David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel  13:13-14; Acts 13:22)!  We are first introduced to David after Saul, at the insistence of the people,  was made king (1 Samuel  8:5, 10:1).  This choice of king, or even having an earthly king at all, was against the will  of God, and although Saul was anointed by God through Samuel, he did not measure  up as God’s king. While King Saul was making one mistake on top of another, God  sent Samuel to find His chosen shepherd, David, the son of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:10, 13). David was believed  to be 12-16 years of age when he was called in from tending his father’s sheep  to be anointed as the true king of Israel. As soon as the anointing oil flowed  down David’s head the Spirit of the Lord departed from King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). The fact  that evil spirits were tormenting Saul brought David into the king’s service (1 Samuel  16:21). Saul was pleased with young David, but this feeling vanished quickly  as David rose in strength to slay the Philistine giant, Goliath, and win the  overwhelming favor of the people (1 Samuel  17:45-51). The chant in the camp of Saul was taunting as the people sang out  the praises of David and demeaned their king, causing a raging jealousy in Saul  that never subsided (1 Samuel  18:7-8).

If you or someone you know has eked his way through life  amid strife, conflict and continuous battles, then you might understand how  David lived and felt throughout his lifetime. Although Saul never stopped  pursuing him with the intent to kill him, David never raised a hand against his  king and God’s anointed (1 Samuel  19:1-2, 24:5-7).  He did, however, raise up a mighty army and with power from God defeated  everyone in his path, always asking God first for permission and instructions  before going into battle (2 Samuel  5:22-23, 23:8-17). God honored and rewarded this unconditional  obedience of His servant David and gave him success in everything he did (2 Samuel 8:6).

David mourned King Saul’s death and put to death the one claiming  responsibility for Saul’s death (2 Samuel  1:12-16). Only after Saul’s death was David anointed king over the house of  Judah (2 Samuel  2:4), and even then he had to fight against the house of Saul before being  anointed king over Israel at the age of thirty (2 Samuel  5:3-4). Now king, David conquered Jerusalem and became more and more  powerful because the Lord Almighty was with him (2 Samuel  5:7). David was so enthralled with bringing the Ark of the Covenant to  Jerusalem that he omitted some of God’s instructions on how to transport the Ark  and who was to carry it. This resulted in the death of Uzzah who, amid all the  celebrations, reached out to steady the Ark, and God struck him down and he died  there beside it (2 Samuel  6:1-7). In fear of the Lord, David abandoned the moving of the Ark for three  months and let it rest in the house of Obed-Edom (2 Samuel  6:11).

After the Ark was in its rightful place, David decided to  build a temple of the Lord around it (2 Samuel  6:17). Because of David’s bloody, battle-scarred record as well as his  adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the slaying of her husband, God  denied his otherwise faithful servant the honor of building the temple, the  house of the Lord (2 Samuel  6:5-14). This was surely a blow to David, but God assured him He would  continue to make his name the greatest on the earth and forever establish the  throne of David through David’s son, Solomon. Instead of being angry with God  and having a pity party, David sat before the Lord, praising Him and thanking  Him for all the many blessings he had received in his life (2 Samuel  7:18-29).

David’s battles did not end with his kingship but  continued with the surrounding nations and within his own household. His sons  connived and conspired to take control of the kingdom and they, as did Saul,  threatened their own father’s life. And as with the death of Saul, David mourned  the death of his beloved son Absalom, showing a passionate and forgiving heart  (2 Samuel chapters 15-18). David’s broken heart and contrite spirit are what  brought him the forgiveness of God and are what will bring him back to be the  prince of Christ during Christ’s millennial reign.