468 total views
“A talented musician, valiant warrior, majestic king, and the ancestor of the future Messiah… David is one of the greatest figures in the Bible. The name David is found over 1,000 times throughout the Old and New Testaments. But unlike other famous biblical names, we are never told what “David” means. In the original Hebrew, the root DVD, דוד, refers to affection, so David means “beloved”…In the Song of Songs, the maiden repeatedly calls her lover “my beloved” (dodi דוֹדִי). In Genesis, Rachel uses sweet-scented aphrodisiacal “mandrakes” (dudaim דּוּדָאִים) to boost her fertility…Isn’t it strange that the greatest king in ancient Israel was known by the rather private romantic name beloved? Not really. The Bible tells us explicitly that David was beloved by almost everyone he met – Jonathan, Saul, and the entire people of Israel and Judah (1 Sam. 18:16). But more importantly the name “beloved” refers to God’s love for David. In fact, it is quite likely that “David” is the shortened form of the full name דוידיה Davidiah meaning “beloved (David) of the Lord (Yah).” (from: Dan Livni, Biblical Hebrew Teacher)
In the NT David is mentioned most frequently in phrases “son of David” or “seed of David” spoken to Jesus or about him. From Paul’s references to the descent of Jesus from David (Rom 1:3, 2 Tm 2:8) point to the messianic character of Jesus as seen in the primitive Church; while in the gospels the title was addressed to Jesus by individuals, with messianic overtones, especially those who sought a cure (Mk 10:47, 12:35; Mt 22::45; Lk 20:41; John 7:42), and finally in his royal and triumpal entry to Jerusalem (Mt 21:9-15).
The healing of the blind man Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52) is the final miracle before Jesus enter Jerusalem, where his messiaship will be fully revealed. It serves then as Mark’s way of healing what can be said a certain “Christological blindness”, which began from the first healing of another blind (8:22) to his entry to Jerusalem. All these testify that Jesus indeed is the Messiah, the Son of David, the “beloved” Son of God (in whom God is well pleased cf Mk 1:1, 11).
A scarcely noticed blind man is heard when he persists in his cry to Jesus, and he responded knowing what human weakness meant being our high priest who himself suffered. Let us cry out to the Son of David as well knowing people who are left on the wayside will be overlooked no longer.
