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30. King David (Dawud)

 

Do you know the story of King David? David was not originally royal and he wasn’t impressive. He was a young, ruddy, skinny little farmer: a shepherd.  He wasn’t impressive by human standards but God called him “beloved” and called him to be king: Israel’s second and greatest king. He was anointed by Samuel and he would rise to become a warrior. He trusted in the name and the power of God. He saw the defeat, not only of the giant Goliath, but of many armies. God used King David greatly, pointing forward to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The story of King David points forward to Christ who would defeat the ultimate enemy: sin, death and Satan. Jesus’ victory on the cross.  May we be amazed by the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, and may we worship, honor, and serve Him as our Lord and as our Savior.

·      Read in The Qur’an – 2:251, 4:163, 6:83-86, 17:55, 5:78, 21:78, 27:15,

  • Read in the Tanakh and the Bible -1 Samuel 16:1-13; 2 Samuel 2:4-7, 7:1-16; 1 Kings 1:29-7:51, 11:1-12:20; 1 Samuel 28, 1 Samuel 31

 

Readings from The Qur’an:

·      The Qur'an 2:251 “So they routed them by Allah's Leave and Dawud (David) killed Jalut (Goliath), and Allah gave him [Dawud (David)] the kingdom [after the death of Talut (Saul) and Samuel] and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood)121, and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of bounty to the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).

·      The Qur'an 4:163 “We (also) sent the revelation to…Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms).”

·      The Qur'an 6:83-86. “We guided Nub (Noah), and among his progeny Dawud (David)…Thus do We reward Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers - see the footnote of V .9:120)…each one of them was of the righteous…each one of them We preferred above the 'Alamin [mankind and jinn (of their times)].”

·      Since the Qur’an says revelation and guidance came to Dawud (David), and through the Torat (Torah), shouldn’t Muslims know the full story of Dawud (David), given in the Tanakh and Bible?

·      The Qur'an 17:55 “And your Lord knows best all who are in the heavens and the earth. And indeed, We have preferred some of the Prophets above others, and to Dawud (David) We gave the Zabur (Psalms).”

·      While David wrote or co-wrote about half of the Psalms, does the Qur’an address any of the other authors of the Psalms?

·      The Qur'an 5:78 “Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawud (David) and 'Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). That was because they disobeyed (Allah and the Messengers) and were ever transgressing beyond bounds.”

·      Where in the Tanakh or Bible do we see this verbal cursing?

·      The Qur’an 21:78 “And (remember) Dawud (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon), when they gave judgement in the case of the field in which the sheep of certain people had pastured at night; and We were witness to their judgement. 79. And We made Sulaiman (Solomon) to understand (the case); and to each of them We gave Hukm (right judgement of the affairs and Prophethood) and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains and the birds to glorify Our Praises along with Dawud (David). And it was We Who were the doer (of all these things).”

·      Where is this judgment of the sheep in the Tanakh or Bible?

·      The Qur’an 27:15 “And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawud (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon), and they both said: ‘All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has preferred us above many of His believing slaves!’”

·      Where does David say this (Qur’an V.27:15) in the Tanakh or Bible?

 

Readings from The Tanakh and The Bible:

·      Humble Beginnings: “Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” (1 Samuel 16:11)

·      What was David’s job growing up? How did the Lord likely use David’s upbringing to prepare him for what was ahead?

·      How does this passage point us forward to Christ?

·      God’s Empowerment Over Goliath: “But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, [35] I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. [36] Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”  (1 Samuel 17:34-36)

·      What do we learn about David from this passage?

·      How much courage does it take to stand against beasts? Giants?

·      Why do we so quickly fear?  What sorts of things do we fear?

·      How do we stand and fight in boldness and courage like David?

·      “David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.” (2 Samuel 5:10)

·      What is success or greatness?  By the world’s standards?  By God’s standards?

·      What was the root cause for David’s success?

·      What is the root cause for our own success?

·      Why do we so quickly attribute our successes to ourselves?

·      How can we be more thankful to God for His blessings and favor?

·      How can we be more dependent on God for success?

·      David’s Dangerous Direction: “And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.” (2 Samuel 5:13 ESV)

·      “you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose…[17] And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.” (Deuteronomy 17:15-17 ESV)

·      Is ignorance of the law an excuse?

·      Why does God give us a law?

·      When we violate God’s law, why are we often surprise or indignant at our subsequent suffering or punishment?

·      Why does a godly parent discipline their children?

·      David and Bathsheba:  In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. [2] It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. [3] And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” [4] So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. [5] And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11:1-5)

·      What was David’s first mistake?

·      How does “being in the wrong place” possibly lead towards sin?

·      Is there wisdom in being careful where we go?

·      What was David’s second mistake? Third sin?  Forth misstep?

·      Do you think David should’ve known not to go looking around on top of the roofs?

·      When David first saw Bathsheba, how should he have reacted?  How did he instead allow that sinful lust to take root?  What are some things he could’ve done differently?

·      What are modern day versions of such “lust opportunities”?

·      Why is it so important to cut off sin as quickly as possible?

·      Is anyone above a huge fall into sin?  Why does Satan particularly attack leaders?

·      Nathan Rebukes David “And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. [2] The rich man had very many flocks and herds, [3] but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. [4] Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” [5] Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, [6] and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” [7] Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.”(2 Samuel 12:1-7)

·      After getting Bathsheba pregnant, how did David’s sin continue?

·      What is Nathan’s role?  How does the Lord use Nathan?

·      Does God call us to be Nathans?  If so, how do we go about rebuking and correcting?

·      What is the purpose of godly rebuke?

·      How do we typically respond when we are rebuked? Corrected?  Criticized?

·      What are some ungodly responses to criticism and rebuke?

·      What are some godly responses to criticism and rebuke?

·      What are some of your other favorite stories you remember about David? What lessons can we learn from those instances?

·      How do we see godly character in those situations? How is God calling us to be more like David?

·      Jesus is Heir to the Throne of David – Isaiah 9:7, 11:1-5, 2 Samuel 7:13, Jeremiah 23:5, Matt1:1,6, Luke 1:32-33

·      Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”

·      Isaiah 11:1–5 “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. [2] And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. [3] And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, [4] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. [5] Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”

·      Isaiah 11:2 “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”

·      1 Samuel 7:13 “So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.”

·      Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

·      Matthew 1:1 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…”

·      Matthew 1:6 “and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah”

·      Luke 1:32–33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

 

 

See also:

·      “The Kings and Prophets of the Old Testament (Tanakh)” www.trustworthyword.com/kings-prophets

·      “What does the Bible say in the Psalms of Ascent?”

www.trustworthyword.com/psalms-ascent

·      “Prayer in the Psalms and Proverbs” www.trustworthyword.com/prayer-in-psalms-and-proverbs