David is my Old Testament hero. His life was completely full. He's shepherd, poet, warrior, fugitive, friend, king, adulterer, murderer, grieving father, worshipper and repentant sinner. The Spirit of the LORD comes powerfully upon David (1 Samuel 16:13) David confronts Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1–37) David kills Goliath (1 Samuel 17:38–54) David becomes a successful military commander (1 Samuel 18:5–7) Saul becomes jealous of David (1 Samuel 18:6–9) Saul repeatedly attempts to kill David (1 Samuel 18:10–11; 19:9–10) Jonathan protects David from Saul (1 Samuel 19–20) David spares Saul’s life in a cave at En-gedi (1 Samuel 24) David spares Saul a second time (1 Samuel 26) Saul and Jonathan die in battle (1 Samuel 31) David mourns Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1) David is made king over Judah (2 Samuel 2:1–4; 5:4) All Israel recognizes David as king (2 Samuel 5:1–5) David brings the Ark into Jerusalem and dances before the LORD (2 Samuel 6:12–15) David desires to build God a temple (2 Samuel 7) God makes His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:8–17) David commits adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1–5) David arranges Uriah’s death (2 Samuel 11:14–25) David marries Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:26–27) David returns to Jerusalem as king (2 Samuel 19) David builds an altar (2 Samuel 24:15–25) David prepares for the future Temple (1 Chronicles 22–29) David dies after reigning for 40 years (1 Kings 2:10–12) David is remembered as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) Jesus is identified as the promised Son of David (Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:31–33; Romans 1:3)

Pray with me September 16, 2026 Father, You are the God who restores what is broken, renews what is weary, and brings life out of places that seemed dead. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:12). Heal the wounds I have carried, redeem the years that have been lost, and rebuild every place in me that fear, failure, disappointment, or sin has torn down. You promised, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25), so I trust You with what I cannot recover on my own. Restore my heart to holiness, my mind to truth, my strength to purpose, my relationships to grace, and my steps to Your path. Where I have wandered, bring me home. Where I have grown cold, kindle the fire again. Where I have become discouraged, renew my hope. Where I have fallen, lift me by Your mercy. Make me like David, able to say, “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3). I will not live looking backward at what was lost, because in Christ You are making all things new. Take what the enemy meant for evil and use even that for Your glory. Establish the work of my hands, renew a steadfast spirit within me, and let the days ahead bear testimony that my Redeemer is still restoring, still rebuilding, and still making beauty from ashes. In the name of Jesus, amen.