King David (Part I)

King David is considered the “ideal king” of Israel and the ancestor of the “future Messiah.” He was a brave and wise conqueror, and because of his skill at playing the harp, he was known as the “psalmist of Israel,” with 75 psalms attributed to him.

As a young boy, David became famous by killing the giant Goliath and was made a commander over a thousand men. “And Saul saw that David had great success, and he stood in awe of him” (1 Samuel 18:15). David married Saul’s younger daughter, Michal. “But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually” (1 Samuel 18:28-29).

While fleeing from Saul, David endured a long period as a fugitive. First, he went to Gath, the hometown of his enemy Goliath, where he feigned madness to escape. Then he fled to the cave of Adullam in the Judean wilderness. In his distress, David faithfully sought the Lord’s counsel in all matters. He still took care of his parents and family, who had come to him, and he asked the king of Moab to look after them. Even in his flight, he showed love for others by rescuing the people of Keilah. He had two opportunities to kill Saul but chose not to, instead pleading for reconciliation. When the Amalekites attacked, he retaliated fiercely and rescued his family and the people of Ziklag.

When Saul and his three sons died in battle, David mourned and sang a lament, praising them as heroes of Israel, especially Jonathan, Saul’s eldest son, with whom he had a close covenant. After this, David did not immediately seize power, but instead reigned in Hebron for seven years. At this point, David had seven wives and six sons.