What a Latter-day Saint Can Learn from the Life of David the King
David grew up being favored of the Lord. The Lord chose David to be anointed as king because he was a goodly child who had such faith and testimony that he constantly relied on the Lord’s strength. David’s pattern of righteousness throughout his life resulted in a series of blessings. However, when this pattern was interrupted with sin it led to serious consequences until David repented. Latter-day Saints can learn through David’s example of the Lord’s ability to bless, curse, and be merciful to His children.
As a result of David’s righteousness, the Lord blessed him with incredible strength and prosperity. David was able to accomplish seemingly impossible things such as defending his flock from wild animals, killing a giant, leading an army successfully against the Philistines, and being delivered from Saul. Although David admitted to fearing his enemies, he knew whom he could put his trust in. David prayed to the Lord who gave David revelation to know what to do. The Lord also prospered David in other ways such as having many wives, children, and becoming king of Israel.
Unfortunately, David’s temporal and spiritual blessings made a complete halt and were almost entirely relinquished when he committed two of the most serious of sins. David’s lustful desires of Bathsheba led to selfishness of committing adultery and murder of her husband in order to keep Bathsheba as his own. The Lord was immediately displeased with David and cursed the death of their son together, someone more worthy would inherit the throne, and the sword would never fall from David’s house. David earnestly turned to the Lord in repentance but his son still died within seven days. David’s poor example also influenced two of his sons to sin which resulting in the loss of their lives. Later, David’s character flaw of pride came to fruition when he sought after his own will in numbering his people without the Lord’s permission resulting in famine.
Although David suffered serious consequences for his actions, David’s repentance was not in vain because the Lord was merciful to him each time he sinned. David’s sin of murder would have cost him eternal damnation but because he pled repentance, the Lord promised him that he would not remain in hell. The Lord’s mercy to David was also evidenced by his willingness to provide for him with provisions for his army and they continued to be successful in war against the Philistines. Lastly, the Lord heard David’s cry to take away the famine.
At first glance, one might conclude that David’s story is one of triumph and tragedy, but I also believe that Latter-day Saints may learn from David’s example of of resilience. The Lord has the ability to bless us as much as he can curse us and clearly has no tolerance for sin. David suffered severe consequences that led to the death of his sons, the forfeit of the kingdom, and eternal life. In comparison to Saul, Saul turned bitter and continued to follow after his own will, whereas David was willing to get back up again each time he made a mistake and the Lord was willing to extend mercy to him. Perhaps Saul and David were not all that different in the way that even the spiritually strongest people can fall susceptible to sin and that they both lost their kingdoms but the lesson resides on whether or not we continue to turn back to the Lord will make all the difference.
