King David brought great fame to the tribe of Judah and through his seed the great Messiah, Jesus Christ was born. King David was a generational king who provided a legacy for all who came after him. He was a king “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). He was not desirous of establishing a name for himself, but rather for establishing God’s kingdom in the land.
David had a great heart and devotion for God. The psalms of David are a tribute to this fact. King David was a man that God delighted to bless. He was not a perfect man and there were at least two occasions when he sinned seriously against God, enough to make God move against him. But David had a soft heart and knew how to be sorrowful for what he had done and genuinely repented of his sin.
While Saul admitted his sins of disobedience, he didn’t show any evidence of godly sorrow and genuine repentance towards God. Saul was more interested in his own fame and establishing his own dynasty. He resisted God’s will and actively fought against David who was anointed to be his successor. He actively spent considerable time seeking to kill David.
On the other hand, God used the persecution caused by Saul to mold David and show him what happens to a king when God leaves him.
God was pleased to establish the kingdom of David for generations to come.
2 Samuel 7:11-16 says: “Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee a house.
And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
And he shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.”
David’s kingdom brought forth the Messiah, Jesus Christ who would take on Himself the iniquity of the people and be beaten with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.
Psalm 89:19-27 greatly supports 2 Samuel 7:11-16. Check it out.
Psalm 89:32: “Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell