David is perhaps the paradigmatic human ruler of Israel. He receives a covenant from God regarding his throne and Scripture looks forward to the enthronement of "David's greater Son" as the fulfillment of that covenantal promise. How did David rule?
2 Samuel 5:1-5: A summary of how David came to be made king over all Israel (he was first king over Judah; the other tribes accepted him seven years later).
2 Samuel 7:1-28: The Davidic covenant and David's prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving. As king, David was most concerned that God be glorified and obeyed.
2 Samuel 9:1-13: David's kindness to Mephibosheth. An excellent example of grace and clemency, desirable qualities in a godly ruler.
What does it mean to rule as God's anointed? Obviously this is a circumstance very few leaders can legitimately claim for themselves. In the United States, we witnessed a great deal of criticism of former president George W. Bush for his remarks that he believed God wanted him to be president at the time he served. Evidently his critics don't believe in the sovereignty of God, that God raises up kings and nations and brings them down again according to his good purposes. It seemed to them Mr. Bush was being prideful when all he was really stating was a theological obviousness.
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