Jerusalem was a royal city. It represented David’s rule as Israel’s King. Throughout his conflict with King Saul, David had been conscious of the Lord’s strength. “The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker” (2 Samuel 3:1). David was forty years old when he became King and ruled for forty years. The reason he was able to capture Jerusalem was because the Lord had enabled him: “And David became more and more powerful because the LORD God Almighty was with him” (2 Samuel 5:10).

David was a smart guy. Though Jerusalem was a small area (less than 11 acres), he had skillfully located his royal city between two competing tribes: Judah and Benjamin. He had united the kingdom without seeming to subordinate one part to the other. He soon received international recognition (2 Samuel 5:11). All along, David was conscious that the reason he was king and had been established in Jerusalem was because the Lord had “exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel” (v.12). It was a reminder to King David against overreach (Deuteronomy 17:14–21). Though the Lord had reversed earlier failures of Israel (Joshua 15:63, Judges 1:8, 21) through his establishing of the City of David, he could undo that in a flash if Israel refused to live in obedience to their heavenly King.

Royal cities reflect the grandeur of their ruler. Many rulers today act as though they were royalty. Islam Karimov (1938–2016), for example, exerted a long and ruthless rule over Uzbekistan in Central Asia. He regarded Tashkent, the capital, as central to his legitimacy. He tapped into the legacy of Tamerlane (1336–1405), the great nomadic conqueror of the Eurasian Steppe. Tamerlane’s merciless campaigns are estimated to have led to the deaths of 17 million people, which was about 5% of the world’s population at that time. Karimov and Tamerlane established their rule with violence, coercion, and tyranny. Both built their kingdoms. Both saw themselves above the law.

In contrast, King David was subject to the law of God as he ruled his city. He pointed to a greater “David” who also rules by the law of God (Mark 12:35–37, Matthew 5:17). We can be grateful that our true King not only lived by the law of God but fulfilled it. We can be grateful that earthly tyrants and strongmen will one day be accountable to the true King.