David

* Young
* Youth
* Adult
* Old

## Appearances

### Portrayed by

Alessandro Juliani (voice of younger and adult David)Michael Donovan (voice of older David)

### Appears in

A Giant Adventure!
Ruth
Samuel and the Call of God
David and Saul
King Solomon
Solomon's Temple
The Promise of a Child
Heroes of the Bible

### Debut

A Giant Adventure!

**David** was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons. David obeyed his father and carried out his family responsibilities. During his life, he was a shepherd, musician, poet, soldier and king. When Saul was rejected as King of Israel by God for his rebellion and disobedience, Samuel was sent to anoint the young boy, David, to eventually replace Saul (1 Samuel 16). One of his most famous feats was his encounter with Goliath. David did not actually take the throne and serve as king until later. In the meantime, David remained a shepherd and also began to serve King Saul. David played his harp and the music helped to calm the troubled ruler when he was tormented by an evil spirit. David also served as the king’s armor bearer (1 Samuel 16:1).

King David was about to die. He gave final instructions his son Solomon. He told him to continue to obey God and follow His ways for the rest of his life as Israel's king. David knew that Solomon would have a successful life if he obeyed God. David also had received a promise from God that one of his sons would always be Israel's king if they followed after God and served Him faithfully. David did all he could do to secure God's promise for his family!

## Bible InfoScan

David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons. David obeyed his father and carried out his family responsibilities. During his life, he was a shepherd, musician, poet, soldier and king. When Saul was rejected as King of Israel by God for his rebellion and disobedience, Samuel was sent to anoint the young boy, David, to eventually replace Saul (1 Samuel 16). David did not actually take the throne and serve as king until later. In the meantime, David remained a shepherd and also began to serve King Saul. David played his harp and the music helped to calm the troubled ruler when he was tormented by an evil spirit. David also served as the king’s armor bearer (1 Samuel 16:1).

David trusted in God when even when Israel’s army was afraid of Goliath, the Philistine giant. David was more offended that the giant mocked God, than being concerned for his own safety. He had trusted God as a shepherd to fight wild animals, and he would trust God to help him defeat Goliath! And, that is exactly what David did with God’s help (1 Samuel 17:32). David became a successful soldier after his famous defeat of the giant Philistine, Goliath.

David went into the service of King Saul, and his music helped to calm the troubled ruler (1 Samuel 16). David faithfully and humbly served Saul. He did everything that was asked of him. Saul then made David commander of his army. David's promotion was welcomed by Saul’s officers and the people of Israel. This is where the relationship between Saul and David began to go downhill. Saul became jealous and afraid of David’s military success and fame. He was angry that David received the praise of the people (1 Samuel 18:5). King Saul was so jealous of David that he tried to kill him. Michal, David’s wife and who was also Saul’s daughter, helped him escape (1 Samuel 19:9).

David and Jonathan, Saul’s son, had become best friends. They made a pact to always be there for each other. When Saul was determined to kill David, Jonathan, like his sister, helped David escape (1 Samuel 18, 1 Samuel 20). This made Saul even angrier that both his children had betrayed him! (1 Samuel 18:1-4). Saul became obsessed with killing David. He spent many years chasing him. On two occasions, David could have killed Saul, but he did not because he honored Saul as God’s anointed king (1 Samuel 24:1, 1 Samuel 26). After Saul's death, David was anointed king over Judah, and then king over all Israel (2 Samuel 2).

David trusted and believed in a faithful and forgiving God. When he sinned, he admitted his mistakes, confessed his sin, and received forgiveness. When he committed adultery and even murder, his confessions and repentance were genuine, but he still had to face the consequences of his sin (2 Samuel 11, 2 Samuel 12:1, Psalms 51).

Later in David’s life, he desired to build God a house, Temple. However, God told David, through the prophet Nathan, that David could not do this. God said David had shed too much blood over many years on the battlefield. But, God would allow David’s son, Solomon, to build the temple for him! This pleased David and he helped Solomon to prepare for the amazing project! (1 Chronicle 22:6-10). David had grown old and very sick. His oldest son Adonijah boasted that he would make himself king instead of Solomon. King David had previously chosen Solomon to inherit his throne. King David worked quickly with his wife Bathsheba and the prophet Nathan to officially anoint Solomon as king! (1 Kings 1:1-53). When David was about to die, he gave final instructions to Solomon and reminded him of God’s promise. "I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel’" (1 Kings 2:1-4).

The Bible describes David as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). During David’s reign as king, he asked God to bless him and his family. His dynasty continued forever, because one of his descendants was Jesus Christ. David was the greatest king of Israel and a part of Jesus’ family! (2 Samuel 7:29). David was Israel’s king for forty years. He died and was buried in Jerusalem alongside his ancestors.

## Life Lessons

* Trust in God. He has the power to help you when you are faced with a challenge.
* Admit your mistakes, confess sin, and receive forgiveness, but understand that sin has consequences.
* Be kind and generous to others.
* Respect and obey God's leaders.
* Use your talents and abilities to bless others.
* Train up your child in the way of the Lord.
* Repent and receive God's mercy and forgiveness.
* Passionately pursue God's heart.