David and Saul

Anyone familiar with the Old Testament has probably heard the story about David and Bathsheba.[1] But in case you haven’t, here’s a quick summary.

Bathsheba was a beautiful woman and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. While Uriah was away serving in the Israelite army, King David sent for Bathsheba and had sex with her. When she got pregnant, David tried to cover up their adultery by bringing Uriah back from the front lines to sleep with his wife. When that failed, the King arranged to have Uriah killed in battle. Then David married Bathsheba. Not surprisingly, David’s conduct angered the Lord.

On two occasions that are probably less well known, King Saul also angered the Lord. In the first, Saul was to wait for the prophet Samuel to arrive to offer burnt offerings to the Lord prior to a battle with the Philistines. But Samuel was delayed and Saul panicked. As he watched his soldiers begin to leave, Saul offered the burnt offerings himself, which only a priest was allowed to do.[2]

The second occasion involved a victory over the Amalekites, whom the Lord had instructed were to be completely wiped out, including even their animals. But Saul spared the Amalekite king and the best of the animals.[3]

As a result of these two acts of disobedience, King Saul lost his throne, which passed on to David. But the Lord allowed King David to keep his throne and pass it on to his son, Solomon, and to Solomon’s descendants. Why the different treatment? Doesn’t it seem that David’s was the greater sin?

I believe the answer is found in their reactions when confronted with their sins. When Samuel asked Saul why he had offered the burnt offerings, Saul offered excuses—the people were scattering, Samuel hadn’t come, and the Philistines were on their way. Similarly, when Samuel rebuked Saul for not destroying the Amalekites’ animals, Saul put the blame on the people: “the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God.”[4]

Now what about David? When Nathan the prophet bravely confronted the king about his sin, David offered no excuses, but simply said, “I have sinned against the Lord.”[5]

I believe repentance is the difference. At no time did King Saul confess his wrongdoing and seek forgiveness from the Lord; King David did so immediately when he was confronted.

Repentance is an essential part of the Christian message. Both John the Baptist and Jesus preached about repentance. The Greek word is metanoia, which involves both a change of heart and a change in behavior. In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son,[6] the father immediately forgave the youngest son, but only when he came back. The father did not go looking for the boy. The prodigal son received forgiveness when he repented and returned to the father.

The Lord is merciful and always ready to forgive, but it seems that he will not do so unless and until we first turn back to him through faith and repentance. That is what David did, and he received mercy. And so will we.

You’ll find stories about David, Saul, and many other Old Testament characters in my books, The Old Testament Made Simple, Parts 1 and 2. A description of the books, a list of contents, and several sample chapters are available by clicking “My Books,” at the top of this page.

[1]. 2 Samuel 11

[2]. This story is in 1 Samuel 13:2 – 13:14

[3]. 1 Samuel 14:49 – 15:35

[4]. 1 Samuel 15:15

[5]. 2 Samuel 12:13

[6]. Luke 15:11-32