I Chronicles 18:14
“So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people.”
This is what a king is supposed to do. The people loved him and thrived under his leadership. I believe Israel was the largest under his rule. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” I can’t recall any wickedness from David. Except Uriah.
Samuel warns the people to not ask for a king in I Samuel 8:11-18, ‘And he said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reignover you: he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to [d]dohis plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. And he will takea tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”’ This was standard practice for a king. I’m sure David did some of this. I would be surprised if he were abusive about it.
David administered justice. He reminds me of Moses. He was the leader of Israel as he led them from Egypt and for the forty years in the wilderness. Like David, Moses had an interesting youth. He was raised in Pharaoh’s court. I believe he was around forty when his actions caused him to flee to the wilderness. He was there for another forty years when God called him to return to Egypt as Israel’s deliverer. David was a shepherd and learned to care and defend them. He was on the run from Saul for a decade. Both of these were fugitives from their government. God was teaching them about abuse in government.
Micah 6:8 is another old testament passage that speaks of justice. “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” I’ve heard this passage for decades, but haven’t seen it’s importance until lately. It contains three concepts highly valued by God, yet put together in one place: to do justly, love mercy and to walk humbly. The Law was highlighted much in the old testament. John 1:17 says, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”. Jesus was also merciful.
The new testament focus on grace and mercy is what separates christianity. All the works of man can never put us in right standing. The law was clear about that. Jesus had to pay the price. Once done all we had to do was believe and accept. God’s sacrifice was so great. We as people are indebted.
The last concept in the Micah passage is being humble. That is another God trait that is surprising. He could have given the most amazing entrance, but chose humble, poor parents. He also had Jesus raised in a poor area of low reputation. Isaiah 53:2 says, “He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.” He was very ordinary.
God is showing us the value of humility. He wants us to have that. James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you”. We would all like to be respected. However, we aren’t to be our focus. It’s God and others. If we do that, then He will exalt us.
Lord, thank You for just leaders. Help us to be just in our lives. Help us to balance the three, justice, mercy and humility.