We have been walking slowly through the latter half of David's life in the lectionary readings the last few weeks. I find the story of David's life to be one of the saddest of the Old Testament. He starts well, but the latter half of his life is utterly devastating for me to read. We begin with a young man, not perfect, but one whose singular purpose is to love and serve God and lead well. I do not believe he ever stopped loving God, but it becomes evident that his primary focus changes.