King David – A Divided Heart

King David is famous for one perfect moment: the sling and the giant. But Judaism refuses to end the story there. David rises from overlooked shepherd to Israel’s greatest king, unites the tribes, and makes Jerusalem the capital. Then power exposes his worst choices: Bathsheba, Uriah, and a cover up that shakes his family. David repents, but consequences follow. Why is Judaism’s greatest king so flawed?

Essential Questions

1. Is restraint a sign of weakness or strength in leadership?
2. Why does the Tanach preserve stories that make it uncomfortable to admire its heroes
3. Can spiritual depth coexist with moral failure?

Big Ideas

1. Faith is often forged through failure, not perfection.
2. Power amplifies both virtue and vice.
3. Even the most powerful leaders must be held to a higher standard.