Why David?
“Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?”(2 Samuel 7:18) This is the question David asks God upon hearing the promise, the Covenant, God has made to raise up his seed and establish his kingdom and throne forever. And this is the question I have asked myself when contemplating the connection that I have felt with him, a figure about whom I know very little. I am not unique in this regard, King David has held sway in the psyches of many, across cultures and years. I feel the answer lies somewhere a bit beyond the more obvious candidates: David’s humble beginnings, David as the faithful servant, David as the underdog against Goliath. Samuel Anoints David, 3rd century, unknown artist To begin to try to find the answer to this question, I turned to 1 and 2 Samuel; the Old Testament provides an intimate view to David, his life, and his character. We first meet David mid-way through 1 Samuel, the first half of which describes the transition of power...