A Tale of Three Kings: A Study of Brokenness

“The story is a portrait (you might prefer to call it a rough charcoal sketch) or submission and authority within the kingdom of God.”

This quote comes from the prefatory materials to the Prologue, in which the narrator invites the reader to sit down and observe the theatrical narrative about to unfold. Its depiction of the story as a “portrait” and a “rough charcoal sketch” aligns with the book’s use of biblical background material in that it does not seek to give a full rendition of the biblical accounts. It merely attempts to highlight significant portions that bear on the question of submission and authority.

“I must tell you that what has been given to you is a glorious thing—the only element in the universe that can change the human heart. Yet even this element of God cannot accomplish its task nor grow and fill your entire being unless it is compounded well. It must be mixed lavishly with pain, sorrow, and crushing.”

This is a description of the second portion of God’s being, which is given out to the two unborn destinies in heaven (correlating to Saul and David). This portion is the one given to David and has the potential to transform one’s inner character. This only happens, however, when the person undergoes significant suffering in their lives, thus underscoring the book’s thematic focus on Brokenness as a Godly Virtue.

“Either way, Saul felt threatened by David, as kings often do when there is a popular, promising young man beneath them. The king also knew, as did David, that this boy just might have his job some day.”

The questions of authority and submission dealt with in the book address the relationships between leaders and subordinates (or pastors and laypeople), which ties in with the book’s theme on