David's Example of Humility...

And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.--2 Samuel 3:39


"And I am this day weak, though anointed king;"  Wow..I will not go into any detail about the circumstances of David that brought him to this point, because for this study what matters is what this statement made by David, says about the kind of man he was.  David understood who he was and who His God was (is).  He admitted his weakness not only to His God but to the people as well.  What an example of humility and dependence on God he gives us!!  I believe it is this kind of humility of heart exampled here by David that prompted Solomon, David's son, to humbly express to God his own inability to govern the people and his need of wisdom and guidance.  Here is an excerpt from 1 Kings 3 after God appears to Solomon in a dream and tells him to ask for the one thing he desires above all others. 


"Ask! What shall I give you?"


And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?


Solomon wanted an understanding heart in order to rule God's people well. God was pleased with Solomon's request and not only gave him wisdom but also riches and honor because he did not ask for them.  It is so good to know that when we feel overwhelmed, we too, can do as David and Solomon did.  We can ask for wisdom.  We can turn it all over to our God who is never overwhelmed and allow Him to handle it.  David's trust in God and his humility were truly the secret of his greatness.  He knew it was "not about him."  2nd Samuel 5:12 says this:



And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.


David did not seek his own glory...He did not seek his own will.  He sought his God's!  He was a man after God's own heart!  He knew it was all about God.  God had redeemed him!  God had made him king!  God had exalted him. David also understood that it was not for the sake of David that God did this, but for the sake of Israel.  God loves his people and desires His best for them.  If God is using any of us, it is despite of who we are.  God, in His infinite mercy and love, uses the foolish things of the world (us) to fulfill His purposes, and to reveal to those He has placed in our lives His great love for them and His plan for their lives.  So walk in the works that He has prepared specifically for you, and share His love with those He has placed in your life.