David and Jesus, also called the Son of David, had many things in common. Sadly, although both characters are inspirations for many Christians, they both possess a common quality that many Christians don't have.

It's called compassion.

David: The Captain of the Broken

Before David became King of Israel, he had already established a wonderful reputation. He became known as a fierce shepherd boy, a giant slayer, a skillful musician, and a dear friend. Yet, one reputation that he had was that he was the captain of the broken.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 tells us, "So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men."

Read that again. From there we see that before he was king, David was already serving hundreds of people, a people who came to him because they were somehow broken one way or another—by troubles, by debt, or by discontentment.

Jesus: The Lord Who Is Close to the Brokenhearted

The Lord Jesus is also very close to the broken Himself. All throughout the gospels, we read accounts of the Messiah going to people, speaking to them about God's Kingdom; healing the sick of their illnesses; feeding the hungry; spending good quality time with the social outcasts such as the Samaritan woman, the woman caught in adultery, and that man who was lame for 38 years; and giving much of His time to His disciples, who are simple and uneducated men without riches.

Christ possessed extraordinary compassion for people, the kind that could never be explained and imitated that easily. While it's easy to like and welcome people who are likeable, Christ has love for those who aren't. He has a place in His heart for the abuser and the abused, the adulterer, the drunkard, the sick, the thief, the scoundrel, the helpless, and many more.

In short, He has a place for everyone in His heart. In fact, He died for all kinds of men.

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." (John 6:37)

Why It Matters

This quality matters because without it, the church will never be able to do what God wants us to do: to bring His love, as expressed through the life, death and resurrection of Christ which is the gospel, to all men.

Without compassion we will never share the gospel to the homeless and those perceived to be criminals.

Without compassion we will never reach out to the unkempt, the poor, and the needy.

Without compassion we will never spread the love of God to the people we don't like, even the people in church.

Without compassion we will never represent Christ.

Compassion Is Key

Friends, compassion enabled David to serve the broken. Christ's compassion towards all of us drove Him to enter time and space, become a normal human being, carry our sins, and accept the wrath of God for our sakes. Because of His compassion, our salvation is free.

Ask God for His compassion. We all need it to live the way He wants us to.