I. He is described here by his name, David
I. He is described here by his name, David
Which signifies beloved, as no doubt he was by his parents, he being their youngest son. He was also beloved of God, even when he was disesteemed of men. The stone which the builders refused, was made by Jehovah the head of the corner. He was preferred before all his elder brethren, by the Lord. He was the man after God's own heart, whom he had pitched upon, and therefore raised him to the throne of Israel. He was beloved of man; not only by Jonathan the son of Saul, who loved him as his own soul; but also of the whole nation. It is said by the Historian, that all Israel and Judah loved David (1 Samuel 18:16). They all loved him, to a man, for his courteous, affable disposition and behavior, and because he went out with their armies, fought their battles for them, and came in a victorious conqueror. Therefore with great propriety is his name called David.
This name is given to the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ; given unto him, and spoken of him, when David was no more; when be had been dead many hundreds of years. Spoken of Christ in reference to times then to come, and yet to come; for it is said, They shall serve the Lord their God, and David their King (Jeremiah 30:9). This respects times that are yet to come: the like is said in Hosea 3:4, 5, The children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king. The former part has been fulfilled, but the latter remains yet to be accomplished: the time is yet to come that they shall seek the Lord their God, and David their king. So in other prophecies, where it is foretold that the Lord would raise up one shepherd and one prince over them, even David his servant (Ezekiel 34:23, 24)—This could never be meant literally of David: it means the antitype of David, our Lord Jesus Christ, who in the latter day will be a prince and a king over the Jewish nation, converted and called by grace.
And this name well agrees with him, because he is the beloved one. The beloved of the Father, his dear son, the son of his love, of whom he has said once and again, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17). Beloved he was by him from all eternity: our Lord testifies this when he says, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). He was from all eternity as one brought up with him, rejoicing always before him. He lay in his bosom; a phrase expressive of the most tender affection to him. Beloved he was by him in time, throughout all his meanness, sufferings, and death. He loved him in his infancy: as it is said, When Israel was a child I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1). This respects the Messiah, one of whose names is Israel; whom the Lord loved when he was a child in his infant state in our nature, and who shewed his affection to him by warning Joseph in a dream to take his wife, and the young child, and flee into Egypt. He went and continued there; and when it was a proper time, he was warned again to return into his own land, because they that sought the young child were dead: so the prophecy was fulfilled.
And as he loved him, and manifested it in his infancy, so throughout his whole life. When he was obeying the divine commands, when he was suffering death, still he loved him. Yea, Christ says, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life (John 10:17). Many declarations there are, of his love to him. He loved him, and therefore put all things into his hands; all persons, angels, and saints; particularly the latter, who are put into his hands as the effect of Jehovah's love to him. The Father loveth, the Son, and hath given all things into his hand (John 3:35). Again: The Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doth—The Father,judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father (John 5:20, 22, 23).
Christ, the antitypical David, is not only beloved of God, but also by his people. He is beloved of all those that see the loveliness of his person, and have tasted of his love: these cannot but say of him, "He is the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely." They know not how better to describe him, than as him whom their souls love. Saw ye him (says the Church) whom my soul loveth (Song of Solomon 3:3)? They love him in his whole person as God-Man: they love him as held forth in all his offices, in all his relations. They love him as he appears in all his truths and ordinances. They love the truths relating to him, that set forth the glory of his person and the riches of his grace. They love him in all his ordinances: they esteem his precepts concerning all things to be right, and hate every false way (Psalm 119:128). They love all his people, rich or poor, high or low, and of whatsoever denomination among men. And they love Christ superlatively above all others, angels, or men; they say, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire beside thee (Psalm 73:25). They love him above all natural relations, friends, and acquaintance, be they ever so near and dear to them. He that loveth father or mother (saith the Lord) more than me, is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37). They love him with all their hearts and with all their souls, with sincerity and uprightness of heart, and can appeal to him as the searcher of hearts, and trier of the reins of the children of men, that as he knows all things, he knows they do love him. These shew their love to him by a regard to his commandments and ordinances. If ye love me (says Christ), keep my commandments (John 14:15). Also by parting with all, and bearing all for his sake by expressing an uneasiness at his absence from them: not being contented till they find him again seeking here and there, and every where for him, and when they have found him they will not let him go—Thus our Lord Jesus Christ answers to the name David, which signifies beloved; he is beloved of his Father, and beloved of his people.