MAN OF WAR WITH A HEART FOR PEACE
From that fateful day of challenge, when he slew Goliath; it was destine for David to become a man of war. Gloriously triumphant; extolled by king and nation; never could a man be more loved and respected by the king. Then because of that adoration, be plummeted to be the most hated, despised and envied.
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
A joyous response to the favor of the LORD; a chant that rallied troops and nation as one on the sweet path of victory, it was a time of overcoming and eradicating the infidel from Israel. This little song became the death warrant for David. He was but a youth, in his teen years, yet he distinguished himself and was anointed by the greatest prophet in Israel’s history. Samuel, the prophet of the LORD, was called from the earliest age to the service of the LORD. He was sent by God to anoint a boy as king. That ruddy baby; the eighth of Jesse’s sons, the good shepherd, who in time would be the father of the Greatest Shepherd; because he was one after God’s own heart. From the sanctuary of his chapel without walls, David lived in meditation and prayer; on the hills and plains, his praise and worship for the LORD were lifted up on high. He was the friend of God! He had the favor of the King of kings, yet was hunted down like an animal by King Saul.
David was the greatest warrior of the LORD’s armies who ever has lived. He will only be surpassed by the King of kings, Jesus Christ at his second coming. Christ the warrior King will subdue all the nations of the world and claim victory in true everlasting peace. David was the first righteous king over Israel and Jesus Christ will be the everlasting King over Israel. Together as one, they will rule for all eternity.
Luke 1:30-33 ESV And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, (33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
David was called to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He, like Christ was rejected by his own and they sought to kill him; but he ultimately triumphed. God’s mighty hand was upon David as he took the throne of Israel. In his weakness and in his strength, an anointing of the heart would separate David and distinguish him above all the kings of Israel. He is the central figure, next to Jesus Christ of our salvation. It is through David that we learn true repentance and see the width, depth and breadth of the power of the LORD’s abundant grace. Like Joshua [Jehovah saves (a)], who vanquished 31 kingdoms to establish Israel in Canaan; David was a man of triumph. His rule, in righteousness; set the bench mark as a true example for all kings to follow.
DAVID ANOINTED KING OF JUDAH
Samuel had anointed David to be king over all Israel, but his kingdom started with and was limited to Judah; he was first, “King of the Jews.” The foreshadowing of Jesus Christ; who would later be called “King of the Jews,” is profound. Saul’s son Ishbosheth was crowned King of Israel; and it was to be short lived.
2 Samuel 2:8-11 ESV But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, (9) and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. (10) Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. (11) And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
The LORD did not give David the entire kingdom all at once. Jesus Christ did not come as King of kings at his first coming. God was establishing the spiritual man in David; just as He is establishing the spiritual man through the church to this day. That is why from the day that Samuel anointed him, until he became king; it was a long hard fight. We are in a long hard fight for the crown; just as the Apostle Paul said I have fought the good fight for the crown.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 KJV I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
That which God gave to David, he is offering to you and me! As David fought for a crown, we fight for a crown. If we overcome, just as David overcame, we will rule forever with Christ, just as David will rule forever with Christ.
Revelation 3:21 KJV To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
As we look at David the king, we will be looking at the benchmark of righteousness, a model for us to follow. In his weakness and sin, David found the strength of repentance. We need to follow David through our weakness and allow God to develop in us the broken and contrite heart that made David the man after God’s own heart.
Acts 13:20-22 KJV And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. (21) And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. (22) And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
We too, need to surrender all to the LORD as David did and live in His perfect will. We are called for the LORD’s good pleasure. Our lives are not our own. We have been redeemed from sin and endued with the Holy Ghost, that through us, the world might see the King of kings and Savior of all!
Prayer: Mighty King of kings, my LORD and Savior, the Mighty God and Everlasting Father, thank you for my calling. Fill me with your Holy Ghost, God living inside of me. Lead my life and order my steps, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
FOOT NOTE:
(a) Joshua was Hoshea only ("he will save") up to his noble witness after spying Canaan. Henceforth, Jehovah's name is prefixed, Jehovah by him would save Israel (Numbers 13:16). This forms the contrast in the Antitype (Matthew 1:21), "thou shalt call His name Jesus, for Himself (Greek, not merely 'Jehovah by him') shall save His people." Fausset Bible Dictionary
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