King David was a man greatly loved by God, even though the Lord knew of all the wretched behaviour David would fall into over long, sick decades. Consider David’s temper. He was a violent man. When he heard that Nabal would not give his hungry troops food, David cried, ‘Every man strap on his sword!’ (1 Samuel 25:13). He led his men with the intent to kill all of Nabal’s family, servants, men, women, and children. In spite of such unbelievable cruelty, God still really loved him, though hating David’s temper.
Do we realise what that love means? It is a passion, a strong affection, like a parent’s love for their child: ‘You saw how the LORD your God carried you. Just as one carries a child all the way that you travelled’ (Deuteronomy 1:31). David was a notorious polygamist, being married to Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah and Bathsheba. A wife for every day of the week. But there could have been even more wives; there are some who believe David had 18 wives. And yet God lovingly carried David.
Then there were the king’s concubines, who were women of lower status than wives but still holding a place in the household and bearing their master’s children.
When Absalom led the revolt and the ensuing civil war against his father, he entered Jerusalem and took the ten concubines that lived in David’s palace, and Absalom slept with them all and made sure that all Israel knew of it (2 Samuel 16:22), saying in effect, ‘I am doing what kings do, for I am now the new king.’ And yet, incredibly, God went on loving the David of the ten concubines though deploring his actions.
