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Born in Bethlehem - from the tribe of Judah - shepherd - warrior - king....
This could describe David OR Jesus the Son of David.....
But this keeper of the sheep, lion slayer, bear killer, forgotten son, anointed of God, giant killer, valiant warrior, adulterer, murderer, broken man, heartbroken father, sweet psalmist of Israel, King of Israel.....a man after God's own heart......this describes the man to whom God would make an eternal covenant about his throne and the throne of his descendant after him.
David was not born a king, nor was he born into a royal family. He was born the youngest boy in a family of ten children. He was not considered worthy of notice or highly regarded by his family. In 1 Samuel 16, God sent Samuel to anoint a son of Jesse. Jesse called seven of his eight sons to pass before Samuel. David was of so little significance, that it did not even occur to Jesse to call David in from tending the sheep to meet Samuel. I am not saying this. Jesse himself says it.
1Sa 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
When Jesse says "the youngest," it is the Hebrew word qatan. It is saying someone or something is unimportant, insignificant, the lesser. We get a glimpse into a father who did not value his child. He did not see the beauty of this boy the way his Creator did. You get hints that it was not just David's father who felt this way when you read of David interacting with his older brother just before David takes on Goliath in I Samuel 17. But we will leave that for another time.
Here you see someone insignificant in man's eyes, even his own family, that God plans on using to do mighty things. From this man will pour forth some of the most beautiful words in Scripture....some of the most gut wrenching truths. There will also be some of the most profound prophecies about Jesus given through David. This insignificant boy would rise up to become the most famous king of all time....so far. Most importantly, from this boy would continue the Messianic line to the King of all Kings.....
The Lord has sworn a truth to David, A truth from which He will not turn back: "Of the fruit of your body I will set up your throne." Psalm 132:11
Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth." Jeremiah 23:5
I am so grateful for the the shepherd boy who would slay a giant, become a mighty warrior, become the psalmist of Israel....the shepherd boy who would be king.....the shepherd boy who would be the forefather of the King of all kings. But he was also the shepherd boy who, after becoming king of Israel, went through a time of great sin in his life...sin that included adultery and murder. David sinned grievously against God.
That God knowing the end from the beginning would not just choose David but would also call him a man after God's own heart can cause one to pause in bafflement and perhaps even irritation. How could this man who committed such grievous sins be called a man after God's own heart? How could he deserve to be promised an everlasting promise about the throne of Israel and one of his descendant after him? How could he be promised that the Messiah would come through his line?
We do not see things as God sees them. We do not have the ability to plumb the depths of someone's innermost parts. God does. God looks at the heart....
(this is God speaking to Samuel when Samuel wants to choose David's eldest brother because of his appearance....) But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
David speaking to God....
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139: 23-24
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
This is part of a prayer of repentance from David after he was confronted by Nathan the prophet about Uriah and Bathsheba...
Psalm 51:2,6,14,17: 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin...6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 14. Deliver me from my bloodguiltness, O God, the God of my Salvation.....17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
We can have a sense of self-righteousness when we examine David's life under a microscope, shaking our heads wondering how this man would be called a man after God's own heart....all the while giving our own hidden, or not so hidden, sins a pass. We qualify our sins as not nearly as bad as David's sins, for goodness sake. He was an adulterer and a murderer. We hold ourselves up as the standard by which to measure another's sin....instead of who we should hold up as the standard.... A PERFECT AND HOLY GOD.
I am so thankful that our God uses real people...people who have walked maybe not the greatest of paths, or who have made wrong choices at times in their lives. I am so grateful for a God who examines us, not as man would examine us, but He examines our hearts. I am so thankful for all of the flawed people in the family line of Jesus. He did not come from perfection in the flesh. He was perfection in the flesh. I am so thankful for Jesus, Son of David....Jesus, Son of God.
Isn't it awesome that the plan for our redemption was laid down before the foundation of the world was laid....including who would be in the family line of our Redeemer? Isn't it awesome that God revealed His plan before it happened? Isn't it amazing we can go to His Word and see the authenticity of Him being Who He says He is....
Isn't it awesome that the plan for our redemption was laid down before the foundation of the world was laid....including who would be in the family line of our Redeemer? Isn't it awesome that God revealed His plan before it happened? Isn't it amazing we can go to His Word and see the authenticity of Him being Who He says He is....
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying "My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure."
And He did just that with a shepherd boy that he raised up to be king of Israel....
1Ch 17:11-14 "When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever."
The Lord has sworn a truth to David, A truth from which He will not turn back: "Of the fruit of your body I will set up your throne." Psalm 132:11
"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth." Jeremiah 23:5
For unto us a Son is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the Increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9: 6-7
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Luke 1: 31-32
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