In this edition of Scrupulous Anonymous, I wish to share an excerpt from my new book, Spiritual and Religious: Perspectives and Context, which will be available from Liguori Publications in Spring 2025. I have chosen a section that tells the passionate story of King David—a complicated man, beloved nonetheless by the Lord and remembered fondly by the narrators of the Old Testament story. I hope his story will be inspirational to each of you and help you understand something more about our shared relationship with our heavenly Father.
King David’s is a story that includes a battle with a Philistine goliath of a man, whom David slays in the name of Yahweh. His tale features an intimate friendship with the son of a king, Jonathan, who loves David as “his very self” (1 Samuel 18:3) and who later suffers a tragic death at the side of his father, all while staying loyal and faithful to David. The king has marriages, some for political convenience, one for love, and one—to Bathsheba—for reasons rooted in lust. His marriage to Bathsheba turns out well, though, with the birth of the future King Solomon. Also threaded through David’s story are military escapades, plots and coup attempts, murders, and one spectacular display of religious piety and devotion to Yahweh when David, stripped to the bare necessities, dances with joy before the Ark of the Covenant as it is carried into the city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14–15).
Each adventure makes for a wonderful story, but these stories do not necessarily help us understand why King David is so appealing. For the answer, I think it is important to discuss two standout moments from his life. One reveals dramatic repentance and acceptance of responsibility. The other displays reflection and heartfelt thanksgiving for a long and fruitful life.
David dramatically repents and accepts responsibility for his guilt when the prophet Nathan confronts him. Yahweh sends Nathan to David when the events concerning Uriah, Bathsheba, and the lustful, deceptive, and murderous king come to light. The story is beautifully related in 2 Samuel:
“[Nathan said to David,] ‘Tell me how you judge this case: In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. Of what little he had she ate; from his own cup she drank; in his bosom she slept; she was like a daughter to him. Now, a visitor came to the rich man, but he spared his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him: he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the one who had come to him.’ David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves death! He shall make fourfold restitution for the lamb because he has done this and was unsparing.’”
(2 Samuel 12:1–6)
Upon hearing Nathan’s tale, David flies into a rage, proclaiming the injustice relayed in the story and demanding punishment and restitution. The God-sent prophet then simply confronts David with starkly pointed words: “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). Even after almost 3,000 years, the tension in the story is still palpable. Readers can almost feel the eyes of everyone in the room turn to the king of Israel and await his reaction.
Confronted by the seer-prophet but even more by the gravity of his sins, David surprises everyone. He admits his guilt and seeks the forgiveness of God. This story would be dramatic no matter the circumstance, but it is even more heartfelt when we realize that the confrontation, David’s admission of guilt, and his desire to repent occur at the peak of his power. He could just as easily have given the opposite response, expressing arrogance with no acceptance of personal responsibility. Powerful people do that all the time. David could have diverted attention from himself and shifted blame to another. The fact that David immediately rejects the path of the arrogant and assumes the posture of the vulnerable and the humble is riveting, revealing his true character.
As moving and inspirational as this moment is, the second character revelation perhaps focuses our attention more sharply. This moment helps us understand David’s relationship with Yahweh. It shows why David remains so beloved, despite his significant faults and failings. The event takes place at the end of his life.
In 2 Samuel, David is deep in prayer and thought. He is fully aware that his days on earth are ending. As a powerful king, he might be understandably distracted by his impending death. He is certainly experiencing the struggles that come with the succession of power to his anointed son, as well as any of a multitude of other issues. Such diversions may well occupy some of his time, but he is more focused on his relationship with the Lord. He prays the prayer of a man who is completely aware of the power of God and the favor that God has repeatedly shown to him.
“O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,
my God, my rock of refuge!
My shield, my saving horn,
my stronghold, my refuge,
my savior, from violence you keep me safe.
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim!
I have been delivered from my enemies.”
(2 Samuel 22:2–4)
King David’s tale illustrates an important concept. David’s relationship with Yahweh is full of important bumps and detours on the spiritual path. The only constant factor for David in the relationship is the depth of emotion he feels for Yahweh. King David often forgets or misplaces the actions and the choices of a spiritually mature and morally upright person. However, despite his less-than-vigilant attention to the details of his essential relationship with Yahweh, we see a profound depth in their connection, which is often strained but never broken. King David loves Yahweh, and Yahweh loves David.