{"id":36382,"date":"2018-05-03T14:28:28","date_gmt":"2018-05-03T18:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/blog\/?p=36382"},"modified":"2020-01-28T11:34:47","modified_gmt":"2020-01-28T16:34:47","slug":"the-bright-and-dark-sides-of-king-david-an-interview-with-mark-rutland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/the-bright-and-dark-sides-of-king-david-an-interview-with-mark-rutland\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bright and Dark Sides of King David: An Interview with Mark Rutland"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mark<\/a>The Bible describes King David as “a man after God’s own heart<\/a>,” yet it recounts David’s many indiscretions and sins. Do we really reckon with who he was? Have we reduced him to a shepherd boy with a slingshot? How do we come to terms with this flawed-but-mighty king in all his moral complexity?<\/p>\n

Bible Gateway interviewed Mark Rutland<\/a> (@DrMarkRutland<\/a>) about his book, David the Great: Deconstructing the Man After God’s Own Heart<\/em><\/strong><\/a> (Charisma House, 2018).<\/p>\n

\"Buy<\/a><\/p>\n

Who is King David in The Bible?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark Rutland:<\/strong> It’s, in fact, impossible to grasp a comprehensive view of the history of the people of God without some understanding of David\u2019s important role in that story. The Bible strongly makes the point that Messiah, namely Jesus Christ, was a descendant of David. Acts 14:23<\/a> is a perfect example. Throughout the Gospel accounts it’s clear that this reality was an important part of the understanding of first century Judaism. Even the \u201cman in the street\u201d knew Messiah would spring forth from David\u2019s line (Luke 18:38<\/a>). In addition to his place in the messianic story, the Bible reveals David, as a man, to be a multifaceted genius in genres as diverse as military strategy and poetry. He’s also the true founding monarch of his nation, Saul notwithstanding, and certainly the founder of Jerusalem (1 Chron. 11<\/a>).<\/p>\n

What do you mean that your book is meant to de-comic book David?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark Rutland:<\/strong> Many have only the child\u2019s storybook version of David which is over-simplified, sanitized, and non-biblical. Many who remain biblically illiterate know and use the phrase \u201cDavid and Goliath<\/a>\u201d and don’t even know it’s from the Bible. They think of little David and his sling shot as they think of Jack and the Bean Stalk. Likewise, others know the basic story of David and Bathsheba<\/a> but think it\u2019s from Shakespeare. Even some Bible readers have a VBS view of David\u2014the cute kid stuck on a felt board\u2014but lack the robust picture of the complex and often conflicted man and leader whom Scripture reveals.<\/p>\n

Why is it important to understand David\u2019s gritty side?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark Rutland:<\/strong> First of all, it’s important simply because it\u2019s in the Bible. God included the darker stories of Scripture for a reason and we ignore them\u2014any of them, and there are plenty\u2014at great cost to ourselves. Biblical cautionary tales are neat to do precisely that: caution us. Furthermore, we should read of David\u2019s darkest seasons because they reveal two great realities: the terrible cost of sin and the wonderful grace of God.<\/p>\n

Describe the times in which David lived.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark Rutland:<\/strong> David was born, 3000 years ago, which places him at the end of the Bronze Age. The technology of iron was so new that the Bible goes out of its way to say that Goliath\u2019s spearhead was made of iron (1 Sam. 17:7<\/a>) while the rest of his armor was bronze. It was a primitive violent time of constant war, invasion, and conquest.<\/p>\n