“I walk in my integrity; redeem me and be gracious unto me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.” Can we say such things about ourselves? Can we declare, “I believe I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living?”
These were the convictions of David. Few men have left such a great example for other servants of God as did David, the beloved of the Lord. He was a person of faith, integrity, courage, love and compassion. He walked a way that we must walk if we are to find true peace and secure hope.
A varied man
We might think of David as a gentle man or perhaps as a bold young soldier zealous for his God. We might remember him as being a loyal man, to his friends, king and God. The dominant picture that may come to mind is of a humble man listening to all that God would say to him.
Any of the pictures would be right. We have a history of his actions and an insight into his thinking that is unparalleled in scripture other than for the Lord Jesus and for God Himself. The stories of his life are as exciting as any fictional character. Who is not thrilled b y David’s encounter with Goliath? Whose heart is not saddened when we see his agony over Absalom? It is to our eternal benefit, however, to go beyond these arresting stories and understand those things God would have us learn from David.
A giant of faith
Hebrews 11 lists those giants of faith of whom the world was not worthy, whose lives were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Rom. 15:4). They were preserved for us that we might be persuaded, “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments” (Psa. 112:1).
David had a sensitive conscience and a humble disposition. He listened to all that God said. His attitude was like Samuel’s, “Speak, LORD, for thy servant heareth.” Because of this attitude, David “found favor in the sight of God” (Acts 7:46).
We are impressed by the amount of information preserved in scripture about David. He is referred to over 1100 times in the Old Testament and over 50 times in the New. A majority of the Psalms are his, and he is the dominant character in first and second Samuel and in first Chronicles.
A standard of comparison
There is a phrase in the record of subsequent kings that helps explain why so much is recorded of David: “…Did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father…And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father…and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father” (1 Kgs. 13:11; 14:3; 16:2). David was used as a standard of comparison for the evaluation of others. He was the measuring stick for the royal house.
The Lord Jesus is our standard of comparison. But what an exalted position David occupied to be considered in a similar way to the Lord.
We are thus encouraged to fully appreciate David and his faithful life before God. What a spiritual giant he was! We can only conclude that God wants us to intimately know and understand David.
Right objectives
As we reflect on David’s life, we understand what motivated him. We recognize his all-encompassing zeal for God. We comprehend how he handled the honor so lavishly bestowed on him and how he endured such severe trials. Perhaps the most revealing action of his life was his decision to prepare in abundance for the temple of God that he was not to see in his lifetime.
Learning from David
As we grow in our understanding of the man, we learn to pattern our lives after David. This is the great power of scripture; it is able to evoke in us a powerful response.
We yearn for David’s courage and for his rock-solid faith. We feel for David in his trials and are glad when the “LORD delivers (him) out of them all.” We are pricked in our conscience by his fall into transgression. He, too, harbored the sinful desire that conceives and brings forth sin (James 1:15). When David tries to hide his iniquity, we are reminded of the times when we have thought to do the same.
Scripture is indeed profitable for exhortation, instruction and training in righteousness that we might be throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:15-16).
Many roles
David’s life was very diverse. He was an outcast from the nation and, at different times, beloved of the people. He was a shepherd and a king. He was musician and warrior, prophet of God, yet he fell into the blackest of sins. In his trials and triumphs, we can extract exhortation and encouragement.
He knew honor and shame. He felt that helpless darkness which comes in the throes of sin. But he also knew the peace that comes from faith and obedience to God.
Today, David rests peacefully in his grave, long hidden from man’s watchful eyes. He died, but through the pages of scripture his faith still speaks to us.
His life is one to which we can relate and his example is one from which we can learn. He was a man after God’s own heart who would fulfill all His will (Acts 13:22). What God wanted, David wanted; David kept the Lord always before him. He gloried in being in the presence of God and unashamedly praised and magnified his God.
Indeed, there can be no greater aspiration than to learn what is pleasing to God. David’s life is a revelation of the will and heart of God enacted in human circumstances.
With David, we can say, “Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore” (Psa. 16:11).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One