Are you sometimes overwhelmed by the amazing truth that God has called you to be among those whom He has chosen to use as kings and priests (Revelation 1:6)? Certainly this is a very tall order, but it is indeed what each of us is being prepared for. Do you feel that you are better equipped for this future assignment now, than when your mind was first opened to understand God's plan for your life?
Just as Daniel was trained and tested before he was elevated from his status as a captive to a position of rulership, so too are we being trained and tested right now in preparation for our destiny. Since we are training to become kings, we should ask: "What qualities and characteristics does God look for in a king?"
David was the greatest king who ever reigned over Israel. Although he was certainly not perfect, his reign became a kind of yardstick against which the reigns of the other kings were measured. God admonished Solomon to walk "as your father David walked" (1 Kings 3:14). We read that King Josiah of Judah "did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left" (2 Kings 22:2). King David set an example that the other kings were measured against.
Scripture describes righteous kings as having followed in David's ways; those who acted wickedly are described as failing to walk in David's ways. King Ahaz, for example, "did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father David had done" (2 Kings 16:2). Not only was David the gold standard against whom the other kings were compared, but God reveals that David will serve as king over Israel in the Kingdom of God (Ezekiel 37:24–25).
David was not born of royalty, and did not inherit the throne of Israel. Rather, at God's direction, the prophet Samuel anointed David as king over Israel. What qualities did God recognize in David above all the other men of Israel, which made him suitable to be their next king?
God Selects a King
The book of Acts gives us a brief explanation of why God chose David for this important responsibility: "He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will'" (Acts 13:22). David's approach—his heart—is described as mirroring God's own. God had great confidence that David would carry out His instructions. Our Creator knew David's heart, so He knew that Jesse's son would fulfill all His will. This did not mean that God considered David perfect. Rather, it meant that God, knowing David's character, was certain that he would faithfully accomplish God's purpose for him.
What qualities was God seeking in someone to replace King Saul? David's brothers were certainly more kingly in outward appearance, yet God found them lacking in the qualities He most valued (cf. 1 Samuel 16:6–12). God knew that He could trust David to watch over and care for His people faithfully, in the way He intended.
What specific character traits did God recognize in David, which allowed Him to appoint David as king with such confidence?
The Essential Quality of Faith
Scripture reminds us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6). One of the essential character traits that God recognized in David was real living faith. There are several early examples of David's faithful trust in and reliance on God. Perhaps one of the best known examples of David acting in faith was that of the confrontation with Goliath. David's father sent him to bring provisions to his older brothers who were serving in the army, and to check on their needs (cf. 1 Samuel 17:17–18). When David arrived, he observed Goliath, the giant of Gath, come forward from the camp of the Philistines and challenge the Israelites as he had, morning and evening, for 40 days. When the Israelites saw Goliath advance and proclaim, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together," they fled in fear (1 Samuel 17:10). While others were intimidated and fearful, David's response illustrates the close relationship that he had with his Father in heaven, and the tremendous faith with which that relationship filled him. David's immediate response was to ask, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26). When confronted with the spectacle of Goliath, David didn't have time to go and pray and "work up" faith. Rather, David was filled with faith and it showed in his response to the situation.
How did David come to possess such faith? Psalm 119 gives us insight into David's relationship with God: "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day" (v. 97). David loved God's law and he thought about it constantly. He did not view God's law as a burden. He did not consider thinking about God's law a dull chore that he had to squeeze into his daily routine. Rather, he enjoyed meditating on God's law and His way of life. "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (v. 103). David loved God's word, enjoyed thinking about it and was edified by it— and the result in his life was obvious. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (v. 105).
As we prepare for our future in the Kingdom of God, do we meditate on God's word as David did? Or is the time we might spend on Bible study, prayer and meditation squeezed out by time we instead choose to spend on television, social distractions, and personal pursuits? Are we spending time with God and His word, to gain a sense of what is appropriate in our conduct, personal appearance and how we present ourselves to others, or do we let the world around dictate our behavior? Only if we are spending meaningful time absorbing the principles contained in God's word can we honestly say, as David did, that God's word "is a lamp to my feet."
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). If God's word is constantly and incessantly on our minds, it cannot help but be reflected in our conversations with others. As we look forward to our future opportunity to help human beings understand God's way of life, and to help them learn how to put that way of life into practice, we should be building the prerequisite skills now. In the book of Deuteronomy, we find the great commandment, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5). God told His people to internalize His words, and to "teach them diligently to your children, and [you] shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (v. 7). When we fill our minds with God's law—meditate on it day and night, and let it guide us in all we do—we cannot help but talk about it with everyone around us, particularly to those closest to us, our own families (cf. Deuteronomy 4:9; Psalm 78).
By filling his mind with God's word, David not only grew to become a man who exhibited great faith, but his steps were obviously guided by the principles contained in God's word.
The Importance of Zeal
Scripture instructs us, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).We are to go about our activities with drive and determination. We should have goals, and pursue those goal s with great diligence. We are told that, "the hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor" (Proverbs 12:24). King David was certainly an example of this principle in action. Diligence and zeal were a part of David's character long before he was anointed king, and were part of the reason why God knew that he would do all of His will.
David's duties as a shepherd were very simple—to protect and provide for the flock that was entrusted into his care. David took his responsibilities as shepherd very seriously, and carried them out to the utmost of his ability. This dedication and zeal to fulfill his duties, even when it meant putting his own life at risk, is obvious in his speech before King Saul. Reacting to Goliath's challenge, David came before King Saul. What did he tell him? "David told him, 'Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.' Moreover David said, 'The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine'" (1 Samuel 17:34–37).
When confronted by a lion or a bear, a less zealous shepherd might have run away in fear, or might have thrown a rock or a stick in a half-hearted effort to save the lambs. But zeal was a part of David's character, and it was found in every area of his life—from meditating on God's word, to taking care of his father's sheep, to answering Goliath's challenge.
Humility in Action
James reminds us that "God resists the proud" (James 4:6). Humility, the opposite of pride, was evident in David's life. After Samuel anointed David as king, God allowed an evil spirit to trouble Saul. As a result, David was brought before King Saul to soothe him with music when he was troubled (1 Samuel 16:14– 23). David went from being a shepherd watching over sheep to standing before the king. How easy it would have been for a promotion like this to have gone to a young man's head. And yet, when King Saul and the armies of Israel gathered against the Philistines, David returned home and resumed his former duties as a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:15). He had not, as the old expression goes, "grown too big for his britches." Instead of having outgrown his old job, he returned to it. He did not come back home and try to impress his family and friends with how important he was and how much the king depended on him.
Only if we are humble can we truly take correction to heart. Saul was not filled with humility when Samuel corrected him, so the correction was not taken to heart. Instead of accepting the correction and moving forward with repentance, King Saul rejected the correction and sought to justify his actions (1 Samuel 15:13–21). Even after he finally admitted his mistake, he was preoccupied with what others would think of him (1 Samuel 15:30). Saul's pride prevented him from receiving the benefit of correction.
Saul's pride-steeped response to correction stands in stark contrast to David's reaction at being corrected in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 12). David did not try to excuse his own actions by shifting some of the blame to Bathsheba or others. He reacted with humility to the correction Nathan delivered. David acknowledged his sin, and he asked for forgiveness (Psalm 51).
God knew that David was not perfect, and that he would indeed make mistakes. God recognized that David—based on the zeal and humility he had made a part of his character— would strive to carry out his duties to the utmost of his ability. He also knew that when David would make mistakes, he would respond to correction with humility, and take it to heart.
When God looked for a king for His people, He looked for someone after His own heart. He looked for someone He knew would be faithful to follow instructions. He looked for someone who could be guided back on track when he stumbled or went astray. God recognized in David the faith, zeal and humility that would allow him to be a king after God's own heart.
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the soon-coming time when the Kingdom of God will be established on the earth, when those whom God has called and prepared for kingship will teach human beings how to live in harmony with His word, to experience the fullness of joy He intends for all His children. Are you doing all you can do—as David did—to prepare to be a king?