Introduction to the Story of David

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

ALL SCRIPTURE. How hard is that to hear? When I read that verse I think about how much of the Bible I have missed. I want to read all the fun stuff, all the Jesus stuff, all the miracles, and God’s people defeating enemies. What I don’t want to read is genealogies, temple specifications, the in-between of the stories. But God is saying ALL scripture, not just the good stuff, the easy to read stuff, the fun stuff. All scripture is God breathed and it is in between and leading to the stories we need to know. Last year I realized there were some parts of the Bible I had probably never read. I’ve been a Christian for 30 years, and there were some parts I had missed. I decided it was time to sit down and make sure I had read the entirety of the living and active word of God. 

The bible in a year plan always seems like a good place to start, but I’d started and never finished that a few times already. So I did it my own way. I started with Isaiah because I’d never read it, and just kept reading. At the same time, I started in Matthew and read through the New Testament, and also began and repeated Psalms. Once I finished the Old Testament, I started back at the beginning. When I got to 1st and 2nd Samuel, I took my time. I had read David and Goliath, but the in between, the before and after of the story of David made me pause. And then, something I’ve known my entire life, made me pause even longer; this is the man who wrote 73 of the Psalms. This man who was king, and who also committed adultery and murder, wrote some of the most beautiful poetry to God. This “man after God’s own heart” wrote many of the verses I’ve clung to in hardship. So I fell in love with the story of David in a new way, and I felt God calling me to share it with you.

We’ve all heard of David and Goliath, and maybe most of us have heard of David and his oh so scandalous sin with Bathsheba, but there is more to that story. I had never read the more. I had never sat in 1 and 2 Samuel for more than a skim. I never knew that he was anointed king and didn’t immediately take the throne. I didn’t know that he was on the run from Saul for years before being made the actual king. And then when he was king, who knew that his family, his men tried to steal it from him? And I never knew that his initial sin with Bathsheba was just the beginning. There is so much to this story, and the Bible says that David was a “man after God’s own heart.” He is the only person in the Bible who is given this title, and that’s got to count for something.

“These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11

David is such a great example of what to do, and what not do. He knows about being unworthy. He knows about waiting. He knows about great sin and revenge. He knows forgiveness and friendship. He knows victory, and he also knows the bitter sting of defeat. He knows fear, and doubt. He knows deep sorrow. He deeply knows and deeply loves God. David has been there, and we can learn so much from his example of how to walk through it all. 

For the next couple months I’m gonna dive into his story, and I hope you can join me. Starting the first Friday in June (next week), I will do a weekly post walking through the story of David. If you haven’t read the story, or even if you have, I encourage you to join me. I encourage you to read 1 and 2 Samuel along with me, and dig in to “a man after God’s own heart.” In each Friday post, I will let you know what verses I will be covering the following week, and a few questions to ponder so you can join me in abiding in his word during the week. If you’d like to receive an email each time I post something new, go to the lower right hand corner of this blog, and click follow. It will send you an email every time there is a new post. 

I am excited to go on this journey with you all, and I am excited to see where it takes us, and where it takes this blog. I’ve been blogging for more than a year now, and the hardest part of all of this is promoting myself. I recently talked with a friend about my hesitancy to self-promote and she reminded me that I’m not promoting myself, I’m promoting what the holy spirit has spoken to me, and wants me to speak to you. Why would I not promote the Lord working in my life, and in yours? And why would I hide the gift the Lord has given me?

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides so that in all things Gods may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10

I am in the process of realizing that if the Lord had given me an immense amount of money to share with the poor, would I do everything in my power to give it away? If the Lord provided me with the gift of inventing something that might save someone’s life, would I not promote it, and share it with others? God has given me this gift of writing, and I should not be afraid to share it with you all. I will do so with the “strength God provides” so that only he can boast!

So come on a journey with me this summer. Journey with me through the story of David, and invite your friends to journey with us. Let’s dig into the living and active word of God and be taught, corrected, rebuked, trained in righteousness. And after this summer, let’s be equipped for every good work that God has called us to do!

Week 1: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 

1. Have you ever felt God calling you to do something? Did you do it?

2. What is God’s call in your life now?

3. What parts of you feel unqualified for God’s work?