His name first appears on a battlefield, in the army of Tâlût, facing Jâlût and his soldiers.
So they routed them by Allah's permission, and Dâwûd killed Jâlût.
That is all the Qur'an says of the duel. Dâwûd (peace be upon him) enters the story in three words.
And Allah gave him kingship and wisdom, and taught him of what He willed.
Ibn Kathîr explains that this wisdom is the prophethood. Dâwûd was king and prophet at once.
Look at the verb: Allah gave him. He did not seize the throne. It was handed to him.
And We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and decisive speech.
Mujâhid said: in his time, no one on earth held a firmer authority.
Decisive speech: for Mujâhid, it is to judge rightly, and to speak in a way that settles a matter.
We revealed to you as We revealed to Nûh and the prophets after him.
And to Dâwûd We gave the Zabûr.
The Zabûr, Ibn Kathîr explains, is the name of the Book that Allah revealed to Dâwûd.
This verse speaks to the Prophet ﷺ: his revelation belongs to the same line as theirs.
And remember Our servant Dâwûd, the man of strength. He was always turning back to Allah.
This verse was addressed to the Prophet ﷺ: be patient with what they say, and remember Dâwûd.
“The man of strength”: Ibn 'Abbâs said strength, and Qatâda strength in worship.
Awwâb: Ibn Kathîr explains, the one who comes back to Allah in all his affairs.
He had a throne, an army and a Book. The Qur'an begins his portrait with another title: Our servant.
A young man in a small army. Then a king. Then a prophet with a Book.
Yet when Allah tells his story, the first word is none of these.
A crown, a Book, a strong kingdom, and one word above them all: servant.
Tonight, name the thing you are proudest of, then say: I am first of all Your servant.