- DAVID WAS A MAN OF SHARP CONTRASTS
God called him “a man after My heart”, yet he is very culpable of some of the grimmest sins recorded in the Old Testament. This is someone who slept with the wife of one of his lieutenants, tried to cover up the resulting pregnancy, and had the husband killed when that cover-up didn’t work. He abused his power at times, wasn’t known as a great father or husband, and would sometimes lie when it suits his purposes. He was celebrated as a writer, poet, warrior, prophet, musician, leader and womaniser… sorry. I mean lover. He had eight wives! He was the ultimate Renaissance man if you like. He founded the Judaean dynasty and united all the tribes of Israel under a single monarch. He is credited with writing about 73 of the 150 Psalms in the Old Testament, all composed no doubt on his famous lyre on which he was said to be a virtuoso.
I love this guy! - HE WAS A PATIENT MAN!
David was anointed King of Israel when he was a boy, probably a teenager and had to wait till age 30 to ascend the throne as the king of Judah and age 37 before he was named king of all Israel. If David was anointed at 17, he must have waited for 20 years to inherit the promise of God as king of Israel. How many people in that shoes would not resort to self-help to become king, after all, he was anointed to be?
Now, look at this: the existing king, Saul, spent the better part of his waiting life trying to kill David, which forced him to be on the run, hiding in caves and fleeing to another country. This same David had clear opportunities, at least twice to kill Saul, and considering the circumstances, it could have been considered self-defence, and become king. But David didn’t. He had the patience for what was promised to come by itself.
I love this guy! - HE WAS FORGOTTEN, GOD REMEMBERED HIM
David could be said to have a privileged background, but he was a son not reckoned with. The eighth and youngest son, he was pushed to live with the flocks in the pastures while his brothers were enrolled in the Israeli armed forces. When Prophet Samuel came to anoint someone in the family of Jesse, do you know that they did not even remember David? Not until the prophet asked if there were no other children before Jesse remembered that he had one tending the sheep! David was forgotten, but God remembered him.
I love this guy! - HE WAS SO HUMBLE
A shepherd was picked from the backside of Bethlehem and anointed a king. At all cost, he would expect a king’s treatment from all and sundry, even his parents. But what followed for David? He was still being treated like a boy, shepherd, servant! At a time, he was invited to the palace. Anybody would have thought, the day has come to start ruling, but it turned out he was to continue working as a servant, using his talent to perform music for the king whenever Saul demands it, like a human iPod. Even his dad was worse! An anointed king was ordered to take snacks to his older soldier brothers. Even his brothers would still talk at him? What are you doing at the war front, you this naughty shepherd boy! An anointed king fa! But David was humble.
I love this guy! - HE DISPLAYED EXCELLENT COURAGE
Do you remember when Goliath, the 9-foot giant, king of the Philistines came out to challenge the army of Israel, everyone, including King Saul, another towering guy was dismayed and terrified, except for David. This guy went head to comfort the scared king, assuring him that he would take care of the uncircumcised big guy. David was fearless because he knew where he was coming from and Who had his back.
I love this guy! - DAVID HAD A UNIVERSITY DEGREE IN MARKETING
When Goliath was throwing his challenge at the Israelites, David showed up at the war front to deliver supplies to his brothers. While there, he overheard the braggadocio of Goliath. He was incensed and asked what would be done to whoever killed Goliath. He was told: The king will give the person grea
* David and Goliath t wealth, give his daughter in marriage to the person and exempt his family from taxes in Israel. There was a great reward open to anybody who could achieve the feat. To David, this was a golden opportunity to rise to the top. He would market himself. He was taken to the king. Seeing him, the king doubted his ability.He was not qualified. Go back home, boy!
Here, so many people would have missed it but David knew what to do: market himself to get the plum reward. He regaled them with tales of him killing both a lion and a bear, and how Goliath would join the list, promising the king that the Lord who backed him up then is still with him. This is perfect marketing of one’s skill. Not many people are that brilliant and quick-witted to rise to such occasions.
I love this guy! - HIS LIFE WAS NOT BORING
His life was a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows. He lived a frustrating life, first in the shadow of his brothers, then under the weight of King Saul. Afterwards, he came under the troubles of his genital indiscipline, then the troubles of his sons, especially, Absalom. Throughout his life, he fought battles. Yet he had time to worship God. In his pains, he left us an example of passionate love of God and dozens of Psalms, some of the most touching, beautiful poetries ever written. He had time for the intellectual and the musical.
I love this guy! - HE STARTED SO EARLY
As young as he was, he killed two animals most men dare not
As young as he was, he demystified a giant everyone feared
As young as he was, he drew the envy of his brothers
As young as he was, he drew the jealousy of a whole King
As young as he was, the spirit of God lived with him.
Imagine how the Bible described him when he appeared before Samuel: He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. He started the journey of his life so early. He never knew the direction life would take him, but he was taking it step by step. No many people would!
I love this guy! - HE WOULD NOT DO EVIL TO THE ANOINTED OF GOD
How did he treat his enemies? David had so many opportunities to kill Saul but he refused to kill a man anointed of God. He was loyal to Saul, despite Saul’s crazed pursuit of him. Such men are rare. He made friends with Saul’s son, Jonathan, setting a model of friendship that everyone can learn from. He even went further to ask: “Is there still anyone left in the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” How many of us even remember the children of our friends who passed on years ago, how much more children of our enemies?
I love this guy! - HE DOESN’T TREAT GOD CHEAPLY
I learnt a great lesson from David. He doesn’t treat God cheaply. Do you remember when God told David to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite? When David approached the Jebusite, Araunah was ready to give everything free to David but David refused. “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” Many of us approach God with cheap things. We always tell God ‘I don’t have.’ Tithe, (ten per cent has become one per cent. God will understand, we say. Not David.
I love this guy! - WHATEVER HE DID, HE DID IT WITH PASSION
As a musician, he was a virtuoso whose music drove the evil spirit away from king Saul. As a fighter, he killed two animals in the bush, and for people who could doubt that claim, he killed a feared giant in the public. He was the only king to be anointed thrice in the bible. As a lover of women, he had eight wives! Count them on your fingers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8! He was a consummate womaniser. Can you imagine… when he passed on, his inner caucus wanted to test him if he had passed on truly. What was the test? They brought a woman to do stuff with him. They knew him, women would wake him up! The great King Dave! Detailed in his passions.
I love this guy!
- I LOVE HOS RESPONSES WHEN CAUGHT
David’s ability to own up, repent and seek God is impressive. Psalm 51 is a classic soul-searching narrative on repentance by a leader. Being a good leader doesn’t mean making the fewest mistakes; it means being open about them and being quick to ask forgiveness and get back on the right path. When he was confronted by Prophet Nathan, he owned up quickly. He did not push it like Adam, like Saul, like many of us would do. Others could have blamed Bathsheba for deliberately bathing where she could be seen. David owned up quickly. He knew how to seek God. Admitting our sin and asking for forgiveness is only half of the equation. The other half is repentance, and David did what we should all do: repent of our sins. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance to God. It’s one of my favourite Psalms.
I love this guy!
- A MAN OF FAITH
David was a man of faith. Nowhere in Scripture is this point better illustrated than in 1 Samuel 17.
* Regarded as the tomb of King David on Mt Zion. Whereas a young shepherd, he fearlessly slew Goliath. David had boasted that “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ David was fully aware that God was in control of his life, and he had faith that God would deliver him from the impending danger. Contrast this with Elijah who ran away. How else would one venture into a potentially fatal situation with such calm and confidence?
I love this guy!
- In the Old Testament, God dealt with some people with special preferences: The first was Abraham whom He called ‘My friend’. To Moses He revealed Himself. To David, despite his valleys of failure and egregious weaknesses, he called him ‘a man after my heart’. Though God forbade him to build the temple because of the blood in his hands, still God included him in the lineage of Jesus. Win some, lose some! Also, how can I explain the honour God did David? Jesus is divine, David, human. Yet we call Jesus, son of David!
I love this guy!
- David died at the age of 70. Yoruba people will say soki lobe oge! Psalm 90:10, written by Moses says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Dave lived 70 and he expired. He did not live the 969 years of Methuselah that had no significance. He left when the ovation was loudest. He did all he needed to do on time and left the terrestrial for the celestial. He was perhaps the only big name in the Old Testament who lived as short as 70 years. He was buried on Mount Zion.
How would I not love this guy?