In the passage we see that David was delivered from a situation which would have seen him fighting against his own people. God was gracious to David in getting him out of this situation. Saul, however, died in the battle because, as king, he was out for his own glory. Jesus, the right kind of King, represents God’s graciousness to a world that is in a mess. He is continuously giving.

David was sent back from the battle but on his return he found that his own camp had been raided. The people blamed him for not being there to protect them. David leads his men to fight those who had done this and regains their own possessions and more. We see graciousness displayed in the way the spoils are divided. Some wanted only those who went into battle to have a share but David insisted that even those who stayed behind should share equally … getting what they didn’t deserve.

This provides us with a picture of what Jesus accomplished and how it happened. He laid aside his glory and made himself nothing in order to save us. Like David experienced, King Jesus was rejected by his people but in going to the cross he won an amazing victory. We are all invited to share in this victory by trusting in him … receiving something we don’t deserve. Jesus is pre-eminently the right kind of King.