Bringing Forth Christ – Part 9 – King David

Skipping over Obed and Jesse of whom little is written to expound on, we come to King David. His importance is found both in his being not only a king, but also the one to whom all subsequent kings are held up to comparison. The throne which Christ occupies as Christ (the Messiah) is not one created ex nihilo, but is the throne of His father David (Luk. 1:32). Also one of the titles of Christ with which he was addressed several times was “Son of David.” Christ acknowledged this title but also showed that David’s Son was also his Lord (Mark 12:35-37).
Spiritually David is known for being a man after God’s own heart, and also for his fall and restoration. One aspect of his being after God’s own heart was his desire for God’s glory being his consuming desire. He fully set his heart to glorify God and because of that God upheld and restored him. This is seen throughout the Psalms. His being lead in paths of righteousness was to glorify God (Psa. 23:3). His prayers for guidance, kindness and even forgiveness are all tied to the idea of “Your Name’s sake” (Psa. 31:3; 109:21; 25:11).
“For Your Name’s sake” is little understood in our day. Too often our cries for forgiveness are more for our own sake to avoid our due penalty, rather than as David seeking to show forth God’s glory in His being merciful to our sin against Him. We also assume as Christians that our glory is God’s and expect Him to fight for us when it is not His battle. Even our good deeds are many times done, more to confirm to ourselves and others that we are in a state of grace rather than the biblical reason – that men might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (Mat. 5:16). Christ taught us to pray, “hallowed be Your Name” before anything else, because God’s glory should govern all of our prayers, conduct and religious exercise.
David’s life was lived for the purpose of bringing glory to God and because of that his prayers were heard. He tied his life to the glory of God and thus God tied His glory to the prosperity of David and his throne. We often use the excuse of God’s glory to mask our own ambitions and desires. David, however made God’s glory his ambition and desire, because of this God was pleased with him and gave him an everlasting throne.
In this he typified Christ who could say, “Father, glorify Your Name”, and receive an answering voice from heaven as His mission, life and voice resounded as one up to heaven (John 12:28). Christ’s one mission was to glorify the Father and because of this the Father has glorified Him. May we too pray with all sincerity, “Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name.” Amen.