David honored God (see Bare Roots 18.1). He also had tremendous respect for other people. Scripture provides numerous examples of his consideration for others.

1 Samuel 30 relates how a band of Amalekites raided Ziklag, burned the town, and captured the wives and children of David and his men. David and 600 warriors pursued the Amalekites as far as the Besor Ravine. At that point, 200 were too exhausted to continue, so David left them with the supplies and pressed on with the remaining 400. They caught up with the Amalekites, defeated them in battle, and recovered their families and property.

When then returned to the 200 in Besor,

All the evill men and troublemakers among David's followers said, "Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we have recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go."

David replied, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us...The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. (1 Sam 30:22-25, NIV)

Here David showed consideration for the needs of the weaker members of the community -- not just its heroes. This essential fairness endeared him to Israel.

On another occasion, David was in the field, fighting the Philistines. He grew thirsty and mused, "Oh that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem," David's hometown (2 Sam 23:15).

Three of his soldiers heard the king's wish and set out to grant it.

[They] broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out [as an offering] before the LORD. "Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it. (2 Sam 23:16-17)

Jews believed that a creature's life was in its blood, and that life belongs only to God (see Lev 17:11, discussed in Bare Roots 7.2). So David viewed the water as the very life or blood of his soldiers, since they risked their lives to get it. Accordingly, he refused to keep that life for himself, but instead poured it out to God to whom it belongs. By this act, David demonstrated great humility before God and deep respect for the men who had shown him such devotion.

As rivals for the throne, David and Saul's son Jonathan were natural enemies. Saul repeatedly urged Jonathan to kill David to safeguard his dynasty (see 1 Sam 20:30-31). If David became king, then everyone would expect him to kill Saul, Jonathan, and their whole family in order to consolidate his power.

Nevertheless, David and Jonathan became "one in spirit," the closest of friends (see 1 Sam 18:1-4; compare 20:1-42; 23:15-18; 2 Sam 1:25-26). Jonathan told David,

You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this. (1 Sam 23:17)

May the LORD be with you as He has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family -- not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth.

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David...And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. (2 Sam 20:13-17)

David fulfilled his promise to Jonathan, demonstrating a capacity for true friendship and loyalty.

The way he treated other people made David "a man after God's own heart."

Reflect...

1. Read 2 Samuel 9. After Jonathan's death, how did David fulfil his vow to his friend?
   
   
2. Jesus says, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt 22:39, quoting Lev 19:18) and "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Luke 6:31 // Matt 7:12). How does David's life illustrate these biblical principles?
   
   
3. Joab once accused David, saying, "You hate those who love you" (2 Sam 19:6). Read 2 Samuel 15-19 and evaluate David's behavior.

Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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