Posted on 01/14/2015 6:01:53 AM PST by Gamecock
Everyone who knows the Bible knows that King David was a great man. And yet everyone familiar with the Bible also recognizes that David did a lot of not-so-great things. Of course, there was the sin with Bathsheba, the murder of her husband Uriah, and the subsequent cover-up. That was not exactly delighting in the law of the Lord (Ps. 1:2). But there was also the ill-advised census motivated by David’s pride, not to mention a series of lessons in how not to manage your household well. For being a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), David managed to follow his own heart quite a bit.
So with all these flaws, what made David great? One could easily mention David’s courage, his loyalty, his faith, and his success as a leader, musician, and warrior. But he was great in other, lesser-known ways as well. In particular, David was a great man because he was willing to overlook others’ sins but unwilling to overlook his own.
David was a gracious man, bearing with the failings of others, eager to give his enemies a second chance. Twice, while his friends advised him to strike down their enemy, David spared Saul’s life (1 Sam. 24; 26). Though Saul opposed him at every turn, David did not rejoice at his death, but he wept for the king and his son Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:17–27). David welcomed Abner when he defected from the phony king Ish-bosheth and mourned for him when distrusting Joab stuck him down (chap. 3). David was unnecessarily kind to Mephibosheth (chap. 9) and uncommonly patient with Shimei’s spiteful cursing (16:5–14). Later, David would pardon those who rebelled against him during Absalom’s insurrection (19:16–23). Time after time, David showed himself to be unlike the sons of Zeruiah who lived to hold grudges and settle scores. David knew how to forgive. More than anyone prior to Jesus, David loved his enemies. Like no other Old Testament king, David was willing to welcome rebels back to the fold and overlook the sins of those who had opposed him.
But amazingly, David’s kindhearted attitude toward his enemies did not translate into a soft attitude toward his own sins. Usually, people who are soft with others are soft with themselves, and those hardest on themselves are even harder on others. But David was different. He was gracious with others and honest with himself. I believe David’s greatness was simply this: as much as he sinned, he never failed to own up to his sin. I can’t find a single instance where David was rightly rebuked for his failings and then failed to heed the rebuke. When Nathan confronted David for his adultery and murder, David, after he saw what Nathan was up to, quickly lamented, “I have sinned against the Lord” (12:13). When Joab sent the woman of Tekoa to change David’s mind about Absalom, he listened (chap. 14). When Joab rebuked David for loving his treacherous son more than his loyal servants, David did what Joab told him to do (19:1–8). Joab was often wrong in his advice to David, but when he was right David saw it and changed course. Likewise, after his foolish census, David’s heart struck him and he confessed, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done” (24:10).
David knew how to forgive, and he knew how to repent, too. He never blamed others for his mistakes. He did not make excuses based on family history, peer pressure, or the demands of leadership. He did not use passive language, referring to his sin as a dysfunction or a growth edge. He did not lament over his sins simply because of the negative effects they could have on his kingdom and his relationships. He saw his transgressions primarily in their vertical dimension, as an offense against almighty God (Ps. 51:4). He never ran from the light when it exposed his darkness. Instead, he squinted hard, admitted his iniquity, and worked to make things right. When we consider how rare it is in our day for athletes, movie stars, and politicians to candidly and clearly take responsibility for their public sins, we should be all the more amazed that the king of Israel, arguably the most famous man in the history of God’s old covenant people, was humble enough to listen to the chastisement of those who were beneath him and change accordingly.
David was a man after God’s own heart because he hated sin but loved to forgive it. What better example of God could there be? God doesn’t just welcome His enemies in, He dies in their stead (Rom. 5:6–11). He is always eager to show mercy, always willing to give traitors a second chance. And yet, God is not soft on sin. He exposes it and calls on us to exterminate it (John 16:8–11; Col. 3:5). But of course, God, unlike David, is never guilty of His own sin. God showed His condescension not by humbling Himself before a needed rebuke, but by humbling Himself to take on human flesh and take up a cross (Phil. 2:5–8). David was great, but not nearly as great as his greater son.
Ping
David knew how to forgive, and he knew how to repent, too
Luke 15:
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
David may have been a good guy as a young man, but he was a depraved murderer as a king.
Thank you.
The Catholic disdain for the Old Testament never ceases to amaze me.
We are all capable of great evil, the measure of a man relies on his penitence before God
Hey, dude, the old Testament is where I read the story of David and Bathsheba, and how old David sent Bathsheba’s hubbie to the front to be killed. How he lecherously watched Bathsheba take a bath and probably she was flaunting and flirting.
So, the facts I stated are true, David was a lecherous, selfish adulterer and murderer and this “after God’s own heart” language is a riddle. Do I disdain the Old Testament? The Torah? No. Catholic and Jewish interpretations of the Word of God are the ones I rely on.
So, are you a Martin Luther follower? He was an evil person. Or are you a King Henry follower? He too was evil. Better watch your comments lest they make you look ignorant.
He knew a secret chord.
This thread will show that Christians of various denomination are capable of hateful thought. Not very Christ like.
He was a sinner. As Paul reminds us, "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
What did King David do when called out for his sins? Did he blather inanely, apologizing "if anyone was offended"?
Did he waggle his finger "I am not a crook! I did not have sex with that woman Monic Bathsheba!"
NO.
He confessed his sins and repented.
There's a lesson, here.
Are you a Borgia pope follower? A Medici pope follower?
So, are you a Martin Luther follower? He was an evil person. Or are you a King Henry follower? He too was evil. Better watch your comments lest they make you look ignorant.
I don’t know about him but I’m a Jesus follower.
Anyone who follows a man be it David, one of the apostles, Martin Luther, or a pope(s) is spiritually deluded and is going to find sinful flaws in their idol. Just as to claim that any man could be the infallible voice of God on earth is heresy.
David was a man after God’s heart because he new alone he falls short. With God, he (David) is capable of anything. David heard God, and obeyed, sometimes. Like all of us humans.
***So, are you a Martin Luther follower? He was an evil person. Or are you a King Henry follower? He too was evil. Better watch your comments lest they make you look ignorant.***
?
I follow God and Jesus.
He is the same David no matter which Bible he is in. Yes, he sinned grievously. And when God chastised him, he repented. The story isn’t really about David after all, but about God, who does love us beyond measure, and is always ready to forgive. None of us are any better than David. The Sermon on the Mount proves that. Ever look lustfully at a woman? You’re a lecherous adulterer. Ever get fighting angry with someone over nothing? You’re a craven murderer. That’s God’s view. David was blessed to have the opportunity to repent. But it took a major breaking of his heart to get him there. We who are as guilty as he (all have sinned) should repent also, while the price of learning contrition is not so high, and put our trust not in ourselves, but in Jesus who died for all those sins we so easily condemn on others, but so often ignore in ourselves.
Peace,
SR
“David was a gracious man, bearing with the failings of others, eager to give his enemies a second chance.”…… and uncommonly patient with Shimei’s spiteful cursing (16:5–14).”
1Ki 2:8-9, And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword. Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
1Sa 27:8-11, And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt. And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
2Sa 1:14-16, And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.
1Ki 2:5-6, Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
David was not a nice man, but then, God doesn’t save nice men, just sinners. David was still a man after God own heart so there is hope for us.
Great quote by Bono:
“Psalm 40 suggests a time in which grace will replace karma, and replace the very strict laws of Moses (i.e. fulfill them). I love that thought. David, who committed some of the most selfish as well as selfless acts, was depending on it. That the scriptures are brim full of hustlers, murderers, cowards, adulterers and mercenaries used to shock me; now it is a source of great comfort.”
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