Why David Succeeded While the Rest of the Kings Failed — Even Solomon
Yeah, I mean even Solomon. Why did David succeed where Saul, Solomon and so many other kings failed? I believe the answer goes deeper than obedience.
God Was Always Israel's King
When God brought Israel out of Egypt, God Himself was their King. The structure was essentially:
But later, Israel looked at the surrounding nations and said to Samuel:
And God told Samuel:
This always puzzled me. How did they deny God simply by asking for a king?
But I think the answer is in what they were asking for. They wanted a human king like the other nations instead of continuing to recognize God as their King.
God warned them, but they insisted.
So God gave them Saul.
When Kings Begin Replacing God
Once Israel had human kings, the danger was no longer only that a king could disobey God. The king could lead an entire nation away from God.
And that is exactly what happened.
Jeroboam created alternative places of worship and golden calves so Israel would not go to Jerusalem. Read 1 Kings 12:26–33.
Ahab promoted Baal worship and led Israel deeper into idolatry. Read 1 Kings 16:29–33.
Manasseh went even further, leading Judah into practices that God had explicitly condemned. Read 2 Kings 21:1–9.
Even Jehu, whom God used to destroy Ahab's house and remove Baal worship, eventually continued in the sins of Jeroboam. Read 2 Kings 10:28–31.
Put a man between people and God, and eventually people can begin following the man instead of God.
This is why the human kingship system became so dangerous. A king could turn his own compromise into the compromise of an entire nation.
Then David Arrived
God Himself described David as:
David was not perfect. He sinned terribly with Bathsheba. But look at what happened when he was confronted.
And later, in Psalm 51, his deepest cry wasn't, “Don't take my kingdom.”
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
David could lose everything, but he did not want to lose God.
David Chose God Over His Own Inheritance
Think about David and Saul.
David was already anointed to become king. Then Saul was delivered into David's hands. David could have killed him and taken the kingdom.
His men even told him this was the opportunity God had given him. But David refused.
David chose God over the throne. He chose God's timing over his opportunity. He chose God's way over his inheritance.
David Wanted God Himself
You see this all over the Psalms. David didn't merely want God's blessings. He wanted God's presence.
Psalm 27:1–14 — David desires God's presence.
Psalm 42:1–2 — David's soul thirsts for God.
Psalm 63:1 — David's soul thirsts for God.
Psalm 51:11 — David pleads not to lose God's Spirit.
Psalm 143:7–10 — David asks God to let him know His way and Spirit.
This is not simply a man asking God to make his kingdom successful. This is a man pursuing God.
Then Comes Solomon
Solomon was extraordinarily blessed. God gave him wisdom.
When God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”, Solomon asked for wisdom to govern God's people. Read 1 Kings 3:5–13.
God gave him extraordinary wisdom. And you can actually see the difference in their writings.
David — God's presence, God's Spirit and a heart that longs for God.
Read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and you constantly hear Solomon reflecting on wisdom, knowledge, work, wealth, pleasure, success and the meaning of life.
Then read David's Psalms. You repeatedly hear something else: a man pursuing God's presence.
David keeps crying out for God Himself.
Solomon asked God for wisdom. David kept asking for God.
Wisdom Is Not God
There is nothing wrong with wisdom. Wisdom is powerful. Wisdom can open doors. Wisdom can build kingdoms. Wisdom can make people admire you.
But wisdom does not automatically make you obey God.
Solomon eventually married many foreign women, exactly what God had warned Israel against.
His wisdom could not save his heart. Because only God can keep your heart.
Something can look wise today and become a devastating mistake tomorrow. Only God sees tomorrow.
And This Explains the Other Kings
After Solomon, you see king after king. Some did a little good. Some did a lot of evil. Some started well and ended badly.
And many of them didn't just turn away from God themselves. They took the people with them.
Jeroboam made Israel sin. Ahab promoted Baal. Manasseh led Judah into terrible evil.
That is the danger of putting a human being in a position where people blindly follow him.
A king can become the doorway through which an entire nation walks away from God.
But David was different. When he was forced to choose, he chose God.
When he could kill Saul — he chose God.
When he sinned — he chose repentance.
When judgment came — he chose God.
When everything was at risk — he still wanted God's presence.
That is what I mean when I say David succeeded.
Success was not that David never failed. Success was that he finished his life still choosing God.
And Then Jesus Restores the Relationship
Now come to the New Testament.
Jesus says something very interesting:
“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”
“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”
Jesus wasn't saying we cannot have biological fathers, teachers, pastors or spiritual leaders.
The point is that no human being should take the ultimate spiritual position that belongs to God.
A pastor can teach you. A prophet can deliver a message. A teacher can explain Scripture. But none of them can replace your relationship with God.
Kings and priests.
The system comes full circle.
God is still King.
So What Made David Different?
Solomon wanted the wisdom to rule people.
David wanted God.
And perhaps that is the real test of every one of us.
What do you want from God?
His wisdom?
His blessings?
His protection?
His open doors?
His favour?
Or God Himself?
Because God can give you wisdom and you can still lose your way. He can give you a kingdom and you can still lose your heart. He can give you success and you can still walk away from Him.
Amen.
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