Bucer's Use of King David as Mirror of the Christian Prince

Abstract

This paper looks at the model of King David, particularly as revealed in the Psalms, as a model for all Christian Princes. Looking to Hebrew and Jewish models, Bucer emphasized a historical interpretation of the Psalms. For Bucer, the life of David has been set at the centre of the Psalter. Bucer, however, was also able to deconstruct and add to the ‘David’ tradition. At the heart of Bucer's appreciation of David is David as the godly prince—he administered justice wisely, he promoted public worship and he was a teacher of righteousness. Bucer's understanding of the role and importance of David meant that he could use Davidic simile and metaphor to address leaders in Europe, such as François de Valois and Edward Tudor, to attempt to win them to his version of the evangelical cause. In Bucer's David, there is, however, a detachment that lacks the powerful empathy of Luther's or Calvin's figure.