Most notably Dovid HaMelech was wholly mindful of Hashem’s benevolence to him whether he experienced anguish or joy. Through dejection despair and untold hardships he knew to appreciate his Father’s tough love. He took no issue with his Creator when Shaul was so envious of him that he connived to kill him. He praised Hashem even as his own son Avshalom plotted to do away with him in his greedy quest to wrest the kingdom from his brother Shlomo who was chosen to be their father’s successor to the throne.
David endured his punishment without complaint and grumbling with enhanced loyalty and a heightened sensitivity of awareness and love of his Creator. Knowing that his afflictions were meant as atonement for his wrongdoing he was confident that G-d would never abandon him.
What constituted David’s ‘wrongdoing’? When he slew Goliath with a stone to the giant’s forehead the fatally stricken Plishti (the son of Orpah) should have fallen backward. An angel dispatched from above kicked the giant causing him to fall forward on his face. The mouth that blasphemed G-d filled with earth – while the head of the titan was made more readily accessible to David. The iron and copper fetters that bound Goliath head to toe were an impediment that David struggled with until Uriah Hachiti approached to offer him relief of this onerous burden – conditionally. He requested that he be given a daughter of Israel as a wife. David was subsequently punished for consenting to Uriah’s demand as well as for his breach of trust in G-d to whom he should have turned for assistance. In retribution Uriah was given Bat Sheva for a wife – she who was destined for David from the beginning of time.
David asked his beloved Father in Heaven to test him as He had Abraham yet immediately thereafter allowed his eyes to be drawn to the sight of a beautiful woman bathing. He succumbed to the alluring vision he happened upon and was momentarily distracted from G-d. Although the object of his gaze was none other than Bat Sheva his preordained zivug (by that time divorced from Uriah Hachiti who had gone to battle) he nonetheless failed the test that was placed before him. David did penitence daily for 22 years to atone for his weakness and shortcoming.
Although King David’s psalms address all of man’s sensibilities perhaps the most telling and revealing of them is the 23rd. Soldiers at war worldwide mourners who grieve and Shabbos zemiros vocalists turn their hearts with deep-felt emotion to the One Above:
A song of David Hashem is my shepherd I shall not lack. In lush meadows He lays me down beside tranquil waters He leads me. Though I walk in the valley overshadowed by death I will fear no evil for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me . .
David the young shepherd wielded his staff to rein in his flock. As he developed a profound appreciation for the panoramic splendor of the countryside and G-d’s bounty he was also made keenly cognizant of Hashem’s presence His goodness and far-reaching greatness. He had perceived the hand of G-d in helping him stave off dangers that menaced his sheep.
Although David manipulated his shepherd’s staff he knew that it was Hashem who ruled him and who guided him with His rod and that he could lean against G-d’s staff for solace and protection when he was fatigued or was in need of comfort and reassurance.
Dovid HaMelech wanted to prepare himself for his inevitable departure from this world and pleaded with G-d to tell him when that would come to be. Informed that no man shall ever know his time of death David asked Hashem to divulge the day of the week on which it would occur. When apprised that he would die on a Shabbos David proposed that it be postponed for the following day. G-d responded that it would be time to inaugurate Shlomo as king and one malchus (kingship) was not to overlap another. David then beseeched G-d to allow him leave on erev Shabbos (Friday) to which Hashem remarked One day of your Torah learning is dearer to me than a thousand offerings your son Shlomo will sacrifice for me on the altar.
