The Triumphs and Trials of David
St. Paul in 60AD wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians from prison in Rome awaiting the judgement of Nero. He was under house arrest in a rented home awaiting trial for two years and was often visited by representatives of churches he had founded. Paul had ministered in Ephesus for 3 years (Acts 19:1-20). Tychicus, was sent by the Ephesian church to assist Paul, and he was given the letter to take back to Ephesus. Unlike other Epistles, it did not warn them about heresy or moral misbehavior, but contained advise about the roles of Apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. If properly conducted the Church would grow as the living body of Christ on earth.
Good government whether Secular or Sacred works best if it follows principles and roles originating with our Creator. St. Augustine was a man who spent many years trying to understand and convey to others the consequences of following divinely guided leadership structures or those devised solely by men.
Augustine of Hippo (part of modern Algeria), 354-430 AD, was perhaps the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul. He was Bishop from 386-430AD. His magnificent theological history The City of God applies classical thought to Christian teaching. Two cities have always existed, he argued, the City of Man based on pride, wealth and ethical relativity, and the City of God based on divine revelation and eternal objective truths. In his day Christianity was being blamed for the decline of the Roman Empire. Augustine responded to this charge by declaring that the material decay of Rome was due to ethical relativity and moral decadence. Some argue that there are similar trends in America and today. 5 million words of his writings survive due to his influence and continuing popularity.
His Confessions is an autobiographical description of how God brought him to faith in Christ. The most accessible of his works, it is a captivating story that describes the moral and professional conflicts of his younger years. These include pride, stealing pears from a neighbors’ tree, lying, lust, and ignoring his saintly mother Monica who loved him dearly. One remarkable situation he recounted in Confessions is when he believed that God was encouraging him to make a break from his concubine a relationship that latest from age 17-31. His response was “Lord give me chastity and purity … but not yet.” How many times have we been similarly conflicted?
Augustine has appealed to both intellectuals and common men and women. On a typical Sunday 5000-10,000 residents of Hippo came to hear his sermons. Christians and Pagans alike respected his intelligence and authenticity. We see this also in the fact that Christians and non-Christians alike preferred being judged in his ‘Bishop’s court,’ rather than by the official Roman Magistrate. His sermon All Men Desire Happiness, is simple yet brilliant. Here is an excerpt:
All men desire happiness and therefore men are unreasonable in wanting to be wicked without being unhappy. And whereas unhappiness is the inseparable companion of wickedness, these perverse folk not only want wickedness without unhappiness, which is an impossibility, but they want to be wicked on purpose to avoid being unhappy … All wish to be happy, but none will be so but those who wish to be good.
It is based on Psalm 32, which concludes with: “Many are the pangs of the wicked; but steadfast love surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.” (32:10) I read Augustine’s writings regularly as a young father and teacher, I did so because he helped me to better understand the origins of the Western Civilization that I love, and my children and my students were apart of. He also reinforced both my belief and my experience that I could have a loving relationship with my Creator.
The OT and Psalm readings today show us that a person can have a pristine character and seek Gods guidance for their entire life and then allow sin to turn a blessed and ideal life into something very different. This is the case with the 11th century BC king David who ruled over Judah and Israel. Halfway between Abraham and Jesus he became Gods’ leader for all of Israel and the ancestor of the Messiah. David had neither royal nor noble pedigree, yet the Lord exalted him. Saying through the prophet Nathan, I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. (2nd Samuel 7:9b) If we are willing and obedient, there is no limit to what the Lord might make of us.
Much of what we know about king David comes from Samuel’s two books. Samuel was the last of the Judges who ruled Israel before Saul became king and he would be the first of the Prophetic writers after Moses. From earlier readings we know of David that as a youth tending his father’s sheep if a lion or a bear threatened the sheep God gave David the courage to chase them down and kill them. (1 Samuel 17:34-36) On the basis of these experiences, he was fearless in attacking Goliath the Philistine champion with a sling shot. The Philistine champion was over 9 feet tall, armored and carrying a sword, a shield and a spear. The Philistine king Og of Bashan needed a bed over 13 ft long. (Deuteronomy 3:11) Most of the Israelites of this time were afraid to enter the promise land because of the giants living there. King Saul was reputed to be the tallest of the Hebrews, but he would not face Goliath. When ridiculed by Goliath, David predicted that he would die by his own sword … and he did. It is amazing what the Lord may do through us when we love and trust him! And the good that we do will be remembered.
2nd Samuel is a history of the reign of David. In most of this book David is depicted as an ideal leader of an imperfect kingdom. In another place Samuel declared: … the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people. (1st Samuel 13:14) Under David’s leadership Israel’s kingdom grew rapidly. David sought the guidance of the Lord before going into battle or making any important decisions. His natural abilities led the tribes to accept centralized government and a monarchy in place of Judges and Prophets.
Of equal importance was the acquisition by David of the Ark of the Covenant. David sent 30,000 of his men to move the Ark from the home of Abinadab, where it had been for 20 years. After a mishap it was brought to Jerusalem by Levitical priests to Jerusalem. It contained the 10 Commandments in Stone that God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai, a Golden Jar containing manna and Moses’ brother Aaron’s staff. Under orders from David the priests placed the Ark in Tabernacle (tent) on the hill of Mt. Zion. This Ark was also called the Ark of God and was considered the Most Holy Place on earth.
David for much of his reign will demonstrate godly characteristics. He will show justice, mercy and fairness to friends and enemies alike. These strengths derive from his faith and knowledge of God, that developed as a young man. He foreshadows the Messiah who will be the ideal leader of a perfect kingdom. All our hopes rest on the promise of Jesus of a Second Coming and a New Jerusalem.
But David later in his life displayed latent weakness. One evening he saw a beautiful married woman bathing on her roof top, Bathsheba the wife of Uriah. He then pursued her using every power within his reach., which led to three sins which throughout the ages have often been linked. There is no indication that Bathsheba resisted David’s overtures to her. Then the Prophet and royal advisor Nathan was led by God to accuse the king.
But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, and the Lord sent Nathan to David. And Nathan used a story of a rich man and a poor man to illustrate his sins ... David was still a king who believed in justice so at the end of the parable …
Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die…
Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel …Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife … Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house … David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” (2nd Samuel 11:26-12:13)
David begged the Lord for forgiveness in Psalm 51 “I am Miserable Lord.” He did find forgiveness, but his life significantly changed. He had sinned with Bathsheba and murdered an innocent man. He neglected to discipline his sons when they were involved in rape or murder. And two of his sons will lead rebellions against him. A great leader who lacks character will have feet of clay.
This narrative of a great man should be a warning to us that there is no such thing as sin without consequence.
God be praised,
Christ the King Church Quincy Joseph Muñoz Professor Emeritus Feather River College