David: A Man of Passion and Destiny

David’s life was one of incredible range, spanning from the lonely hills of Bethlehem to the royal palace in Jerusalem. He was a musician who soothed a king, a warrior who toppled a giant, and a poet who articulated the deepest cries of the human soul. Yet, David was also a man of deep passions and significant failures. In this 24-part series, Chuck Swindoll explores the faith journey of the man God chose to lead His people. We see how God takes a “nobody” and refines him through obscurity, cave-dwelling, and even his own moral collapses to fulfill a divine destiny. David’s story proves that God is not looking for perfection, but for a heart that is fully turned toward Him.

Message 1: God’s Heart, God’s Man, God’s Ways

• Summary: This opening message explores God’s selection of David over King Saul. While the world prizes external stature, God looks at the heart. We learn that God’s ways are surprising, often choosing the obscure to accomplish His greatest work.
• Key Facts: God values character over credentials; spirituality, humility, and integrity are the traits God seeks.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1–13; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 78:70–72.

Message 2: A Nobody, Nobody Noticed

• Summary: Focuses on David’s hidden years in the fields of Bethlehem. Even though his own family overlooked him, God was using solitude and monotony to build the inner strength necessary for his future crown.
• Key Facts: Success in significant roles begins with faithfulness in small, uncelebrated tasks.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1–13; Psalm 139:1–6.

Message 3: Soft Music for a Hard Heart

• Summary: David’s skill as a musician brings him into the court of King Saul. This message explores the therapeutic value of music and how David served a predecessor who was becoming increasingly unstable.
• Key Facts: David used his talents to serve, even in difficult environments, showing a servant’s heart.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:14–23.

Message 4: David and the Dwarf

• Summary: Goliath was a giant to the army, but a “dwarf” to David because David viewed him through the lens of God’s greatness. This message highlights the source of giant-killing confidence: the name of the Lord.
• Key Facts: Giants lose their power when we stop focusing on our limitations and start focusing on God’s omnipotence.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:1–54; Psalm 27:1–3.

Message 5: Aftermath of a Giant-Killing

• Summary: Great victories are often followed by great tests. Following the defeat of Goliath, David enters a season of sudden fame and the beginning of his deep, godly friendship with Jonathan.
• Key Facts: Success is a greater test of character than failure; godly friendships are essential for surviving the “darkness” of success.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:55–18:9.

Message 6: Every Crutch Removed

• Summary: As Saul’s jealousy turns lethal, David is forced to flee. One by one, God removes David’s “crutches”—his job, his wife, and his mentor—forcing him into total dependence on the Lord.
• Key Facts: God sometimes brings us to nothing to reroute our lives; being stripped of substitutes for God is painful but necessary for growth.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 18–21.

Message 7: For Cave Dwellers Only

• Summary: Hiding in the Cave of Adullam, David finds himself leading a band of broken men. This message explores how God does His deepest work in the dark, restricted places of our lives.
• Key Facts: The “cave” experience is designed to turn our declarations of independence into declarations of dependence on God.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 22:1–2; Psalms 34, 57, 142.

Message 8: Life’s Most Subtle Temptation

• Summary: In the caves of En Gedi, David has the chance to kill Saul but refuses. He identifies the “subtle temptation” as taking personal revenge rather than waiting on God’s timing.
• Key Facts: Vengeance belongs to God; true character is shown when we refuse to “fight in the flesh” even when an enemy is vulnerable.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 24; Romans 12:17–19.

Message 9: What to Feed an Angry Man

• Summary: David loses his temper when a foolish man named Nabal insults him. Wise Abigail intervenes, teaching David (and us) how to handle conflict with restraint and wisdom.
• Key Facts: Anger can be “temporary insanity”; waiting on God is often the most effective way to resolve impossible conflicts.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 25.

Message 10: Cloudy Days . . . Dark Nights

• Summary: Discouraged by the constant pursuit, David lapses into a “dark night” of faith and moves into enemy Philistine territory. This message warns against making horizontal decisions based on fear rather than vertical trust.
• Key Facts: Even believers can operate in the “flesh” when they lose their vertical focus; displacement and deception are signs of a wandering heart.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 27:1–30:6.

Message 11: Two Deaths . . . A Study in Contrast

• Summary: Saul’s tragic suicide on Mount Gilboa is contrasted with the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It marks the end of a reign of failure and the beginning of a new era for Israel.
• Key Facts: Saul “played the fool” by neglecting God; his death illustrates that a life without God ends in isolation and despair.
• Scripture: 1 Samuel 31; 1 Samuel 26:21.

Message 12: New King, New Throne, Same Lord

• Summary: David is finally anointed King over all Israel. This message examines the responsibilities of promotion and how David sought to maintain his devotion to God while holding the highest office.
• Key Facts: Promotion from a fugitive to a king requires a heart that remains anchored in the same Lord who was with the shepherd.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 5; Selected Scriptures.

Message 13: David and the Ark

• Summary: David attempts to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem but does a “right thing in a wrong way,” leading to Uzzah’s death. He eventually learns that God cares about the details of obedience.
• Key Facts: Pragmatism and expediency do not excuse us from following God’s specific precepts; true worship brings freedom, while pride brings bondage.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 15.

Message 14: When God Says No

• Summary: David desires to build a temple for God, but God denies the request, choosing Solomon for the task instead. This message teaches how to handle redirection without bitterness.
• Key Facts: A “No” from God is not a rejection; it is often a redirection to a better plan or for a different generation.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; 2 Chronicles 6:7–9.

Message 15: Grace in a Barren Place

• Summary: David seeks out Mephibosheth, the crippled grandson of Saul, to show him kindness. This is hailed as the greatest illustration of grace in the Old Testament.
• Key Facts: Grace is positive acceptance in spite of the person; it seeks out the unworthy and seats them at the King’s table.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 9; 2 Samuel 4:4.

Message 16: The Case of the Open Window Shade

• Summary: At the height of his power, David falls into sin with Bathsheba. This message examines the “slippery slope” of compromise that starts with idleness and leads to moral collapse.
• Key Facts: Success can lead to spiritual blind spots; idleness is often the breeding ground for temptation.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 11.

Message 17: Confrontation!

• Summary: For a year, David hides his sin until Nathan the prophet confronts him. This message highlights the beauty of repentance and the courage required to speak truth to power.
• Key Facts: God loves us too much to let us stay in our sin; repentance involves a total change of mind and direction.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1–14; Psalm 51.

Message 18: Trouble at Home

• Summary: Though forgiven, David must face the consequences of his sin within his own family. The “sword” enters his house through the rebellion of his children.
• Key Facts: Forgiveness heals the relationship with God but does not always remove the earthly fallout of our choices.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 12–18; Galatians 6:7.

Message 19: Riding Out the Storm

• Summary: David navigates the death of his child and the breakdown of his household. This message offers a model for recovery: pray intensely, face reality, and claim biblical truth.
• Key Facts: “Riding out the storm” is a humbling but temporary experience; God’s grace provides the strength to keep moving forward.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:15–25; Hosea 8:7.

Message 20: Friends in Need

• Summary: During Absalom’s rebellion, David is forced into exile and relies on the loyalty of unexpected friends. It highlights the value of those who stand by us in our lowest moments.
• Key Facts: God provides “friends in need” to help carry the burden of consequence and offer emotional refuge.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 15–17; Selected Psalms.

Message 21: Being Big Enough to Forgive

• Summary: David encounters Shimei, who curses him, yet David refuses to retaliate. This message explores the discipline of total forgiveness and breaking the cycle of revenge.
• Key Facts: Unforgiveness leads to a “downward plunge” into resentment and hatred; big people are the ones who release debts.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 16:5–13; 2 Samuel 19:15–23.

Message 22: A Song of Triumph

• Summary: Near the end of his life, David pens a magnificent song of praise. Despite his failures and sorrows, he focuses on God as his rock, fortress, and deliverer.
• Key Facts: Spiritual strength is often most visible when physical strength is removed; God is our only true security.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 22; Psalm 18.

Message 23: When the Godly Are Foolish

• Summary: In a late-life lapse of judgment, David numbers the people out of pride. The resulting plague teaches the dangers of unaccountability and the cost of “stat-driven” security.
• Key Facts: Christians never mature beyond the need for the Holy Spirit; an unaccountable life is a dangerous life.
• Scripture: 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21.

Message 24: The End of an Era

• Summary: The series concludes with David passing the torch to Solomon. David’s legacy is defined not by perfection, but by a persistent pursuit of God’s heart until the very end.
• Key Facts: Finishing well isn’t about a perfect track record; it’s about serving God’s purpose in your own generation.
• Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28–29; Acts 13:36.