There was once a very ruthless and powerful king. In his own eyes, he was the bravest, smartest, and strongest man that had ever lived. Just like his grandfather and father before him, he ruled with an iron fist, showing mercy to no one. His citizens were afraid of him and his army bowed in reverence for their king. His ego was as large as it could be.

The king and his kingdom were at war with an opposing nation about the rights to a beautiful, crystal-clear, pristine lake. The king vowed to stop at nothing to ensure his kingdom defeated the other. He ordered ruthless, barbaric attacks on men, women, and children alike. His people, shocked at the sheer brutality of their king, began calling the time the reign of terror.

There was a young man named David who served as an assistant to the king’s top advisor. David was a well-known man of honor. He always took the time to stop and say hello to everyone of every status, whether they be royalty or peasants. Everyone was respected, valued, and loved in David’s eyes. David vehemently disagreed with both the King and his advisor. Because he was a mere assistant, he believed he was powerless. As man of great integrity and humility, he struggled to understand and justify the acts his king was committing. For nights he could not sleep. He could not do anything but reflect on the horror his nation was inflicting upon another. He decided it was his time to take a stand.

Being the intelligent and realistic man he was, he realized that in order to defeat the king he would need to craft the most meticulous of plans…

David began by taking advantage of his close contact with the king. David would analyze the king and then make recommendations and suggestions that he knew the king would love. He quickly became the king’s top confidant. He was all of a sudden invited to the most prestigious of balls, dinners, and galas. As the king’s right-hand man he became an infamous public figure. David was known throughout the kingdom as a righteous man. The citizens were confused as to why David had suddenly become a relentless follower of the man who he could not stand. Although the citizens were confused, they trusted David as he was a well-known community servant and deacon. Just as he vowed to serve his Lord with honor, humility, and reverence, he made the same vow to his fellow people. Although they were confused and hurt, they trusted that David was the man he said he was.

One night the king asked David to his chambers to prepare for a large battle the next morning. After all of the king’s advisors and commanders left, David knew this was the time. He offered the king a drink of the finest whiskey, which the king gladly accepted. After many, many more drinks the king was in a drunken slumber. It was at this point that David removed the sword from his side and raised it high over his head. At first, he could not bring himself to carry out his plan. He struggled with compromising his own morality even if it meant saving thousands. As he continued to grapple with his decision, he began thinking of his own family. He thought of his son and daughter and his beautiful wife. He realized that he could not live with himself if something happened to his family, as had been happening to members of the community as a result of king’s reign of terror. He closed his eyes ever so tightly and with all his might brought down the sword, killing the king instantly. He then picked up the royal crown and placed it upon his own head. As he walked out onto the castle’s balcony that overlooked the entire kingdom, he was overcome with emotion. Emotions of guilt and relief. As he admired the beauty of his new kingdom he made a solemn vow to rule with fairness, humility, and honor.

This is the story of the humble man who killed the king.