He received the divine choice and call, had to conquer the land, and had to establish a capital city. Then he lost it all through sin, later to return without the glory. Bergen said he also sees David as a metaphor of Yahweh's relationship with Israel and as a metaphor of hope because Yahweh would not give up on His people. One misunderstanding many people have is the role of women, according to Bergen. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, gained power through motherhood, which is in contrast to Deborah who gained power through politics.
Maternal instinct guided by faith can transform a nation and a world.
Bergen received a PhD from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1986. He and his wife Martha have one son, Wesley. Hannibal-LaGrange College is a Christian liberal arts college located in Hannibal, Missouri, and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.