David had been a shepherd and it would seem as though his life was a dream that had come true when he was anointed by a powerful prophet to rule the land. His life should have been idyllic - calm, peaceful, perfect. He was the apple of the LORD's eye. However, King Saul was ruling the land when David was anointed, and Saul did not step down. Initially, David worked with Saul and he proved himself to be successful in defending the country. King Saul allowed him to marry his daughter, Michal, who loved him. However, his life became full of sorrows and hardships when Saul began to fear David. Saul spent many years trying to kill him. Saul gave David's wife to another man after David had been forced to flee from his homeland. After David became king, he took back his wife Michal but later she was cursed and told she would be childless. David and Israel's heir came about through King David's misdeeds with a beautiful woman name Bathsheba. The consequences of his misdeeds were many and he had to live through horrendous trials. Eventually King David would be called the Lamp of Israel.
