June 22, 2025
“The House of David” has been a surprise hit this season on Amazon Prime. With a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 91%, this series focuses on the life and times of Israel's beloved earthly king.
The fact that David was flawed, yet faithful, makes him one of my favorite Bible characters. The youngest and most unlikely shepherd son of Jesse grows up to become a gifted statesman, warrior, musician, and major writer of the Bible (half of the 150 Psalms).
In addition to slaying Goliath, he’s often defined by his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband. So, how could it be that such a person is described in Scripture as “a man after God’s own heart?”
One reason that stands out among the many is that David made it a practice of seeking counsel and direction from God. The Books of First and Second Samuel record nine specific times that he “inquired of the Lord.”
Four of the nine take place in one chapter alone, 1 Samuel 23. As these words unfold, we learn that Israel’s arch enemy, the Philistines, have been on the warpath. When David asked if he should launch an attack, the Lord said yes. When his people expressed fear, David inquired a second time. Once again, “the Lord answered him and said, ‘arise…for I will give the Philistines into your hand” (1 Samuel 23:4 NASB).
David was victorious in safely delivering the besieged people of Keila, only to discover that his own King Saul planned an attack against him in that very city. So again, David sought the Lord, asking if the people of the city would surrender him when Saul came looking. One would think that the people of Keila would protect David, since he had just saved them. Yet David sought the Lord and discovered they would cave into Saul and give him up.
The future king learned a vital lesson that we can all benefit from. While people can certainly be a help to us, we should never fully depend on them in place of God. Such proved true for David, as the Lord shielded him from Saul’s relentless pursuit.
Years later, soon after David became king, the Philistines were once again poised for attack. “Then David inquired of the Lord saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?’” (2 Samuel 5:19 NASB). Receiving the go ahead, the Israelites were victorious. However, the enemy reassembled for another attack. As was his habit, David inquired of the Lord. And, once again, David won the battle.
Interestingly, a couple of centuries before, under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites were deceived by a different enemy, the Gibeonites. Failing to seek the counsel of the Lord, they were soft on their foes, rather than eliminating them as God had commanded (see Joshua 9:14).
Nearly 3,000 years later, the lesson for us is obvious. If you want to minimize your anxiety and anguish, make a practice of seeking God’s direction and counsel. Note that David preached what he practiced, writing, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple (Psalm 27:4 ESV).
Seeking God’s direction and counsel may not guarantee a life of constant smooth sailing. Yet, by doing so, you’ll remain in His will and experience a peace that only He can provide.
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
