So recently I have been reading 1+2 Samuel, and I have noticed some very interesting things. I thought I would take some time to share these thoughts.
My first thought is... If the books are named after the Judge Samuel how come he dies before the end of the first book? Okay maybe not as profound as you were expecting (or maybe more profound then you were expecting), but my thoughts can be a little random. However the life and death of Samuel is not my main reason for writing. Now keep in mind I am not trying to write a commentary and explain things, I am just pointing out things that I have seen in God's Word.
It is often said that David (second King over Israel) was a man after God's own heart. I used to think that that just meant that he loved God. But now after rereading (and I am still in the process of reading 2 Samuel) I have noticed that what made him a man after God's own heart, was so much more than that.
David in his youth was a hard worker- David, when everyone was gathered with Samuel to sacrifice before God, stayed out in the field tending to his father's flock. When Samuel was called by God to anoint the next king of Israel, Jesse said "There remains yet the smallest, but behold he is keeping the sheep" (1 Samuel 16:11).
David was with the sheep (1 Samuel 16:19)- David knew his job and he stuck with it. I like thinking of this as a metaphor, David was a natural born leader, and he was known for taking care of things. He had a caring heart. The image of a shepherd is so strong in scripture, Jesus Himself is portrayed as the Good Shepherd. Unlike a lot of herd animals sheep are a little stupid, well more so than others. Sheep tend to give into peer pressure, they would follow a leader right off a cliff. When they fall over on their backs they cannot get back up without help. David was diligent enough to stick with these animals, and that (I believe) helped him to care for his kingdom once he finally became king.
David was obedient- While David's brother's were off at war, Jesse told David to go and take provisions to them. David arose early the next day to deliver them to them (1 Samuel 17:20). David didn't hesitate to follow a command. Another thing about this verse is that David instantly found someone to take care of the sheep, even when following a command, he never abandoned his sheep (God is the same way with us, even when he is doing something else -or something we don't want, and it seems like he is abandoning us, we are still being cared for).
David had mountains of faith and powerful courage- We all know the story of David and Goliath. A young boy, comes across a battle scene and instead of turning and running away saying, "No I am to little," he says "No, my God is WAY bigger" (okay so I may have paraphrased it a little). David chews out the entire army of Israel for not believing that God had the power to stop Goliath (1 Samuel 17). David rushed into battle knowing that he could not stop the enemy, but that God alone could and would win the battle.
David was humble- When Saul offered David his eldest daughter David said, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, and my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?" (1 Samuel 18:18).
David was a good friend- We all know how strong the friendship between David and Jonathan was (1 Samuel 20). At this point I look more to Jonathan for the example though. He didn't take sides between his father and David. Jonathan worked to figure things out, he never left his father, yet even then he still helped David in some of David's hardest times. He sought truth, he wanted to be sure Saul was out to kill David before he took action.
David was ready for battle- I know this has been covered a little in the Goliath section, but I have more to say (which knowing me I usually do). David went out to fight for Israel, God's Chosen nation. He could have been seeking revenge on Saul for wanting to kill him, but he wasn't (more on that to come) he was looking at the greater enemies that perused. The song was sung "Saul has killed his hundreds, but David has killed his thousands" (1 Samuel 21:11).
David inspired loyalty and he did not turn people away- When David's father and brothers hear that he is in hiding they go to him. I love the verse that says "And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them..." (1 Samuel 22:2). It wasn't just his family that followed him. It was like a reverse Joseph. By that I mean, even though he was the youngest in his family his brothers didn't scold him for his leadership abilities. There are just some people who when you hear their name you think of safety and protection, David was one of those people. He wasn't choosey on who could work with him, God is like that with us.
David was self-controlled- Now I don't know about you, but if someone tries to kill me, I might not be so willing to let them live. David had the perfect opportunity to kill Saul. Twice. Neither time he took it though. David was hiding in a cave, and Saul comes and pees very close to where he was hiding. Saul didn't notice that the shapes in the cave were more than just rocks. David was so close he cut off part of Saul's robe. Afterwards he felt bad (1 Samuel 24). The second time, Saul and all of his men were fast asleep and David went into the camp. There slept Saul, with his spear right next to his head. If ever there was an opportunity to kill Saul it was then. No one would know, and David wouldn't even leave a weapon to be traced (this is pre-fingerprinting CIS days). David didn't do it though, he fled (1 Samuel 26).
David cried over one who sought his life-This is probably my favorite quality of David. When the messenger came baring news of Saul and Jonathan's death he thought David would be happy, but he wasn't. Never was the saying "Don't shoot the messenger" more applicable. Because the messenger was in fact the one who dealt the fatal blow, David had him killed. David was Devastate. It wasn't just the life of Jonathan that was mourned, it was Saul's as well. In David's eyes Saul was, and always would be the anointed of God (2 Samuel 1). This quality is continued when one of Saul's generals, Abner, decides to work for David, and people think it is a trap and kill off Abner. It seems like it was less than a week that Abner had been working with David and yet David greatly mourned over this man (2 Samuel 3).
David feared God- I don't have much to say on this one (shocking I know). "And David was afraid of the Lord that day..." (2 Samuel 6:9a). One man accidentally touches the Ark of the Covenant and dies, I would be afraid too. It is a powerful God we serve, and David knew that. After this David was hesitant to bring the Ark into Jerusalem.
David rejoiced over blessings- I would like to point out that after the death of Uzzah (the one who touched the Ark) David sent the Ark further away. David saw the blessings that it was bringing to the house where it was stored, and he wanted that for Jerusalem, and Israel.
David was undignified- The welcome ceremony for the Ark caused quite the commotion. Imagine Marti Gras or the Love parade. Commotion in the streets: singing, rejoicing, and King David dancing like a fool. It implies that he was wearing very little, some people think his outfit for the day was little more than a loincloth, I don't know. The most important thing thous is that David was praising God, and doing it for God alone. When his wife Michal (Saul's daughter, and his bounty for killing Goliath) saw him dancing she confronted him and accused him of being indecent his response sets me to cheering, "... And I will make marry before the Lord. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this..." (2 Samuel 6:21-22). He didn't care what man though of him he though on God.
David wanted a house- okay so this one seems a little strange, but hear me out. David wanted to build a dwelling place for the Ark, not Noah's one but the other one. This is one very clear passage that talks about the Savior to come. David may not have been able to build the temple, but the promise was given that it would be through David's offspring that the House would come (2 Samuel 7). Jesus being that house for God's Name. It is interesting that David wanted a solid place for the Ark. He didn't want it being passed around, he wanted it established ( I am not sure what to make of this thought, but it is something to consider).
David kept his promises- Now think back to Jonathan; David made a covenant with him that God would be between them and their offspring (1 Samuel 20:42). Jonathan's son Mephibosheth (try saying that ten times fast) was crippled. When David finds out that there was someone left over from his friend's family he vows to take care of him. David restores to Mephibosheth the property of his grandfather Saul. David also promises that he will eat at the king's table all the days of his life. What a place of honor, if you think about the period they lived in-- and how harshly cripples could be treated and looked down on for not being able to go to war-- this was a pretty good place to be.
David confessed his sins- Now we all know about the major blemish on David's record. Yet I think this is another perfect example of why David was a man after God's heart. David was a little slow in catching on when the prophet Nathan came to him with his sin. David didn't see the connection between himself and the parable until Nathan told him right out, "He stupid that rich idiot is you" (okay so that is my embellishment but you get the gist). Nathan then proceeded to announce judgment from God. As soon as Nathan was done talking David said "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Samuel 12:13) and that was it. No long pleading for forgiveness. Next thing you know God isn't killing David, He is just punishing him (2 Samuel 12).
How often is God like that with us? We don't have to come to God with conditions to our salvation. We don't have to say to him "if you this... then I will that..." God is so ready to forgive, we just have to acknowledge that we are in the wrong. Our mistakes are not erased, we still have to deal with consequences, but we don't have to deal with the greatest consequence; Eternal separation from God. How amazing is that?
David was a man of prayer- The punishment for David's sin with Bathsheba was the death of their ill-begotten son. While David's son was still living, yet on his death bed, David prayed fervently for him. We don't know what he prayed, but I can imagine it was something like, "Oh God, save my son! I didn't mean to sin, I am sorry!" He was in that state for a week, he didn't eat, he stayed awake asking God for something (2 Samuel 12:15-20)
David was realistic- He didn't get what he prayed for. That child died. You would think that that would make David even more upset: at least that is what his council thought. David accepted what happened as God's will. He got up and ate as soon as he heard the news. He knew that no amount of begging would bring the child back, he just knew that begging might save the child that still lived. What a blessing for David though that his very next child (or so I think) was to be the next King, and a great king at that (2 Samuel 12:21-25).
This is as far as I have read in Samuel, or at least as I can find of the qualities in David. If I find more I might ad them, but I hope this gives you something to think about. If you disagree with me on anything that is okay, I just felt like I needed to share this.
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