Topical Bible: Peace: David

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Topical Encyclopedia

David, the second king of Israel, is a central figure in the Bible whose life and reign are marked by both conflict and peace. His account is primarily found in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles. Despite being a warrior king, David's reign is also characterized by his pursuit of peace, both with God and among the people of Israel.

David's Early Life and Anointing

David's journey to kingship begins with his anointing by the prophet Samuel. As a young shepherd, David is chosen by God to succeed Saul as king of Israel. This divine selection is rooted in David's heart for God, as noted in 1 Samuel 16:7: "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'" David's heart for God sets the foundation for his pursuit of peace.

David and Goliath

One of the most famous episodes in David's life is his battle with Goliath, the Philistine giant. This confrontation, found in 1 Samuel 17, is not only a testament to David's courage but also to his faith in God as the source of true peace and victory. David declares to Goliath, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (1 Samuel 17:45). David's reliance on God for deliverance underscores his understanding that peace and victory come from the Lord.

David's Reign and the Establishment of Jerusalem

As king, David unites the tribes of Israel and establishes Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of the nation. His desire to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6) signifies his commitment to making peace with God central to his reign. David's efforts to build a house for the Lord, though ultimately fulfilled by his son Solomon, reflect his longing for a lasting peace with God and among the people.

David's Psalms and the Pursuit of Peace

David is credited with composing many of the Psalms, which express his deep longing for peace with God. Psalm 23, one of the most beloved Psalms, illustrates David's trust in God as his shepherd, providing peace and guidance: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters" (Psalm 23:1-2). These writings reveal David's understanding that true peace is found in a relationship with God.

David's Legacy and the Promise of Peace

David's reign is not without its challenges and failures, including his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent turmoil within his family. However, God's covenant with David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 7, promises a lasting dynasty and points to the ultimate peace that will come through David's lineage. This covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), who is a descendant of David and brings eternal peace to all who believe.

David's life, marked by both conflict and a deep pursuit of peace, serves as a testament to the importance of seeking God's guidance and presence in all circumstances. His account encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and to pursue peace through faith and obedience.

Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 120:7
I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Nave's Topical Index

Strong's Hebrew

53. Abishalom -- "my father is peace," two Israelites
... ab-shaw- lome'}; from 'ab and shalowm; father of peace (ie Friendly); Abshalom,
a son of David; also (the fuller form) a later Israelite -- Abishalom, Absalom. ...
/hebrew/53.htm - 6k

Library

David's Prohibited Desire and Permitted Service
... the land of peace, whence all foes have been cast out for ever. To serve God in
God's way, and to give up our cherished plans, is not easy; but David sets us ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture g/davids prohibited desire and permitted.htm

The History of David
... Joab was not there when Abner made his peace with David; but when he knew it he
came to Abner with a fair semblant and spake fair to him by dissimulation, and ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

David's Charge to Solomon
... David's spirit by a divine voice. Sword in one hand and trowel in the other are
incongruous, notwithstanding Nehemiah's example. The Temple of the God of peace ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/davids charge to solomon.htm

Friendship; Or, David and Jonathan
... And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in
the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon v friendship or david.htm

Psalm III.
... But both in the former place they who read carefully, see that David in that war
was at peace with his son, who even with sore grief lamented his death, saying ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm iii.htm

Go into Peace
... Eli had said to Hannah, 'Go into peace.' Nathan had said to David, 'Go into peace.'
But Eli and Nathan could only wish that it might be so; their wish had no ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/go into peace.htm

David's Sorrow.
... Then he asked the king if he could go to Hebron to pay a vow to the Lord by offering
sacrifice there, and David told him to go in peace, and he went. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxv davids sorrow.htm

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on ...
... We are kept by his power unto salvation, and we are kept by his power in peace.
"Thy right hand holdeth me," saith David, and this helpeth me to pursue thee. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xiii thou shall keep.htm

The Fifth
... 1,2), and David "became a captain over them." They had followed him through all
his conflicts: and now, on the eve of the era of glory and peace, their names ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fifth.htm

Every Inch a King.
... He promised to establish the royal house of David, and give final peace to the people,
and also to build a house for the worship of the Lord, but he said that ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxiii every inch a.htm