The House of David
There is a new TV series available on Amazon (who knew they had content too), about King David called the House of David. Given my Disney experience, I almost expected David to be Asian. But now that I think about it, it seems like I remember that while they were making it, there was a controversy that the production company only used Israeli actors (oh, the horror). I can never remember how the cultural appropriation argument works.
Oh well, I stumbled into this show and the first screen is the disclaimer (yes, the disclaimer made me happy), that the show was based on a true story as written in the Bible regarding the life of David. Then the disclaimer went on to state that while they tried to accurately illustrate the Biblical story, some artistic freedom was used (this didn’t make me happy). You’ll be happy to know that I tried to carefully pay attention to the details in the first episode and didn’t see any problems from the dozen or so times I’ve read that story in the Bible.
The series starts with Saul’s victory and him disobeying God by not killing all his adversaries. Then Samuel comes and confronts him and tells him that God has taken his blessing away. Samuel leaves him and eventually finds and anoints David as God’s Sovereign choice to replace him.
“And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” - 1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-9, 24-26 ESV
“Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.” - 1 Samuel 16:11-13
The aspect of the series that I have found so thrilling so far is how it takes me out of my today’s thought process and thrusts me into the reality of the situation. The artistic rendition adds a spin to God leaving Saul (and the condition he was left in) and entering David. I feel like I have a vague understanding of the influence of God on my life and, at least for me, this fiction fits that conception well.
Another aspect of the series that has stricken me is the depiction of the difficulty in getting news over even relatively short distances. In the above passages, Saul is told that he’s on his way out and Samuel is afraid for his life. I guess I never really thought how easy it was (and what lengths one would have to go to try to find him) for Samuel to leave Saul and anoint David without them both being killed.
The series is only a few episodes into its run as I write this but I am finding myself anxiously awaiting the next episode. I have not felt that way about a tv series in a while.
Pastors Note:
While I have been super critical of shows like “The Chosen,” I do recognize that some folks are finding their initial introduction to Jesus and other biblical figures through the most curious of ways. I have found that it opens up conversations for me with people who have yet to truly experience Jesus in a way that the Holy Spirit intended for us to know Him.
With that said, as I will not verbally give my endorsement of “The Chosen,” I feel a little more at ease with the artistic development of “House of David.” I have yet to discover anything that has made the Spirit convict me. I have watched the first five episodes myself, as that is all that they have as we are writing this. I pray that they do not trail off into blasphemous territory. But as of now, it’s safe to recommend. But again, please pray through each opportunity you have regarding what you allow yourself to watch, along with your family. We must always remain Berean in our approach to entertainment and more importantly, anyone in the world who portrays our God, His Word and its incredible influence that it has.
