Boy, that brings back memories, Cindy. 
I haven’t heard that song for years!
Yes David is a man of parts and passions and the idea that he is close to God is a difficult one. He is an ancient King in a different time and acts according to the customs of his times (I know some find David encouraging – ‘if God could delight in David then perhaps he can delight in me with all my imperfections’ 
). As for the Mosaic law that restricts the number of wives that a King may have – and which David is not condemned for infringing – well that’s a tricky one. I think that some would argue that some of the laws (especially those in Deuteronomy) date from a time after David even though they come earlier in the Bible – but that’s a hornet’s nest.
Yes Michal is abused by David without cause and she is not seen to be vindicated. There are other abused women in the Old Testament and imagery of abuse towards women used figuratively and put into the mouth of God occurs in some of the Prophets; we rightly find this disturbing. And part of our ethical yardstick here is how Jesus treated women very differently and Pauls’ declaration of the equality of all in Christ.
I think that’s an excellent summary of David. Dick. When I think of David, though, I tend to think of this little ditty (which I’ve changed for gender):
David, at his best, was a man after God’s own heart, but at other times… 
Yep - that’s about the size of it But however different he was from us - in our terms he was larger than life to the power of ten - this Psalm of David’s still reaches to us and teaches us about what it feels like and is like to be a human being in frailty and fear turning to God. That’s what we can learn from David.
Here’s an accessible and brief sermon on how David - with all his flaws - could be named as ‘a man after God’s heart’ 
I also want to add that I think this is what happens to those in the lake of fire. The suffering opens up the hearts of those in hell to see and feel God’s glory as they are released from their sin and shame and brought into God’s loving presence.
Beautiful song, Cole.
Dick and Steve, yeah, I know. It just always hurts me when I read about Michal – especially what happened to her later and what David did to her sons. 
I think David was a man after God’s own heart because he was like a big awkward mutt dog. Loveable, worshiped his master, always doing something stupid or selfish or full-on horrific – but not because he meant to be bad – just because he was like us; way underdeveloped. He wanted so much to please God and when he did something wicked he always came running to Father in abject repentance. David had potential because he truly desired to be righteous and pleasing to God, even though he left a lot of broken lives in his wake. God had a lot of picking up to do after David (as He has with me too 
) but I agree with you.
And I think you are perfectly entitled to be hurt for Michal and outraged at what David did to her sons. I am too
Hang in there and keep trying Cindy. It gets better with time.
Thanks, Guys.
Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me!!
It’s about falling madly in love with Jesus. Jesus said not one jot or tittle would pass from the law until all was fulfilled. All was fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Christ came in judgment and destroyed the Old Jewish system. The law is gone. What matters now is faith - hope - love. I love because it brings joy to God, others, and myself.
I’ve often heard people say, Michael, that “Love your neighbour as yourself” means that we ought to love ourselves. I don’t think this follows at all. I think that God, in giving us this commandment, assumes that all people love themselves. They should then, love their neighbours just as much. But few people do so—maybe none. For example, a man will buy a new car for himself. How many would buy a new car for his neighbour? Though I have on one occasion given a used car to my friend, and on another occasion given a used truck to another friend, I have most certainly never purchased a new car for anyone else. So how is this loving my neighbour as myself? I have purchased a house for myself. Would I purchase a house for my neighbour? I don’t think so.
My opinion is that most of us love and serve ourselves, and that almost no one loves his neighbour as himself. Exceptions would be Mother Theresa who gave her whole life in serving others. Then the rich count, Leo Tolstoy, after he became a Christian in his sixties, gave all of his possessions and lands to the peasants of Russia, and lived the rest of his life as a peasant himself. These are the kinds of actions which indicate that a person loves his neighbour as himself.
Paidion,
I’m sorry but It’s in my heart to take care of myself and help others. Unless circumstances warrant laying down my life.
Of course it’s in your heart, and in my heart, and in the hearts of most other people. I’m not decrying your position. I’m saying that it is rare indeed for anyone to love his neighbour as himself. You’re not in that position. I’m not in that position. Yet, that’s what God asks us to do.
Perhaps we can grow evermore closer to that ideal as we continue to submit to Him.
Paidion,
I’m in that position. I could buy my next door neighbor a new car. I’ not sure what I’m going to do. It’s not always about buying someone something though. You can love someone through acts of service or spending quality time etc.
Paidion,
There’s nothing wrong with having money. Paul new what it was like to have money and not have money. The secret is to be content in all circumstances.
Paidion,
I realize that money has given me an ego sometimes. But I’m learning to handle it better. Money can bring happiness. But it’s not the only thing.
Michael, I was just using buying someone a new car as an example. There are certainly other ways to love people as you do yourself, e.g. what Mother Theresa did.
The first Christians sold ALL of their possessions and shared the money. (Acts 2; Acts 4). No one said that any of his possessions was his own. Contrary to what some think, this community of goods was NOT short-lived but lasted into the second century. This seems to exemplify loving one’s neighbour as oneself. If they hadn’t loved the other families as themselves, they would have been unwilling to share all that they had.
Paidion,
There are many ways we express love besides gifts. Acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch. I don’t think it’s mandatory that Christians be poor. Paul said that he knew the secret of living in abundance and poverty in his experience. The secret is gratitude and being content in all circumstances. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Job had abundance then lost it and then was blessed again many times over.
Good discussion, though we’ve got a little off-topic, Cole and Don. I’m not sure where I stand. I tend to agree with Cole that not everyone is called to sell all they have and give to the poor. But then what Paidion has to say challenges me and makes me wonder whether I’m not too easy on myself. But I’m not going to get off on that as it’s a topic that deserves its own discussion. It would be a great one for one of the group to start.
Does anyone have a favorite psalm you’d like to to post? If so, please feel free to do that (one at a time). If not, I’d like to suggest one of my favorites: Psalm 45. If no one else posts a psalm by morning, I’ll go ahead and post up Ps 45.