Lifespan

Approximately 515-420 B.C.

Ministry

Enos was a son of Jacob and grandson of Lehi. He was a record keeper and a prophet for the Nephite population. (more…)

Lifespan

10??-1015 B.C. (There are no references to David in any records outside the Bible, so these dates cannot be collaborated from other sources.)

Ministry

David was anointed by Samuel in 1063 B.C., became king of the southern kingdom in 1055, and united both Judah and Israel under his reign in 1047.

Preparation and Calling

The Lord instructed Samuel the prophet to seek out a son of Jesse, a farmer and keeper sheep from Bethlehem in Judah, to anoint as the next king. After reviewing Jesse’s oldest seven sons, he saw the youngest, David, and heard the Lord say, “Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” Samuel promptly “anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:12-13). Subsequent experiences during his youth brought him into the king’s court as his harp player and armor bearer, and brought him to battle the giant Philistine warrior Goliath. These and other military experiences were important to David’s particular calling because of his later dual role as prophet-king over all Israel.

Interaction with God

David as an individual is emotional, passionate, and creative. His relationship with God seems to echo those traits. The psalms, many of which are attributed to him, reveal the heights and depths of his feelings-his pleadings for forgiveness, his soaring praise for a benificent God, his devotion to the Almighty, his recruiting of God’s power in revenge on the unholy. But little is recorded of how David received God’s word in response-open vision? dreams? angelic ministrants? Because these more dramatic experiences are not mentioned, perhaps David simply was led by a spirit of prophecy and of revelation which came by means of a still, small voice that spoke to his soul.

Social Situation

David is one of the best-known of all biblical figures. His life can be divided into four major sections: (1) a youthful shepherd, (2) a member of the court, (3) a fugitive, and (4) king over all of combined Israel.

David first won favor with the royal court of Saul, king of Israel, because of his musical skills. Soon after came the famous triumph over Goliath, the giant warrior of Gath and champion of the Philistines.

His friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, creates considerable tension, as the conflict between David and Saul grew. David married Saul’s daughter, Michael, and secured his own considerable military force. Although he had opportunity to kill Saul, David’s respect for Saul’s position prevented him from doing so. But when Saul died, David became king of the southern kingdom of Judah, and shortly after brought the northern kingdom of Israel into his rule as well.

One of David’s failings was recorded with the story of Bathsheba. His lust for her began a downward slide of the house of David, and before long rape, murder, and rebellion erupted within his own family.

In short, David was passionate and full of faith. That passion both fueled his success and caused his eventual demise. At its highpoint, the kingdom of David was remarkable for his ability to consolidate a divided kingdom under a single devotion to the Lord.

Key Teachings

Through his psalms and his life, David teaches that God has all power and reigns over all. It is in God that we find protection, solace, peace, joy, prosperity, vengeance, and purpose.

David also seemed to have a clear sense of the coming Messiah, and many foreshadowings of His advent are contained in the psalms that bear David’s name.

Prophecies of Christ

David’s psalms are filled with foreshadowings of the coming Christ. Here are but a few:

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsake me? . . . “The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. . . . They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Ps. 22:1, 16, 18).

“Lift up your heads, . . . and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory” (Ps. 24:9-10).

“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Ps. 69:21).

“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. . . . The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:1, 4).

“I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner” (Ps. 118:21-22).

Living with the Prophet

One of David’s best-known experiences was his battle with Goliath. Through faith in God and a well-placed stone, a young man took down a seasoned giant of a warrior. We all have Goliaths to face in our daily lives, whether they be a physical addiction, social peer pressure, economic need, or a myriad of other challenges that may seem simply too big for us to overcome. But we each have a bit of David in us. Beyond that, David succeeded because he had God’s support with him. So do you. Choose one of your Goliaths today, and invite God’s help in defeating that imposing challenge!

Sources:

The Encyclopedia of Religion, ed. Mircea Eliade, vol. 4, s.v. “David”

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

Psalms

1 Kings

The Religion Book: Places, Prophets, Saints, and Seers, Jim Willis, pp. 170-75