My favourite biblical writer

 I was once asked to identify my favourite Bible hero.  It didn’t take long.  David, of course: that ferocious, lion-slaying, giant-killing warrior King who also performed sensitive, soul calming music and wrote  timeless poetry and prose.

 We have a new prime minister, about whom opinions will be strong and legion.  No doubt the selection process has prompted us to give serious thought to the kind of abilities we require in a national leader – although musicianship and writing ability are unlikely to have made the list!

When Samuel was instructed by God to select a new King for Israel, he was probably looking for someone experienced, upright, with good pedigree, stable family life, superb physique, clear vision, intelligence and charisma.  Many of those characteristics had been present in Saul.

But David was no Saul look alike.  Not even present in the first line up of his older brothers because not yet a man, God demonstrated his knack of turning preconceptions on their heads.  External characteristics can mislead.  He looks inside to the heart, to what motivates people: their trust, obedience, faithfulness – which was where Saul had failed and why he had to be replaced.

What a bitter pill it must have been for the older brothers when the weatherbeaten, gawky, unlettered teenager arrived sweaty from the fields to be anointed King!  But they might not have been so envious of the tough  boot camp training programme that came next.   David spent many years undercover, often hungry and homeless in tricky situations, fearful for his life, with Saul out to get him.  This strengthened his dependence on God, to whom he would cry out in pain and torment, ‘why, oh why?’.  His writings have endured through thousands of years because they track an authentic, living, breathing, close relationship with his maker.

So what was his heritage, apart from establishing the blood line to Jesus?  Was it battles won, trophies gained, palaces, possessions?  Maybe, but what stands out for me was that catastrophic failure –  when he drove a metaphorical chariot and horses through the ten commandments by seducing Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, and then manipulated his death in battle.  

Here we have abuse of power, sexual abuse, manslaughter, failure to call sin by it’s name and an attempt to ‘bury bad news’.  Today this would carry a custodial sentence.  But God was onto his case and cared enough to send the humble prophet, Nathan, to confront him with the enormity of his behaviour.  David might have annihilated this unlikely and inconvenient instrument of God. Most in his position would have done so.  But instead he listened, heard and owned up to the devastating truth.  

So in Psalm 51, we find this mighty man of faith in pieces before his God, pouring out grief and remorse in a way that both shatters and comforts us centuries later.  And through this intensely moving passage we see grace shining like a beacon, down through the ages, to the cross. 

Eileen Padmore has retired from a life spent in health care and academia, having worked in Sierra Leone, Zambia, Eire and Northern Ireland (in the troubles) as well as inner city Birmingham and Leeds.  She has had articles published in Woman Alive, Christian Writer  and contributed to the popular ACW Lent Book.  Last November she claimed NaNo 2018 winner at first attempt.  Married to a professional musician, the family includes a feisty springer spaniel and a large African tortoise.