Lesson 6 David An Exemplary Model of Repentance

1. Salvation history moves forward under the leadership of two types of authority in the society, spiritual and secular. This double leadership for the people of God in the world is clearly celebrated in the shehimo menaolam (Saturday 3rd hour) rajyatwam aacharyatwam --- staapichon stutyan pg. 274. After Moses God appointed Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land and to take possession of it. Later Judges who were both charismatic and civil leaders regulated the life of the people. Samuel had to set up Saul as king of Israel and he himself exercised the charismatic leadership among the people (1 Sam Chs 8-10) 2. As Saul was rejected by God (1 Sam 15) David was anointed by Samuel and from that day onwards the Lords spirit took hold of David (1 Sam 16:13) and thus, being anointed by the Spirit David became the King and Prophets like Nathan exercised the prophetic leadership in the community. David was the youngest of the seven sons of Jesse but it was he who was selected and anointed to become the king over Israel. His defeating Goliath far superior in physical strength to him and symbol of the enemies of the people of God shows that in all adverse situations of salvation history it is God who ultimately gives direction to it. 3. The right secular leadership of the people of God would be attentive to the religious duties of the people as he himself is part of the people. David was keen on building a house of the Lord, for keeping the Ark of the Covenant that would guarantee the presence of the Lord among the people. However he was prevented to build the proposed house of the Lord due to the sins he committed. Still, he is known as the author of The Psalms that served as the backbone of the Jewish worship. The picture of the great king David will not be
Vishal Malankara Voice / MCC ETRI Jnana Drishti / Lesson 06 / Page 15

complete unless David the sinner is not attended to. The story of David committing adultery with Bathsheba wife of Uriah and getting Uriah treacherously murdered (2 Sam 11) shows that Gods friends too are capable of weakness and thus they too need salvation. If Davids sins were so grave the repentance he made of it at the behest of Nathan, Gods prophet, too was so great as reflected in Psalm 51 (daivame ninte krupayin prakaram ) which now invariably opens up the return journey of every worshipper to God (in the Malankara liturgy). 4. The greatness of David is enhanced by the prophecy (2 Sam 7:12) that the expected Messiah will be a descendant of King David which was fulfilled in Jesus by being born in the city of God (Lk 2:11) and recognized as the son of

David (Lk 18:39).

5. After David, there was an array of kings who were remembered as

bad kings. Solomon, Davids son, though blessed with great worldly wisdom
clubbed it with sensuality and luxury and therefore could not lead the people to God. Majority of Kings of Israel did only what was displeasing to God. The only silver line among the kings of that time was Hezekiah who tried to reform Israel along the law of God. One notices in the history of the monarchy of Israel, during the reign of good kings like David, the prophecy take the backseater while during the reign of the bad kings like Ahaz prophecy in Israel takes the upper hand like prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. One draws from the history of this time a clear picture of the qualities required of the leaders who hold the leadership in the church and the society.

Vishal Malankara Voice / MCC ETRI

Jnana Drishti / Lesson 06 / Page 16