Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings,
so was David in Israel.
He made sport of lions as though they were kids,
and of bears, like lambs of the flock.
As a youth he slew the giant
and wiped out the people’s disgrace,
When his hand let fly the slingstone
that crushed the pride of Goliath.
Since he called upon the Most High God,
who gave strength to his right arm
To defeat the skilled warrior
and raise up the might of his people,
Therefore the women sang his praises,
and ascribed to him tens of thousands
and praised him when they blessed the Lord.
When he assumed the royal crown, he battled
and subdued the enemy on every side.
He destroyed the hostile Philistines
and shattered their power till our own day.
With his every deed he offered thanks
to God Most High, in words of praise.
With his whole being he loved his Maker
and daily had his praises sung;
He set singers before the altar and by their voices
he made sweet melodies,
He added beauty to the feasts
and solemnized the seasons of each year
So that when the Holy Name was praised,
before daybreak the sanctuary would resound.
The Lord forgave him his sins
and exalted his strength forever;
He conferred on him the rights of royalty
and established his throne in Israel.
REFLECTION
The Lord forgave him his sins
and exalted his strength forever;
Why did God favor David? Was it because of his youth, good looks, strength and virility? I imagine David as the high school hero quarterback.
In spite of David’s sordid and selfish ways, (adulterer and murderer) when he became aware of his sins and offending God, he cried in remorse and asked for forgiveness. Despite of his losses of his baby and rebellious Absalom, David had unconditional love for God.
And then there was Herod Antipas, son of the brutal dictator, Herod the Great. He, too, was an adulterer and murderer. He was selfish, prideful and egotistical. On a whim and to save face, he beheaded John the Baptist. Was he remorseful, did he care or even realize he had offended God? No!
Instead, he worried if this was a ghost; he selfishly worried about what was going to happen to him. Herod could have asked for forgiveness. God’s mercy and grace would have welcomed Herod. God always has the last word.
