The Life of King David: How God Works Through Ordinary Outcasts and Extraordinary Sinners

by J.S. Park

The life of King David has captivated people throughout history. He's the epitome of rags to riches, the sprightly underdog, a simple man in extraordinary circumstances. Then there's the dark side of David — his awful affair with a married woman and the subsequent murder of her husband. But no one ever takes it too hard on David. It's probably because he's not much different than us. We see ourselves in him.

This is a literary dynamic journey of David's life, from his early days as an unknown nobody to overnight celebrity, and his latter days as a champion of the people to a royal sinner. Each chapter is wrapped in theology, philosophy, application, and the genre thrill of narrative. It's David's life as you've never heard it before.

We'll find not only the depth of our own vices and value, but the God who is at the center of this drama, beckoning us home to be the people we were meant to be.

It's David's story. It is our story.

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2015

About the author

J.S. Park is a hospital chaplain, former atheist/agnostic, sixth degree black belt, suicide survivor, Korean-American, and follows Christ.

J.S. currently serves at a 1000+ bed hospital, one of the top-ranked in the nation, and was also a chaplain for three years at one of the largest nonprofit charities for the homeless on the east coast.

J.S. has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Florida and a M.Div from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Some duties of a hospital chaplain include grief counseling, attending every death and Code Blue, help with end-of-life decision-making, notifying family members of loved ones in the ER, and advocating for patients and families in crisis.

J.S. is author of an upcoming book, As Long As You Need: Permission to Grieve, part hospital chaplain experience and part memoir, published by W Publishing of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. He is also the author The Voices We Carry: Finding Your One True Voice in a World of Clamor and Noise, published by Northfield/Moody.

In 2012, J.S. gave away half his income to fight human trafficking.
It was a check for $10,000, which was matched to raise another 10k, for a total of $20,000 for charity. The charity was One Day's Wages.

Reviews

[Alina Vanila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the best way to start the year, I bought this book on a whim, and fell irreparably and deeply in love with David's story. JS Park paints a portrait of David I never noticed before, but desperately needed to know. Rather than the king on fire for God and listened to Him from a young child to old man, erring in only one part of his life, I can see David as a human, seeking after God yet failing to be perfect. A guy who knows God, and loves God, and still makes mistakes, big mistakes, and bathes his years of kinghood with murder and sin. David's story is my story. I love the beginning of David's journey, but I love his end far more.
My favorite quote, "There's going to be a gap between our heart and our actions, always. But God counts the heart most of all, because when everything else is stripped away, this is what we bring to God at the edge of eternity. What matters is that we were the real thing, regardless of the results. And while we're fully accountable for where we've failed: God has us fully covered, if we so choose to embrace such grace."
I love this book. And I love how this book gives me a guiding path on my way to Jesus.

[Haley Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first half of the book - it had some good thoughts and insights, even things I’d never considered. The second half I didn’t like and felt it was less insightful.

[Jeffrey Kitchens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I needed! Thank you.

This book has done so much for me in this season of my life. Recently had much light shown on much darkness and it was hard and still is. But this has helped me pray and cry out to God more just to have it all illuminated and know that God works and cares continually about our lives. This is definitely a book I will be re-reading! Thank you again!

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!!

I was expecting a biography, but got that and more. Very inspirational book!!! Will read again sometime in the future!!!

[Clark McGehee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did thoroughly enjoy this book, and it was a fun read. I will say, I don’t know that it went incredibly deep, and a bit of it was surface level. But at the same time, it was very practical to our walk with Christ.

My favorite quote, from one of the deeper parts of the book was,

“Here's how we see that grace is a surgical, sculpting chisel that renews us by confronting the worst in us with pinpoint precision and acknowledging our desperate need as sinners. Grace, after all, is a love that presses through sin. The God of the Bible doesn't merely drop a truth-bomb and beat you into submission, but gently removes your self-deception and empowers you to return home. It hurts like crazy. His grace does not merely com-fort, but grabs your sin by the fistfuls and kills it with the relentless violence of love. It neither condemns nor condones, but convicts and re-creates. It's a scalpel that will work with you to the messy end.“ - p.127

[Rosario · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming off from one of the best books I have ever read , Good News for Weary Women by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick. I go straight into another superb one, The Life of King David by J.S. Park. While the first one lifted me up and made me feel secure in the love that is freely given to me, the latter humbled me and allowed me to better see the faults in me that show me that although that love is secure it is bestowed only by grace. The Life of King David will take you on a roller coaster of a story, from the beginning of David's story to his end, it will immerse you and nudge you not only to understand David better but also to understand yourself. If you want a real, raw, humane, sensitive, and yet truthful look into the life of David read this book. But beware, it acts as a mirror to show you how you look yourself, faults and all.

[Morris-Ken Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I love the writer's understanding and truthfulness about himself and I really relate to every thing he has to offer in this book. I got this book for the history of King David but after the first chapter I was hooked. I can state that learning more about myself in this book was great and much more needed reviewed in my life.
Thank You so much for writing this book and I look forward to read more.

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this book!
Hands down one of my favorite Christian books on the life of David. J.S Park is a wonder author that convicts the reader to be a better friend, accept our brokenness, and follow Jesus in a radical way.

Recommending this book to all my friends and people I’m discipling!!

[Martin Afable · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poetically and masterfully written commentary

This book is a great journey through the life of King of David, one of Scripture’s most iconic individual. J.S. Park’s poetic commentary is a good company as you reflect on David’s circumstances as he navigates through the difficult terrain of life. One cannot help but to relate on David’s psyche, and have a deeper understanding on what it means to be human. We are all Davids, and this book is sure to expound on that. It was a great honor to have read through David’s life in a poetic sense — he is a poet himself after all. This book left its mark on me and I hope it does the same for you.

[Tammi Stuhldreher · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great summary of the life of King David. There were a lot of things Park pointed out that I hadn't noticed before and some great insight into what we can learn from King David as followers of God. Highly recommend to deepen understanding of Old Testament Scripture.

[Kelly Gutensohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good

David is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. JS Park did a great job retelling his story and applying it to life today.

[Inika Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

This book is simply wonderful! Heartwarming, insightful, jarring at times. I dont re read books, but I would consider picking this one up again.

[JT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book.

[Larson Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this book for a college guys Bible study. It breaks down the good parts of David and also the bad parts of David which we far too often don’t point out.

[Stellan Artin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Whole New David

I can't tell you how many times I've read the story of David, but never have I read the story like I have in this book. J.S. Park has a way of bringing a completely new perspective on everything. He brings David to a whole new level and makes him relatable. I've never considered the feelings of David before as an actual person just like me. I mean sure, I've read the Psalms, but it's so hard to imagine him as a real living being. I almost felt sorry for him. My heart ached. This was beautifully written. Raw and vulnerable. Emotions stirred in me. I'll never read the story of David the same way again.

[Jessica Bang · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A very readable and good reminder for someone who is familiar with David's story. Park is ever encouraging in this work.