Gloriously Unworthy
I want to be more like King David — but that’s weird, isn’t it, because he was an adulterer and a murderer.
If that wasn’t enough, in a moment of pride David also ordered an unauthorized census of Israel’s fighting men. It resulted in God’s judgment, carried out by an angel, and 70,000 Israelites died.
This week started off with some pretty low spiritual moments, as the testing came and I returned to my old ways of handling challenges. But today, during the Fallow Land time of waiting and listening on God, we were meditating on the passage in Isaiah below.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Isaiah 9:6-7
It’s a Scripture we often read during the Christmas season because it’s a promise of the birth of Jesus. It was prophesied by Isaiah about 230–270 years after King David died.
What stood out today was that Isaiah singled out David, saying that Jesus would reign on his throne. That’s no accident, as God promised David that his throne would endure forever and that he would never leave his descendants.
It’s what we call the Davidic Covenant.
It seems contradictory to choose a man like David to be the torchbearer of the lineage of Christ. But there was another side to David.
A side that danced unashamedly before the Lord.
A side that went through deep sorrow and repentance for his sins.
A side that wrote dozens of songs and poems that glorified God.
Some of our deepest understandings of the love of God and His grace and mercy come from David’s pen. This is interesting, considering David lived under the Mosaic covenant and the weight of the law.
These seeming contradictions make more sense when we remember that, above all else, David was a man after God’s own heart.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been asking God for a heart after Him like David had. It’s an ambitious request, but I’m confident asking for it because that’s God’s desire for all His children.
It’s also deeply humbling to recognize that my sins are just as serious as David’s were, and the grace I need from God is the same measure David needed.
If you’re reading this and wanting to be worthy of God’s love, consider David’s story. The simple truth is that none of us are worthy.
To try to be is to already have failed.
Instead, throw up your hands in surrender. Accept His gifts freely, and don’t diminish Jesus’ completed work on the cross.
Dance like David danced.