As one of my most admired Patriots in the bible, I decided to carry out a comprehensive study on King David. So, who was King David? King David was a man who loved God dearly and reverenced the things of God whole heartedly. Although he was far from being perfect, just like anyone of us, his heart was always in love with God; in other words, his delight was in the laws of the Lord, whom he sought out diligently to please, 1 Samuel 13:14, “ But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee”. David was a God’s pleaser in every way, he was a man who knew the secrets of God and knew how to turn God’s hand by pressing the right buttons (through praise and worship). He was a man chosen by God unto greatness. God saw David’s potential way before any other person did; and He ordained him King over Israel because He delighted in him. “1 Samuel 16:3-7”. David was a man who was sensitive to the things of God and to the Spirit of God.
Before David was chosen by God to be King over His people, the bible records that David was in service looking after his father’s sheep. This showed that God through David’s services to his father Jesse, prepared him for a great future. (You see, God will most of the time use a man who is not afraid of work, rather than one who is idle). He was the youngest of eight brothers, but the greatest of them all. 1 Samuel 16:18, gives us the best description of David in such an accurate, beautiful, and gracious manner, which reflected the glory and favour of God upon his life. And this is what the verse says, “the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him”.
David chose to honour God with all that he had and all that he was, therefore, God gave him victory over Goliath and all through his life. 1 Samuel 17:26. David showed very clearly in “1 Samuel 17:45-47”, that God was his LORD and Defender. He knew beyond all doubt who he believed and worshipped; God was his everything. David reverence for God, demonstrated that all power belongs to God. In other words, he showed that through true worship to God, God’s grace, love and strength was inevitable.
David amazed me when he talked to the Philistines about the undisputed power of God, which was not founded on the strength of swords and spears, but in the mighty name of the Almighty God, “1 Samuel 17:47”. David never claimed God’s glory for himself, rather he delighted in giving God all the adoration. David did not only love God, he was deeply in Love with Jehovah, and in return, God loved David immensely. One other thing that was recorded about David other than his love for God, which made a great impression in me, was that his matured wisdom. Three time in 1 Samuel 18, it was recorded that David was not pompous in all his victories, but he behaved wisely in such a way that he escaped all the evil plans of King Saul, against him. Saul was afraid of David because he saw that the Hand of God was upon him, and when Saul sent his men to kill David, they saw him and prophesied to him instead and likewise Saul. This shows us that when God’s power is at work in us, He will cause even our enemies be at peace with us. Another important thing to note, is that when Saul and his men came close to David with the intention of hurting him, something miraculous transpired; and that is, the anointing of God upon David’s life, rubbed on them, hence the reason they prophesied rather than kill him.
In 1 Samuel 20, we clearly see the favour of God upon the life of David through Jonathan and Michal his wife. David made a covenant with his dearly beloved friend Jonathan and his descendants after him, because he was a man who loved greatly and he appreciated honesty and loyalty. Hence the reason he sought out Jonathan’s son named Mephibosheth after Jonathan’s death, to bless and honour him out of respect for his father Jonathan’s loyal friendship with him while he lived.
David was a man of his word, and he understood the significance of abiding by covenants, through having had many covenants with God and man. He was a man of great humility, whose confidence was never on himself, but on God. He was a great example of a person who was full of gratitude in his heart not only to God, but also man. He remembered every good deed done to him and he returned those favours. One attributes about David, which God loved very much, was his grateful heart and praises to Him. This caused God to not only bless him, but to make him great.
In Chapter 23:2-5, we see how David enquired of the Lord. Now, this is one of the main reasons I love and admire David, he never did anything without first enquiring from the Lord. This did demonstrates to us that victories are born when we first enquire of the Lord before we act. I have always defined wisdom as the ability to stop, think, before you act, and David was a classic example of such. When we sincerely and whole heartedly seek God’s face just like David did, God will speak to us like he spoke to David; He is the same today, yesterday and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
There was a particular incident in the 1 Samuel 30, where after the Amalekites raided where David lived, and they took captive of his family, people and possessions, carrying them away before David returned to Ziklag. When David discovered what had transpired in his absence, and he wept profusely. Rather than making an abrupt decision to go after his enemies, the bible records that he said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue. ” David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit and captured the Amalikites, destroyed them and too reclaimed his family, people, possessions and also that of his enemy. The first time I read this story, my life was transformed forever. I learnt from David to enquire from the Lord before I embark on anything no matter how little it may be.
Another thing that I greatly admired about David, was the fact that he was not a vindictive person. He had the heart of God in him, he demonstrated in 1 Samuel 24:1-5, in an incident that transpired when Saul slept in a cave resting from his purse to destroy David. The bible tells that while he slept, David entered the cave and saw him sleeping, but refused to kill him, even at the encouragement from his men. Instead, he said this, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul”. Twice he did this, and spared Saul’s life. His righteous act illustrated how much he reverenced God and God’s anointed. Due to David’s righteous act to Saul by sparing his life, Saul realised his errors, repented, he proceeded to praise and blessed David. 1 Samuel 24:16-22.
In Samuel 25, we see how Nabal was mean to David and his men, by refusing to give them food, therefore, Nabal was punished by God and he died. But his wife Abigail and her household were saved, because she was good to David and his men without the realisation of her husband. This illustrated that those who hate the children of God for no good reason, are also hated by God. God was David’s Defender, Refuge and Shield.
The Reasons why I admire David
- He loved and feared God immensely.
- He understood the fastest way to God’s heart.
- God’s enemies were his sworn enemies.
- God’s friends were his allies.
- He delighted God with his life.
- God’s words were complete law to him.
- He always repented quickly from his sins.
- He was a giver and a lover.
- He prayed not only for himself, but his generations after him.
- He knew how to call on God quickly for anything.
- He showed us how to touch the heart of God through praise and worship.
- He was devoted and followed God blindly with his eyes closed, but his hearth completely opened.
- He never shared in God’s glory.
- His heart was sincere and humble before God.
- He was a righteous, wise, strong and very courageous man.
In conclusion, we must remember that our obedience and loyalty to God is highly rewarded on the earth and in Heaven. Our completely obedience to God, causes God to bless, keep and favour us in everything. Like David, we should strongly endeavour to be God’s pleasers rather than men. What is most crucial about our walk with God, is that we completely love, trust, surrender and abide by His commands. The bible tells us that God is the rewarder of those who diligently, honestly and whole heartedly seek him. He will never forsake those whose complete trust are in Him; in fact, He delights in giving us good things according to His will for us. He knows the end from the beginning. He is the Most High God and all things are His; therefore, let us make a conscious decision to follow Him not only exclusively, but blinding and lovingly too