The Bible twice describes David as “a man after God’s own heart,” but a study of his life quickly reveals his deep flaws. In 2025, we examined David’s early years. As we’ve studied 1 Samuel, we’ve seen him slay giants and flee for his life as a fugitive. Through it all, God was with him.

 

In 2026, we’ll continue our study and discussion of David’s compelling and detailed biography as we explore 2 Samuel. Not just a collection of moral lessons or exciting events, David’s story, including his deep flaws

as an adulterer and murderer, reveals what it truly means to be “a man after God’s own heart.” God’s chosen king—the one who unified the nation and led it in worship—did not and could not fully keep God’s commands. The tragic results of his sins show us the devastating consequences of sin. David’s sins serve as a reflection of our own sinfulness.

 

However, David’s sincere repentance, expressed in many of his psalms, becomes a model for our own confession and dependence on God’s grace—his undeserved forgiveness and love. David’s greatest significance lies in the promise given to him: a Savior would come from his descendants, a true King who would defeat our greatest enemies and establish an everlasting kingdom. That King is Jesus.