Who was David in the Bible?
David's name means "well-beloved," and he began as the youngest son of a family in Bethlehem, sent out to mind his father's sheep. From that forgotten place he was anointed king, hunted as a fugitive, crowned over Israel, broken by his own sin, and given a promise that reaches beyond him to Christ.
Shepherd of Bethlehem, Chosen and Anointed
His family line and his calling both matter. Commentators note that the prophet Samuel passed over every older brother before God named the one still out in the fields:
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe name signifies "well-beloved." David was the son of Jesse, a descendant of Boaz and Ruth, a Jew and a Gentile: both Jews and Gentiles are to be blessed in the Christ whom David pictured. David was anointed while in humility, "keeping the sheep." His seven brothers had passed before Samuel, but the one to be anointed must be one after God's own heart, one who would care for and feed God's people. The Spirit of Jehovah came upon him from that day.
The Servant Who Never Stopped Serving
The anointing did not lift him out of service; writers see it fixing him in it, from the sheepfold to the day he handed the throne to Solomon.
The Bible TreasuryHe was at all times and in all scenes the servant. It mattered not to him what the sphere of labour might be, this was his character. As a fitting introduction of him as such, we find him, at the beginning of his history, slighted and forgotten, even his father esteeming him not… From this place of scorn and neglect, however, he is drawn out by the marked favour of God, and anointed to the throne of Israel; but the point of this anointing was still in everything to keep him as the servant.
"A Man After God's Own Heart"
The description startles readers who know what David later did. One writer traces the phrase to something David said about himself in 1 Chronicles 28:
F. B. Hole"However, the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever… and among the sons of my father He liked me to make me king over all Israel." Do you know anybody else in the Bible of whom it is said that God liked him?… there is a very great difference between God loving and God liking. Of course He loved David, but He liked David.
Another points to a habit that ran through his whole life — where he turned when things went wrong:
The Bible TreasuryDavid was a man after God's own heart… in failure and difficulty he turned to God. If the Philistines come against him, "Shall I go up against them?"… Then when Shimei curses him… he says "The Lord has told him to." … Then at the time of the plague — "These sheep, what have they done?"
The Rejected King in the Cave
Between his anointing and his crowning came years of exile, and commentators read those years as a picture of Christ refused by the world.
C. H. MackintoshIn reality, David was forced into the place of separation, and so, as one rejected by man and anointed by God, we see him a picture of Christ in His present rejection… The cave of Adullam became the great gathering point for all who loved David and were weary of the unjust rule of Saul… "Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain over them."
King, Shepherd, and Psalmist
Once on the throne, the care he learned with sheep shaped how he ruled a nation.
Truth & TestimonyHe was a gathering point for the distressed and discontented in Israel… He delivered the captives of Israel out of the hands of the Amalekites and gave a portion from the spoil to those who had been too exhausted to follow David. He fed the weak and recovered the lost. He brought the lame Mephibosheth to his table and fed him royally… He had the heart of a shepherd. To feed is to satisfy, to maintain, to protect and to provide.
He is also called "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1) — many of the Psalms carry his name, and he set up the singers in the house of God.
His Great Sin: Grace and Government
David's fall over Bathsheba and her husband Uriah is not hidden by Scripture, and writers use it to separate two things God does at once.
C. H. MackintoshThere, in that deep pit, the arrow of conviction reached his conscience, and drew out of his broken heart those repentant words, "I have sinned against the Lord." How were those words met? … "The Lord has put away your sin." This was absolute grace… But no sooner had mercy's tender hand removed the guilt than "the sword" was drawn from its sheath to carry out the necessary judgement… David was fully pardoned, but Absalom rose in rebellion.
The Promise That Outlives Him
God refused David's offer to build Him a house and promised instead to build David one — a promise commentators say only Christ finally fills.
Arno Clemens Gaebelein"He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever." Solomon is first in view, but he is only a picture of Him who said while on earth "a greater than Solomon is here." In Christ alone this great covenant-promise is to be fulfilled… "The Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David. And He shall reign for ever and of His kingdom there shall be no end."
Summary
- Chosen — the youngest, overlooked at home, taken from the sheepfold and anointed while his brothers were passed by.
- Liked — called a man after God's own heart not because he never failed, but because he turned to God in every trouble.
- Rejected — driven into exile, he became the gathering centre for the distressed and indebted, picturing Christ refused by the world.
- Forgiven — his sin over Bathsheba and Uriah was fully pardoned by grace, yet the consequences under God's government still ran their course.
- Established — the throne promised to his house is not finally his own but Christ's, the Son of David whose kingdom has no end.