David vs Goliath
Around 1,000 BCE, the Israelites were at war with the Philistines, and the armies were encamped in a valley northwest of Jerusalem. One day, a young shepherd boy, David, was bringing food to his brothers serving in King Saul’s army when he heard of the giant, Goliath, boasting to the Israelites that not one of their soldiers was strong or brave enough to fight him. David accepted the challenge and confronted the giant with only a knife, a sling, and a few stones from a nearby river (1 Samuel 17)
A rock thrown at Goliath’s temple knocked the giant down, and David cut off his head. After defeating Goliath, David’s popularity among the Israelites grew, and eventually, King Saul feared for his life. Though David was loyal to King Saul, his enemies sought to stir up controversy. When Saul and his sons were killed in battle, David became the second King of Israel, bringing the Ark of the Covenant with him to Jerusalem.
Though David was known as a great King, he was a flawed human being and often prayed to God for safety, courage, and strength
The Devious King
In 2 Samuel 11:2-12:24 Samuel tells the story of King David’s love affair with Bethsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. When Bethsheba became pregnant, King David ordered Uriah to the front lines of the war where he was certain to be killed. After Uriah’s death, David and Bethsheba are married, and she gives birth to their son, Solomon.
Just a Legend?
Not only are these stories about King David found in the writings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, David himself authored parts of the Old Testament.
According to the Life Application Study Bible (pg 841), the Book of Psalms is a collection of timeless prayers that express the heart and soul of humanity. It is believed that David contributed 73 poems to the Book of Psalms, songs that praise God and ask him for forgiveness and for victory in battle.
Read Instride: Christianity