Important Figures of the Bible: King David

Introduction
Fulfillment of prophecy is one way that God declares his righteousness. Isaiah, who was one of the Lord’s prophets proclaimed that the Messiah shall come forth out of the stem of Jesse (see Isaiah 11:10). Jesse, who was a man that lived in Israel while Saul was king, had a son named David. This man, who God claims to be a man after his own heart, was king of Israel for forty years. God promised King David that the Messiah would come from his family line. This article will tell the magnificent story of King David who was considered to be the most righteous king of Israel and was the writer of the majority of the Psalms.

Young David
David’s first appearance in the Bible comes when Saul was the King of Israel. Saul was not an obedient King. There came a time when the prophet Samuel was told of God that there would be a new king and that this king would be a son of Jesse. God told Samuel to go unto all the sons of Jesse and anoint a new king among them. God commanded Samuel not to look upon the countenance of the man but upon the heart (see I Samuel 16:7). When Saul looked upon all of Jesse’s sons, finally he came unto David. The Bible describes David as the youngest son of Jesse who kept the sheep, ruddy and beautiful to look at. When Samuel found him, God commanded Samuel to anoint David. The Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward (see I Samuel 16: 12, 13). Then Saul, who was being troubled with an evil spirit, wanted a young man to play the harp for him so that the evil spirit would leave him. Saul chose David to play for him and David became Saul’s armourbearer.