The Life and Witness of David
Ebook
Overview
The Life and Witness of David introduces the general reader to the remarkable career of David son of Jesse. This man streaked across the skies like a meteor and could rightly be called a Hebrew superstar. The stories about him are among the most beloved and captivating in Scripture. The author distills this amazing story in thirteen chapters and adds a fourteenth to sum up David's legacy in history, liturgy, and worship. David transformed the land of Israel from an insignificant federation of tribes into a Middle Eastern power, an extraordinary feat unparalleled in Israel's history. His importance, however, lies less in his military and political accomplishments than in his spiritual and theological contributions. In his action-packed life and in the book of Psalms, David, the man after God's own heart, speaks through the Spirit of God to our hearts in all the vicissitudes of life. At numerous points, the author draws attention to moments in David's story that reecho in the pages of the NT. David's story prefigures the story of David's greater son, Jesus, Son of God. The typological links connecting David and Christ in redemptive history are a key emphasis in this book.
“It is for sure that the narrative of David is a gift that keeps
on giving. Larry Helyer has now added to our rich corpus on David a
quite accessible study. Two markings of his book merit notice.
First, Helyer has an exquisite sense of narrative and so can render
each moment of the David narrative in a fresh way. Second, Helyer
does not flinch from the theological claim that he finds pervasive
in the text, and is able to trace the providential resolve of God
through the narrative. This book is of special interest as we watch
this agile reader weave together these two accents. The book shows
the way in which the David story keeps giving to us.”
—Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary
“In his expert retelling of the story of David, Larry Helyer helps
us experience something of the drama that enveloped the greatest of
the Israelite kings. In doing so, we see that the story is not
quite as familiar as we might first think. In measure, David was
both the very best and very worst of what a life can be.
Throughout, Helyer asks, ‘So what does it mean to be a person after
God’s own heart?’”
—Paul H. Wright, Jerusalem University College
“Larry Helyer’s most recent book about the intriguing story of
David goes beyond giving us the usual selected highlights about the
shepherd boy who became a successful king. . . . The book clearly
articulates the breadth and impact of David’s legacy,
accomplishments, and flaws, as a king, poet/musician, and as a
practical theologian reflecting his abiding love for God, no matter
what.”
—Eugene B. Habecker, Sagamore Institute
Larry R. Helyer is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Taylor University. He is the author of Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period (2002), Yesterday, Today, and Forever: The Continuing Relevance of the Old Testament (2004), The Witness of Jesus, Paul and John (2008), The Life and Witness of Peter (2012), and The Life and Witness of Jeremiah (2019). He and his wife Joyce host tours of the Holy Lands.