Concluding Thoughts on Second Samuel

King David occupies the spotlight in all of the Second Book of Samuel.  The naming of this book is a little inaccurate, as the prophet Samuel died in the previous book, but as it was Samuel whom God instructed to anoint David, the prophet's influence lives on.  Some more traditional translations of the Bible call this the Second Book of Kings, and at one time there were even some Bibles that condensed all four of the kingly books into two.  At any rate, I've reached the halfway point of this segment of the Old Testament.  The death of King David happens early in the next book and then we'll see the reign of Solomon and all events leading up to the captivity.  

King David is, again, the focal point in this book.  Not since Moses has a Biblical figure commanded such attention up to this point in Scripture.  David is clearly a figure of monumental importance.  As a king he places himself at the service of God; as a sinner he begs God's forgiveness; as one persecuted, he prays for deliverance from his enemies and also deals magnanimously with them.  He is a model for us in so many ways.  But he is also very human, and his falls from grace are notorious.   But instead of being a cautionary tale, a figure who is tragic and whose life is one to avoid, David opens himself up to God's restorative Grace, and he prostrates himself before the True King and is redeemed.  And so we, likewise, ought to do when we inevitably fall.  This model ended up being the standard followed by the great Christian kings of the ancient and medieval eras.  David's humility, his status as God's servant first and his people's servant second, was what all good kings aspired to.  Most importantly, David's kingship and his kingdom signify something far greater that will be fulfilled by the coming of Jesus Christ 1,000 years later.  The Son of David, Christ the King, will establish His Kingdom through His Church, and we can view David's kingdom as a precursor, a sign of things to come.  David's words still ring true with remarkable power via his psalms, still read and sung today in the Church's official prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, and at Holy Mass.  All of this to say that David's importance can't be overstated.  His earthly life as told in Scripture may be coming to an end, but his influence will live on throughout the remainder of the Word.