The Story of David

The story of David is probably one of – if not the – greatest of all the tales in the Bible. Many people know the story of David and Goliath, but few know of the negative side of David's life – which mostly took place while he ruled as King of the United Kingdom of Israel. To me, his story is amazing. Full of ups and downs, David's story is a perfect example of how God works and the idea that no one – even someone as beloved by the Father as him – is safe from His wrath.

We all know of his accolades versus the giant Goliath. With the Philistines and Israelites locked in battle, the former sent forth this beast as their champion – asking that the Israelites do the same. No man amongst them was brave or willing enough to fight ... except for David. He entered the battle with no armor (since the Israelites could not find any armor small enough to fit him), a slingshot, and five stones. David pulled back and delivered a strike right to the forehead of Goliath, then took the beast's sword and beheaded him. The opposition flew in terror and David instantly became a hero to his people.

Few, however, know or remember the dark side of David's rule. In his lust, he commits adultery, in the form of betrayal, by sleeping with the wife of Uriah – his most faithful servant. David gets Uriah's wife pregnant ... and in an effort to cover up his crime, he tries to make Uriah sleep with his own wife. When Uriah refuses – citing that his men at war cannot sleep with their own wives – David sends a message to Joab, ordering him to abandon Uriah on the battlefield "that he may be struck down, and die". Bathsheba (Uriah's former and David's new wife) gives birth to the child, but the prophet Nathan comes to David. He tells him that "God sees all" and he is displeased by the king's actions. God ultimately delivers three punishments upon David and his house, including the death of the son that had just been born.

Like I said, David's story is a tremendous one because it is filled with such great swings. To think that a man so loved by God that he could slay a giant with nothing more than a slingshot – and later become King of Judeah – could also fall so hard. How could a man so clearly in love with the Lord also betray him so easily? His tale bodes as a warning to everyone: God is happy to aid all those who truly love and follow him, but even the greatest of his followers can be found devoid of his love if they choose to betray his will.