Fly Through the Bible

Chapter 4 – David

Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath, but many people don’t know the full story of David. He has been called a man after God’s own heart. You would expect David to be the perfect man. He would follow God in every way.

Amazingly, that is not the story of David. He is just like us, some sparks of greatness, but still a sinner. He was courageous in the battle against Goliath, loyal to King Saul and his friend Jonathon, and patient in waiting on God’s timing for becoming king. Unfortunately, David failed greatly as well. He stole a man’s wife and had him killed in battle. And still he is a man after God’s own heart. This gives me hope and faith that God is still there, with his mercy and forgiveness, even though I fail every day to meet his standards. I must have a heart of repentance just like David.

The story of David shows us that an earthly king will not save us because that king is not the perfect king we need. It is through Dave that God makes a promise to provide the perfect king. That perfect king would come and defeat both sin and death. Jesus Christ is that perfect king. He is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Adam, to  Abraham, to David, and to all of us. Jesus is both a son of David and a son of Abraham. Jesus is God’s way for us back to Him.

Here are a few questions to help you dive deeper into this chapter:

  1. Chosen by God, Not by Appearance
    • David is chosen while still a shepherd, overlooked by his own family.
    • What does God’s selection of David reveal about how God defines greatness compared to how humans define it?
    • How does this challenge the way we evaluate leaders, success, and ourselves today?
  1. Faithfulness in the Waiting
    • David is anointed king long before he actually becomes king and repeatedly refuses to take the throne by force.
    • Why is David’s willingness to wait on God’s timing just as important as his victory over Goliath?
    • What does this teach us about trusting God when His promises seem delayed?
  1. Great Sin and Greater Repentance
    • David commits adultery and murder—serious moral failure by any standard.
    • Why do you think Scripture still calls David “a man after God’s own heart” despite these sins?
    • How does David’s response to confrontation reveal the difference between repentance and mere regret?
  1. The Limits of an Earthly King
    • David is Israel’s greatest king, yet his reign is marked by family breakdown, violence, and personal failure.
    • Why is it important that Scripture shows even the best human king as insufficient?
    • How does David’s life expose the limits of political, military, or human solutions to sin?
  1. The Promise of the True King
    • God promises David that his throne will endure forever.
    • How does this promise point beyond David himself to a future, greater King?
    • In what ways does Jesus fulfill what David could not—both as Son of David and perfect King?

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Overview

Fly through the Bible
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Chpt. 1 – Adam
Chpt. 2 – Abraham
Chpt. 3 – Moses
Chpt. 4 – David
Chpt. 5 – Ezra