The greatest King - who was not desperate for the throne

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The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?.....

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalms 27:1, 4

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Does the life of King David not fascinate you?

The greatest King who was not desperate for the throne

He defeated Goliath not for personal gratification

But for the pride and glory of God and Israel

What a man! How great a heart!

He never fought Saul to claim kingship 

Though the throne was rightly his

Even Jonathan who was the King-in-waiting was endeared to David

Jonathan verbally abdicated the throne to David

O David - the bloke with a clean heart!

Interestingly, when David became King

He honoured the body and memory of his supposed enemy, Saul

Was sympathetic to the supporters and family of Saul

And wept at the death of His rebellious son Absalom

What a man! How pure a heart!

Israel and Judah were independent after Saul's death

But David was the bridge uniting both divides

Scoundrels, vagabonds, rascals, nobles all sat at the table of David

What largeness of heart!

David forfeited everything to please God

He sought God for his military strategies

Refused to touch God's anointed

Tossed away royalty and was undignified before God

His heart was fixed on God - whatever God wanted David did

More Incredibly, He was not thinking of a mansion for himself

He was rather considering a house for the Ark

Preferring to live in a tent or cave but have a palace for God

Such a heart I so much desire!

That God would make me and you like David

The greatest King who was never desperate for the throne

Shalom!