Whereas King David’s humanity has rendered him a viable paradigm for the masses depiction of his remarkable talent exceptional dedication and resplendent physical characteristics hint at his sublime origin. His very life’s breath was after all an offshoot of Adam who was fashioned by G-d’s own hands. It is written of David that he had beautiful eyes that glistened brilliantly with all colors and that penetrated the depth of his surroundings. His hair is described as having been comprised of seven gradations of gold. The strings of the harp that David plucked in harmony to the melodic lyrics he wholeheartedly produced in praise of Hashem were of the veins of the ayil (ram) that was sacrificed by Abraham in place of his son Isaac.
David’s humble beginnings which stood in sharp contrast to his lofty core can be traced in Megillas Ruth. Ruth David’s great-grandmother was Naomi’s devoted and widowed daughter-in-law of Moab. When a destitute Naomi herself a widow picked up to leave for Bethlehem it was Ruth who insisted on accompanying her mother-in-law to the land of Yehuda (while Naomi’s other daughter-in-law Orpah chose to go back to her people). By way of sustaining them both Ruth gleaned leftover sheaths of wheat in the field of the landowner Boaz who took notice of her.
Boaz’s primary interest lay not in the progress of his commerce but rather with the welfare of his laborers – and the poor disadvantaged handmaiden who was busying herself with the slim pickings designated for the impoverished. He instructed his workers to ‘drop’ an abundant supply of sheaths in order to provide Ruth and her mother-in-law with adequate sustenance.
This inherent trait of benevolence manifested itself in David a descendent of Ruth and Boaz. In his early years as a shepherd the extraordinary care and vigilance David displayed in guarding and tending his flock of sheep was eminently pleasing to G-d Who already was setting His designs on the future king of His nation.
David never neglected to recognize that G-d was his savior and the provider of whatever tools he possessed that enabled him to be what he was. Through setback and triumph heartache and exhilaration he would turn to Hashem – always with reverence and praise with intense faith and devotion and most significantly with unpretentiousness. Humility and kindness were the marks of the man who set the example for all mankind.
While King David slept a breeze would waft from his open window at midnight to stir the strings of his harp that was suspended above his bed. The surging melodious tones would rouse David and inspire him to glorify the Almighty with song and words of exaltation. As the light of dawn would ignite the Jerusalem horizon the king?s learning and singing would awaken the slumbering populace inducing one and all to arise and hasten to their own service of G-d.
Dovid HaMelech praised G-d with all his faculties: My eyes are always toward G-d (Psalm 25:15); My mouth speaks your praises (145:21); My tongue will speak of your righteousness (35:28); … my lips will sing to you (71:23); …my heart and my flesh will sing praise to G-d (84:3); All my bones say who is like you (35:10).
And still David would bemoan his deficiency in doing poetic justice to his beloved Creator!
With the completion of the book of Tehillim David was nearly overcome with a sense of pride in his accomplishment. A lowly frog leaped toward him asserting that its praises to G-d surpassed those of David’s and that it had gone way beyond the call of duty in having sacrificed itself during the second plague in Egypt by entering blazing ovens. David was humbled and promptly changed his tune.
