IntroductionKing David is a significant character in the Bible because he foreshadows the coming of Christ, Who was foretold to be a descendant of the House of David. David’s faith also foreshadows the faith that Christ sought among His people (yet in most cases failed to find). While the Bible is the only historical source of information for King David, other than the Tel Dan Stele in the archeological field, an analysis of the person of David is revealing as it sheds much light on the character of God and the merciful nature of the Divine Being Who represents the central heart of the Bible. In the story of King David, it is God’s mercy after all that shines most brightly. David was an individual who had many flaws and imperfections: he could very easily be considered a “bad guy” for his numerous transgressions—such as his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. Yet, in spite of his flaws, God still forgave David—and that is the ultimate point of the story of King David: for those who are willing to accept mercy, God is willing to give it.

David as a Person

David came from humble origins. He was the son of Jesse, who hailed from Bethlehem (the future birthplace of Christ). David grew up a shepherd with a love for music, which he would play on his lyre. Indeed, as Steven Mackenzie notes, “David’s musical talent is what first brought him to Saul’s attention.”[footnoteRef:2] King Saul suffered from terrible evil spirits, and David’s music soothed his soul and as “music was believed to possess magical powers to keep away or exorcise demons and evils spirits,” David was a veritable life saver for King Saul.[footnoteRef:3] [2: Steven Mackenzie, King David: A Biography, Oxford University Press (2000), 56.] [3: Steven Mackenzie, King David: A Biography, Oxford University Press (2000), 56.]

David was not only musically gifted and beloved of God (which is why he was anointed), he was also strong and fit and would later play a great role in leading the army of Israel (and in single-handedly slaying Goliath). However, as David ascended in power, eventually replacing Saul on the throne, his baser nature also came to the fore. He is described by researchers as not only being Machiavellian at times but also as acting like a “‘bloodthirsty fiend from Hell’ who joined a willingness to suppress all opposition with a clever political savvy in order to achieve his sometimes-nefarious ends.”[footnoteRef:4] Yet David’s faults really only came to the surface once Saul was dead and David had become king. [4: Mark L. McConkie and R. Wayne Boss, “David’s Rise to Power - And The Struggle to Keep It: An Examination of the Change Process,” Public Administration Quarterly, 25, 2 (Summer 2001), 192-193.]

Saul’s Demise

Saul had been anointed by Samuel upon God’s decree (just like David would be)—i.e., he had been chosen to be king by God. Saul was a charismatic and handsome warrior who had no desire to be king--nor did he excel in following the commands given him by God through the prophet Samuel. For instance, he failed two particular tests given him to prove his goodness: first, he sacrificed before the Philistine battle instead of waiting to do so as he had been instructed by Samuel; second, he disobeyed the “charem” with the Amalekites: he took hostages when he was instead meant to let no one live. Because of these failures, Saul was eventually rejected by God. For failing to listen...

First, David defeated Goliath, who was the mightiest warrior of the Philistines, at the Socoh of Judah. As David Wolpe notes, David filled the void among the Israelites: Goliath issued a challenge and “no one will step forward to fight him until David” does, using as his weapon only a mere sling with only 5 smooth stones.[footnoteRef:5] His weapon of choice just goes on to prove how heroic David was for not going into battle with a shield or spear or sword. He uses basically kills the giant with a work and demonstrates his own fearlessness. However, upon winning the fight, David then goes on to bring Goliath’s head to Jerusalem, which hints at David’s apparent savage immorality underneath it all. Nonetheless, he is hailed as a conquering hero, is befriended by Jonathan, is loved by women, and—soon enough—stirs up jealousy in Saul. Saul’s fall from grace and David’s rise is a Biblical rags to riches story. [5: David Wolpe, David: The Divided Heart, Yale University Press (2014). Chapter 1, 5.]
As a result of slaying Goliath, David was also supposed to be rewarded with Saul’s daughter Merab in matrimony. However, Saul broke his promise and gave her to another man. Saul’s jealousy of David prompted him to plot against him: he told David to bring him the foreskins of 100 Philistines knowing that David would accept the challenge (and thinking that David would surely die attempting to carry it out).[footnoteRef:6] But David “saw it as an opportunity”[footnoteRef:7] and not only did not die but, like a mythical legend, he accomplished the task and killed not just 100 Philistines but 200—and thus Saul relented and gave him Michal, who David loved. In other words, everything worked out in David’s favor. [6: Kyle P. McCarter, 2 Samuel: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, 315.] [7: Kyle P. McCarter, 2 Samuel: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, 318.]

David as a Bad Guy… the Fall of David

After Saul and his son Jonathan are killed in battle, David ascends the throne. At last at the head of the Israelites, David’s true character begins to emerge. For example, in the spring, when kings typically go to war, David was instead home at his palace, out of harm’s way, instead of in the tents upon the battlefield with the rest of his army. As the general, that is where he should have been—but he was most likely “too old to accompany his army into the field routinely” which probably served as “the crisis” that led to the “change in his life” and his descent into sinfulness.[footnoteRef:8] After all, he was often seen “strolling about on the palace rooftop” when Bathsheba was having her bath, and thus was putting himself in the way of lustful temptations or “impure thoughts and actions” as Davidson calls them.[footnoteRef:9] At any rate, in his older age and lesiure, he had other things on his mind: like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. [8: Kyle P. McCarter, 2 Samuel: A New Translation with Introduction, Notes, and Commentary, 289.] [9: Richard M. Davidson, “Did King David Rape Bathsheba?: A Case Study in Narrative Theology,” 85.]

David summoned Bathsheba to his palace, slept…