contd.
Goliath’s armour-bearer was the first to run, throwing the armours away. Before Goliath could recover and get up, David ran to where his body lay, took the giant’s sword and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that Goliath was dead, they ran away and the Israelite army pursued them.
When Saul and the army of Israel were returning to the city, many people came out to welcome them. Among them were certain women who were singing:
Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his tens of thousands!
This upset Saul greatly. He saw David as a rival and since that day, wanted him dead by all means. He began to make attempts on David’s life but didn’t succeed because God was with David. God also gave David favour with Jonathan the first son of Saul, and he loved David as his own soul. God also made Michal fall in love with him. Saul had hoped to get David through his second daughter but she was on David’s side. She revealed her father’s plan to David and helped him escape at the risk of her own life. Saul finally died, along with three of his sons including Jonathan.
David faced many challenges but he eventually became Israel’s king, leader and deliverer …
He turned on the bed and removed his hands from under his head. This made his mind come back to the present.
His conscience suddenly screamed at him – If you are the king, leader and deliverer of Israel, why are you in the palace at this time? His heart seemed to tell him he should have gone to war with the others. If he had, he wouldn’t have seen a naked woman.
Well, he didn’t have to go to war, he told his conscience. He had capable men who could do the job. Joab, Zeruiah’s son was the captain and he was a valiant warrior.
Recently, he sent Joab to fight against the Ammonites because of the terrible thing Hanun did. When David learnt that their king died, he sent some of his servants to Hanun, the king’s son, to comfort him but he disgraced his servants and sent them away, half naked. Knowing he had offended David, Hanun hired the Syrians to go with his men to fight against Israel. David sent Joab and his men to the battle. They won and all the kings that were servants to the King of Syria were now Israel’s servants. Joab could lead the army of Israel to battles on his behalf, which was why he sent him and his men out again this time while he stayed back.
Besides, as the king and leader, he didn’t think he should lead Israel’s army to every battle. He should be able to take some time off to relax and enjoy himself, shouldn’t he? – David reasoned with his conscience.
He had fought hard to deliver Israel from the hands of their enemies several times. Recently, he fought against the Philistines, subdued them and took Metheg-ammah out of their hands. He fought the Moabites and now, they were his servants and brought gifts. He also fought against Hadadezer, King of Zobar, and took from him a thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. He also collected the shields of gold that were on his servants. Everywhere he went, the Lord was with him and gave him victory.
Having done so much, and with so much power, he should be able to enjoy some things, such as take any woman he wanted, he told himself. He hadn’t expected to see a woman bathing when he went out on the rooftop, but he had and he must have her. She was so beautiful that he couldn’t take his eyes away from her.
To be continued.
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