God of mercy: Everyone has problems, some more than others. The severity of the problem depends largely on the individual’s assessment, but no matter, everyone has problems.
David, King of Israel, handpicked by God to sit on the throne some 2500 years ago, had more than his share. He had enemies everywhere, including ambitious sons who wanted him dead so they could take his place.
You would think that God would pamper him, but that was far from the case. Many of the Psalms written by David were direct cries for help, and so many of them sound like the lamenting of a torched man.
People in the Bible are just average people
We think of the men and women of the Bible as being extraordinary or special, but they were just people. David was handpicked by God, not for his perfection, but for his character and willingness to follow God.
That, however, didn’t make him the perfect king. His sins were many, including adultery and his predetermination to have Uriah, the husband of his mistress, go into battle to die. This plot of murder and adultery cursed David’s house.
He married his mistress, Bathsheba, but the child of their adulterous encounter died in infancy. But God is merciful. They had a second son, Solomon, who would reign over Israel from 968-928 BC.
During the time of the Judges in Israel, the people wanted a king, but God had other plans. Then people chose Saul.
“Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ (Acts 13:20-22)
Sin has consequences
Saul, a strapping military man, looked the part. At first he seemed like he would be a good ruler, following God’s direction. However he did not follow God and the prophet Samuel was dispatched to find the proper man for the job.
Like Saul, David was flawed and made more than his share of bad decisions while on the throne if Israel. But unlike Saul , David always came back before God and confessed his sin. Sin has its consequences and David suffered those consequences.
God was merciful to David
God was merciful to David, to Israel and the world. Through David came the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, the descendant of an adulterer, was God in the flesh, the child of Mary, a blood relative of David’s through his son Nathan. David was on the throne from1005-965 BC
After David, Israel was divided, two of the 12 tribes were in the south, Judah and Benjamin. The others ten where in the north. This divided kingdom was easy prey for Babylon, who forced Israel went into captivity. The consequences of turning away from God are dreadful.
From that point of captivity to the coming of the Messiah, was 14 generations. The Greeks came to Israel to rule, then the Romans. Christ came at the time of the Roman rule.
God had a plan all along. Through the generations of the house of David came Mary. Interestingly, Mary’s linage can be traced back to Abraham. Likewise, Mary’s husband Joseph, can also be traced to Abraham. They were distant cousins.
In Joseph’s line was a king, Athaliah, but Athaliah fell out of favor with God and because of that failure, God deemed that the Messiah would not come from that line. God’s plan was for Mary to be the one who would deliver the Christ.
God of Mercy: David mostly brought on his own trouble
Why would God let David suffer so much turmoil in his life? Truth be told, David brought most of it on himself. We bring on most of our troubles as well. But David, the flawed king that he was, cried out to God. He knew his sinfulness and pleaded for mercy.
The 143rd Psalm
Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant. (Psalm 143)
God is merciful
God was merciful to David, despite all of the sinful calamity that befell him. David is honored. Jesus was sometimes called son of David, the one who will sit on the throne of David forever. It was David’s faith in God, not his actions, that resulted in God’s blessings.
It is the same for us. God desires to be merciful. We need to turn to him, confess our sins and accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our savior. We are all just like David, we need to seek God’s will in our life and receive and understand His mercy.