The previous article in our discussion of suffering covered three supports that God gave us to persevere: prayer, scripture, and the Church. Along with those supports, we also discussed the proper attitude one should have in suffering with the example of Job. To further the discussion of this topic, we should next look at King David and how he dealt with the suffering in his life. David’s life was notably marked by bountiful blessings and severe suffering. Although he is probably best known for slaying Goliath the giant Philistine in battle, there are several examples of the hardships of his life, two major events stand out: his pursuit by Saul and the death of his first child with Bathsheba. Both of these were pivotal moments in David’s life, with one of them being the direct consequence of his sin.
Saul Pursues David
The first major event of suffering in David’s life was during Saul’s pursuit of him. This pursuit is not a short run but lasts for several years. David is not just driven out of Saul’s presence, but he is eventually driven out of Israel, away from his homeland, what he knows to be his future kingdom (1 Samuel 27). David displays a godly attitude in two ways: his attitude toward God and his attitude towards Saul.
In 1 Samuel 23, David is made aware that the Philistines are attacking Keilah and immediately seeks the will of God. God commands David to save Keilah, which David obeys. David’s actions here are important. Not only does David seek counsel from God, but he obeys a difficult command, even though he is already in a perilous situation and it doesn’t help his situation in any way to defend Keilah. Nonetheless, David has faith in God and obeys. David persistently serves the Lord and trusts Him.
What is amazing is how David treats Saul. Twice, Saul is within David’s reach, and despite the urging of his men, David purposefully does not harm Saul (1 Sam 24, 26). Moreover, he showed remorse for merely cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe. David could have easily struck Saul down, but he showed reverence for God’s choice of Saul as king. David trusted God to properly judge Saul for his actions. Though this suffering was not even of his own doing, David submitted himself to God and persevered through it.
David and Bathsheba
This is a period where David struggled. Not only did this “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22) commit adultery with Bathsheba and get her pregnant, but he tried to cover it up and indirectly murdered Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. Despite David’s reputation of godliness, David did not repent but kept this secret for the entirety of Bathsheba’s pregnancy. It took the rebuke of the prophet Nathan for David to finally repent. This, however, did not stop the judgment of the Lord upon David.
Although David has provided a horrible model to this point, it is at this moment that David turns things around and provides an example of how to deal with suffering in a godly manner. Because of David’s sin, God allowed his child to become sick. In response, David wept, fasted, and cried out to the Lord for seven days without rest, knowing that God is merciful and might take pity on him (2 Sam 12:15-17). Despite David’s prayers, on the seventh day his child died. Though a common response to this situation would be greater weeping and possibly cursing of God, David did not do so.
“Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.” 2 Samuel 12:20
What’s amazing, is that David did not curse God, or even doubt Him. Rather, David accepted God’s judgment, knowing that he had sinned. This leads one to wonder, how often does our sin lead to our suffering? How often do we blame God or others for the pain in our lives that is a result of our behavior?
The Psalms of David
The best place to look for emotional responses is Psalms. 75 psalms are attributed to David, and the mood of them swings from one extreme to the other. You find joy, peace, anger, and despair. His most moving psalms are often from his darkest hours amid suffering.
The psalms were a way for David to communicate with God. He used them to call out to God for help and comfort. He poured forth his emotion and made clear his state of mind. The correct Sunday school answer would be to point out that David still praised God in his time of suffering. This of course is correct and should be our response; however, it seems that these psalms may also provide a template for how we can appropriately communicate our emotions to God.
Our Response Towards Suffering
Looking at David’s life, how should we respond to suffering? The Bible makes it abundantly clear from David’s life, and many other examples, that our first response should be to praise God despite suffering. This is partly because no matter what suffering you go through; God is still good, loves you, and wants the best for you into the eternal future. With that in mind, suffering can also be used as an opportunity for sanctification. God uses suffering and affliction to make us more like Him, to lead us to love Him more, and to prepare us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor 4:17).
Our second response should be seeking God for help and comfort.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
It is only in God that we can find true comfort. Who better to comfort us than the God who suffered for us? Who better to comfort us than the one who offers eternal life?
Our Attitude in Suffering
Finally, what do we learn from David’s life about our attitude in the midst of suffering? We first learn what our attitude toward suffering should be. From the Psalms and David’s weeping, it is clear that we do not need to pretend to enjoy suffering. Suffering will never be a happy experience, and moreover, God does not desire that we suffer (although He allows it for our benefit). This is evident, from His commandments against sin. This may seem an odd point, but what causes so much suffering? Sin. Sin has caused tremendous amounts of suffering around the world, and if humanity as a whole obeyed God—and actually loved our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 22:39)—then suffering would be dramatically diminished. God’s desire against our suffering is also shown in Christ’s sacrifice. God so desires to save us from our sin and eternal suffering, that He came down in flesh, lowering himself even below the angels, so He could experience suffering, experience death, and take the punishment for our sins.
“But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9
Second, we learn from David’s life what our attitude toward God should be during a time of suffering. We are blessed to serve a gracious God—a God of second chances—who is ready to forgive. This does not, however, give us credence to curse God in our suffering. However, because He is gracious and loving, we should pour out our emotions to God (He can take it) as David did. We need to see Him as our comforter, our shoulder to lean on. We also must humble ourselves before Him. We need to submit to His wisdom in the trying times of our lives. Finally, of course, we owe Him our lives and should desire to give Him our praise:
“He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.” Psalms 18:16-17
