Our readings from the books of Samuel provide material for a most interesting character study—that of David—especially as we are able to supplement the historical record by the revelation of his most intimate meditations in the Psalms.
David, whose name means Beloved, is universally recognised as one of the most lovable of all Bible characters. What was the secret of his charm? It was surely his ardent, enthusiastic nature. This was shown in his strong attachments to his friends. As a young man his soul was knit with that of Jonathan, who “loved him as his own soul”. In his old age it was shown in his appreciation of those who were faithful to him in adversity, such as Barzillai the Gileadite. It is manifest, too, in his sorrow at the desertion of trusted counsellors like Joab and Ahithopel. Psalm 55, while it is a prophecy of Christ, is in the first place a record of David’s own experiences, and when he speaks of his betrayal by a friend with whom he had taken sweet counsel (verses 12-14) it probably refers to Ahithophel. It was not only in the words of David, but in his very life, that we find the prophecy of his greater Son.
Fervency To God
The ardour of David’s nature is still more evident in his fervent service of God, and his willingness, in times of crisis, to place the disposing of his affairs completely in the hand of God. The first record is in connection with his encounter with Goliath. His confidence on that occasion was not, at all the rash courage of youth, but an intelligent, practical faith in God, already tested by the events of his shepherd days. His psalms bear frequent testimony to his meditations, during his outdoor life, on the wonders of nature and the majesty of their Creator.
Preparation by Affliction
There is perhaps no greater example than David of a man obviously prepared by the difficulties of his early life for the exalted position he was destined to occupy. His character was developed by the chastening discipline to which he was subjected under the hand of God. This is shown in the self-control which he exercised on several occasions in restraining the excessive zeal of subordinates who wished to take matters into their own hands with mistaken ideas of what would be for his good. David was prepared to wait for God’s vindication in due time. Preparation for the Temple
The supreme example of service of ardour in the of God is found in his enthusiastic desire to build a temple “exceeding magnifical”, appropriate for the worship of Jehovah, whose greatness David realized more fully than any other man of his time, more fully indeed, than almost any man of any age. God’s denial of his desire must have been a terrible disappointment to him, but he showed neither bitterness nor discouragement. He went ahead wholeheartedly to make every possible preparation permitted to him. When handing over the actual task of construction to Solomon (1 Chron. 29), he said, “I have set my affection to the house of my God”, and he had prepared with all his heart the enormous store of costly materials for the design which God had vouchsafed to him (1 Chron. 28. 19). Though he devoted all his personal wealth to this purpose, he humbly thanked God for the opportunity to do so, saying, “All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee” (1 Chron. 29. 14).
Organisation
But David did not stop at that point. He prepared a complete organisation for conducting the Temple services, specifying the courses in which the priests and Levites should serve for all the complex duties. Special attention was paid to the musical part of the services, and the leaders of song seem to have been highly honoured. We may be sure that many of the Psalms were written especially for the Temple worship. David had always been an outstanding musician, and he probably composed much of the vocal and instrumental music, with the assistance of the “chief musicians”, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and others. A great choir was “instructed in the songs of the Lord”, and David would, no doubt, take a personal interest in their training and rehearsals. He made the musical instruments for 4,000 players (1 Chron. 23. 5), some probably to his own designs.
So completely was the Temple worship identified with the arrangements formulated by David that the record of the revival in the reign of Josiah, nearly 400 years afterwards, states that the services were “according to the writing of David, king of Israel” (2 Chron. 35. 4, 15).
Two hundred years later still, when the new temple was built after the Babylonian captivity, the dedication service was conducted “according to the commandment of David the man of God”, and the priests led the praise “with the musical instruments of David” (Neh. 12. 24, 36). So enduring was the result of David’s enthusiasm.
The Sombre Side
But, alas, our character study of David shows how even an admirable trait may lead to sore evil if misapplied or not properly controlled. For it was his ardent nature that led him into trouble when it manifested itself in an inordinate love of women. When giving the Law to Moses, God foresaw that Israel would ultimately wish to have a king, and, to provide for this contingency, He added a few special requirements — only about half a dozen—which are recorded in the latter part of Deut. 17. One of these was, “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself”. Unfortunately David, neglecting this law, followed the practice current among the rulers of neighbouring countries. We are not told how many women he took to himself, but seven wives are named in the Hebron period; and, after transferring his capital to Jerusalem, “David took more concubines and wives” (2 Sam. 5.13). Ten concubines are mentioned in 2 Sam. 15. 16. It was probably regarded as an honour to be chosen for the king’s harem, and it has been suggested that, in the case of Bathsheba, she may have been blameworthy for exposing herself to view. Even if so, there was no excuse for David allowing his ardent nature to lead him to adultery, which, in turn, in the effort to hide his sin, led on to the guilt of murder.
David’s error in “multiplying wives” brought its own retribution, for strife between the children of different wives was the great grief of his later years. God, when rebuking David through the prophet Nathan, said, “I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house”.
No Partiality
Bible history does not gloss over the faults of its heroes, as human biographers tend to do. It is all written from God’s point of view, and He is no respecter of persons. Even those whom some people might think of as God’s “favourites” had to suffer keenly for their sins. Jacob, who was guilty of deception in his youth, was the victim of deception several times in later life. Moses, whose character after his call at the burning bush seems so nearly perfect, forfeited his heart’s desire because of his lapse. Such men, selected for special places in the working out of God’s purpose, come under the principle expressed by Christ, “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required”.
Nathan told David that his sin had “given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme”, and they have certainly taken advantage of the opportunity thus offered. But the sincere repentance of David and the forgiveness granted by God have given great occasion for hope and encouragement on the part of loyal servants who have given way to human weakness.
David’s Census
Another matter in which David incurred God’s displeasure was his numbering of Israel, as recorded in 2 Sam. 24. What was the reason for God’s disapproval? Josephus suggested that it was because of failure to collect the half-shekel “ransom for his soul” from each one numbered, as called for in Exod. 30. 12-16. It is true that collection of the tax is not mentioned, but neither is it recorded in connection with the numbering of Israel at the end of 40 years in the wilderness. The whole tenor of the record suggests rather that the fault lay in David’s motive, the census being taken in a spirit of pride in the strength of his army. Here again we see the ill effect of the perversion of an originally good mental attitude. At first David found pleasure in the growing power of Israel as a fulfilment of the promises to God’s people, who were “near unto Him”. For his own victories he gave all credit to God. But now he was looking on Israel as his people, and their numbers as the measure of his military power and so again he had to be humbled.
For pride is the state of mind least seemly in a servant of God, and one most likely to lead on to other lapses. The falling of the punishment on the nation as a whole was because “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel” (2 Sam. 24. 1), possibly because the spirit of worldly pride was widespread.
“Written for our learning”
The plain lesson for each of us from David’s life is that we should emulate his enthusiasm in the things of God, but be ever on the watch against the “deceitfulness of sin”, which tries to poison even the purest of streams.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One