David: A Man after God’s Own Heart

by Benjamin J. M. Johnson

David is one of the most complex and fascinating characters in all of literature. His story exists at a crucial point in the biblical narrative where God turns toward committing to monarchy in Israel. He is the slayer of Goliath, the hero of Israel, and God's chosen king. Yet, he is also a manipulator, adulterer, and murderer. This book provides a broad audience of students, lay readers, and scholars with a close reading of David's story, presenting scholarly study of this fascinating and crucial character in an accessible and engaging manner. By carefully presenting David's story, this book addresses how it is possible to consider a flawed and imperfect character like David as a man after God's own heart.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 22, 2021

Reviews

[Ryan Handermann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to lack the depth that it initially promised. David a "four dimensional character," and therefore, certainly extraordinarily difficult to capture. It seemed to me that the thesis here is that "David is complex," but that complexity was never unearthed or given the dimensionality that it needed. This is a short introduction, however, that places a premium on what is included. For example, while the books of Samuel are the focal point, the Psalms (or Proverbs for that matter) are mostly left unexposited in any great detail (He does work through Psalm 142). And, on the other hand, we have time for an excursus on why his relationship with Jonathan is not gay - that is true enough, but why does the irregular fascination of the academy even warrant discussion when the 73 Psalms written by David are largely ignored? Surely the depth of the Psalms reveal far more about the heart of a man whose heart is a reflection of God himself.