Three of a Kind

Perhaps three of the best-known characters from the Old Testament are King David, Jonah, and Samson. The stories of each of these men contain interesting lessons for the reader. While it is easy to spot the flaws in both Samson and Jonah, one must reach a little more deeply to evaluate David’s fallibilities. His story is filled with much admiration and triumph, so it is harder to take an honest look at the man behind the king. However, when doing so, it is possible to find that David suffers from some of the same personality failures that plagued both Samson and Jonah.

Upon first examination, Samson, Jonah and David all seem especially blessed. They are chosen men that Yahweh has special plans for. Each is filled with the Holy Spirit, and receives communication from the Almighty. Their relationship with Him is personal and also far-reaching, impacting the nation. Jonah has the honor of being a Prophet, one who carries the word of Yahweh to the people. Samson, a judge, is blessed with extraordinary strength and David has a heart after God’s own. He is also pleasant looking, an extremely good warrior and an excellent and respected leader. However, each of these men suffers from personality traits that are less than desirable.

David and Samson both have big problems with lust. They let their urges lead them into a variety of mistakes. While Samson has been consecrated to Yahweh, his first notable decision is to marry a Philistine. His own mother pleads with him to find one of his own nation to marry, but Samson will not listen. He ends up cheated by the Philistines, and wreaks havoc with their nation afterward. His actions are impulsive and childish, and lead to the death of the woman he just had to have, as well as the death of her father. David’s infidelity with Bathsheba and the plot to murder her husband are a stain on his good judgment, and he pays a heavy price through the loss of his infant son. David and Samson both pursue several women, seemingly never satisfied with what (or who) they have. David seems to have a penchant for other men’s wives, evidenced by Bathsheba and Abigail. For Samson, his failure to use reason over lust, leads to his ultimate destruction. When pitting his wits against Delilah’s wiles, he comes out the loser. While he goes out in a blaze of glory, one must wonder what his legacy would have been if he had better control of his desires.

Jonah is a man filled with prejudice and ethnic elitism. He so much wants to avoid sparing the country of Nineveh that he flees for the direction of his God. Only after a harsh lesson learned in the belly of a fish does he finally relent and carry the word to this people. He is so resentful of their repentance that he pouts and despairs of his life. David carries his ethnic superiority to the extremes, destroying many people, including women and children. He is quick tempered and vengeful, and even on his deathbed instructs Solomon in who else should be executed. In this way, David is even bloodier than Jonah. While Jonah would sit by and watch the destruction of a people, David took part in the slaughters. In fact, he wanted to be in every battle, and his own generals had to limit his participation as he aged.

There seems to be a strong inclination in these men towards emotionalism and impulsive behavior. Imagine a judge, touched and consecrated by Yahweh, lighting the tails of innocent animals on fire to strike revenge on his enemy. Think of the mindset it would take to devise a plan to slaughter an enemy freshly circumcised. Samson did all of this and more. He was a man of physical strength and even some ability to strategize, but lead about by his genitals; one can’t really admire his character very much. Then there’s Jonah, running off willy-nilly, jumping on ship, somehow thinking he could flee God’s presence, jumping ship by literally being tossed overboard. Did he really think he could run from the Almighty, a power that reaches everywhere? He seems almost hysterical and comic in his attempts. Definitely impulsive and emotionally out of control, even after his obedience, he demonstrates emotional immaturity, woe-is-meing under the gourd vine. His is a character humorous in its melodrama, and certainly not a prophet in the ranks of Daniel and Jeremiah. David sheds his decorum, dancing before the Ark in only an apron. He mourns the death of his Abshalom, even when to do so weakens his country and political position. He takes revenge on his enemies without mercy, while basking in the mercy of the Almighty himself. He is rather pompous in his appraisals of himself, as the "Lord’s anointed". This egotism sometimes gets in the way of his ability to see clearly. Yet, he repents with great emotion and mourns with depth of feeling. He is an emotional man, and isn’t afraid to show it. He is impulsive, and doesn’t always think about consequences. This might not be a big deal, except that his actions cause his nation to suffer. A good example is when David decrees a census, which was forbidden by Yahweh. His nation is punished with pestilence and everyone pays the price for David’s disobedience.

David, Samson and Jonah are three men of renown from the Old Testament. Both Jews and Christians know the stories of their lives. The inclusion of their tales in the Bible affords the reader an opportunity to reflect on human frailty and weakness. They also provide a backdrop for the infinite wisdom and ultimate mercy of the Creator. He uses these fallible humans to fulfill his purpose for the nation Israel.

Laurie Kuiper