support of Nathan and Bathsheba. Solomon's reign is noted for bringing peace and prosperity to Israel, and he is especially famous for building the First Temple in Jerusalem, fulfilling one of David's unrealized dreams.
Through the lens of modern Christians, not many would approve of David. While David had many positive things said about him in the Bible, we are also given much information that could condemn him.
Modern-day Christians would more likely choose to disapprove of King David rather than approve of him based on his actions.
When we look at David, we see a man who murdered another man in order to have his wife. We also see a man who committed adultery with a married woman.
All of these things could lead us to think bad things about King David. Instead of focusing on the positive things about David and how he repented his sin, modern Christians would be more likely to dwell on his negatives.
This is because, as human beings, we tend to focus on the negative instead of the positive. In other words, we tend to be judgmental rather than merciful. All of these things would place David at a disadvantage in the modern day.
It is wonderful that David saw the error of his ways; however, not many Christians would be willing to overlook his offenses. As a modern-day Christian myself, it is hard to ignore the sins of adultery and murder.
If someone in our church or someone we know committed adultery with a married woman and murdered her husband in order to have her, we probably would not have a positive view of them.
To this extent, we can understand why many Christians in the modern day would not approve of King David.
Even though we can relate to how one could disapprove of David, we also have to remember that he did turn back to God. David repented of his sin and asked the Lord for forgiveness.
All of us have done bad things; however, how many of us have actually repented and turned to the Lord for forgiveness? These are all things we need to remember when we are quick to pass judgment on David. David did many bad things in his life, but so have we.
With this in mind, we need to remember that we need to practice mercy over judgment. Instead of judging David, we need to leave all judgment to God. He is the One who will judge us all, and, in a way, David has already dealt with the consequences of his sin.
As a result of David’s adultery, Bathsheba became pregnant; however, the baby passed away. While this is sad, we can also see how David already faced judgment for his actions.
As Christians, it is not right for us to judge anyone, including David. Modern Christians would disapprove of David, but this is something that we need to change. We shouldn’t approve of his sin, but we should not condemn him either.
David repented and turned away from his sin. He didn’t choose to continue to live on in his sin and rebel against God. Instead, he chose to turn back to God with his entire mind, body, and soul.
Although God and David’s relationship had been damaged, it was repaired once David sought out forgiveness and repented of his sin. Later, David and Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon, who became king after David.
Moreover, Jesus’ lineage is found through David (Matthew 1:1-16). This means that we can trace Jesus’ ancestry back to King David and Bathsheba. Many people might see this as something insane, but this is actually part of how God creates good even out of bad things (Romans 8:28).
For further reading:
Would Christians Today Approve of Rahab in the Bible?
How Did a Man after God’s Own Heart Fall So Far into Sin?
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Gearstd