While walking through the ongoing archeological dig of David's Palace in the City of David - Jerusalem - my mind was drawn to these passages and could not escape from these thoughts:
Why is David's legacy still remembered? And what went wrong with the kings after him?
"Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Behold, you ... Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” 1 Sam 7:4-9
Before becoming king, David is already known for his character. We esteem David for how he handled being pursued by Saul and respecting God's ordained leadership, for how David stood up for the honor of the LORD's name in facing Goliath of the Philistines, for his humility as a shepherd and courage as a musician. Yet, we also know David fell; we know of his notable sins and the consequences he faced. So do we still want to be like David? Is it good to want to follow our childhood hero king David? David was not great because of who he was, but because of who God is and how David responded to God's Word. |
“When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. ...Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold." Deut 7: 14-17
"And {God's Law} shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. "Deut 7:18-20
God never left His people without guidance, but time and time again they would shun Him, turn to idolatry, and face years of hardships personally and internationally. All three of these commands Israel and Judah would fail to obey. Since we, however, are not kings, can we not be like David? Just as God gave guidance and promises to the kings, so also does He love, provide, instruct, reprove, and protect His children today. We have been given a treasure in Scripture, letters from One who unconditionally loves us and wants what is best for us. Let it be out of trust in who God is that we seek to know and walk in His Word.
In just one generation we see the heartaches David experienced within his own family. Between the many wives and sons and daughters, strife was brought into his home with sin {2 Sam 12, 13, 18}. How much tragedy could he have avoided by obeying the commands given him - the truths he proclaimed as a youth? The lineage that follows only spread the foreign idolatry, conspiring, tributes, and wickedness. It is easier to pick out history's failures, but this is applicable to today. Will those who come behind us find us faithful?
This - David's submission to and trust in God's Word - this was his strength. This is greatness.
"Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, 'Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of Your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to Your own heart, You have brought about all this greatness, to make Your servant know it. Therefore
You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, and there is no God besides You..." 2 Sam 7: 18-22