The Epic Story of the Bible, Part 8: King David

2 Samuel 7:18-22, (ESV): “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, ‘Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.’”

King David is known as a mighty king and warrior, a man after God’s own heart. But he began as a humble shepherd boy who killed an unbeatable giant by God’s power and gave his people victory. During David’s reign as king he not only saved a wayward kingdom, he expanded it, just as Jesus slays our sin and gives us victory and eternity with him.

In David’s story we see that he was great when he was good and became cruel when he focused on himself and not God.

He was a man of extremes: a sensitive heart but blood-thirsty in battle. He was a shepherd, a composer, a poet, a fighter, a man on the run, a mercenary, a great king, a diplomat, and one who sins, one who is betrayed. He lost it all, and gained it all back. He lived a life of distress, beauty, joy, heartache and chaos, like we do.

Through thick and thin, David was able to humble himself to repentance and led Israel to prosperity. Even when he failed, he repented and turned back to God with his whole heart, and God blessed him. David knew of his depravity and spiritual bankruptcy and was able to repent, so he became an example of grace for us all. We can trust in our Lord, even in suffering and defeat (Psalm 4:8). David gives us the example of a grateful heart, someone yearns for closeness with God.

Like David, we have to make a commitment to confess our sin and repent, living in gratitude for God’s grace. (Romans 14:12-13; Galatians 6:1-5; Ephesians 6:21; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

David’s life and lineage point us to Christ. In fact one of the names of Jesus is Son of David, which reveals that he is the the Messiah, the one prophesied to us, to save us from sin and death. (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 11:1-3; Jeremiah 23:1-6; Matthew 1:1,20; 9:27; 15:22; 21:9; Luke 19:38-39).

What does David’s story mean for us today? Like David, we should have a heart that follows God. We don’t have to be perfect, but we must follow God with gratitude, passion and whole-heartedness, as King David modeled.

How does David’s story inspire you? How do you see the line stretching from King David to Jesus Christ to you – weaving God’s grace throughout history?