“Yes! I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it!” (Mark 10:15, Complete Jewish Bible) The text is not referring to behavior such as temper tantrums, for example, which are generally associated with 2-year-olds (although temper tantrums are not exclusive to that age group). Rather, Jesus is talking about becoming “like a child” as in being reliant, obedient and trusting.
While David’s mistakes are often the focus, he was in fact, extremely reliant on God for direction and comfort. In Psalms he pours out his heart, describing comfort, perseverance, effects of chastening, and he relied on God for direction (II Samuel 2:1, 5:18-19, 22-24).
God was faithful to answer David, and it is the same today, although with knowledge increasing (Daniel 12:4), self-sufficiency also increases. More accurately, “Their land is full of idols; everyone worships the work of his hands, what his own fingers have made.” (Isaiah 2:8, Complete Jewish Bible) Our worldly answer may seem reasonable to us, although this is not always how God works. “But God chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise; God chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the strong; and God chose what the world looks down on as common or regards as nothing in order to bring to nothing what the world considers important;” (I Corinthians 1:27-28, Complete Jewish Bible)
Reliance requires a willingness to obey God. We are to follow the example Christ gave in being obedient to his Father. “…Yes, indeed! I tell you that the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does, the Son does too.” “Also, the One who sent me is still with me; he did not leave me to myself, because I always do what pleases him.” (John 5:19, 8:29, Complete Jewish Bible) The consequences of disobedience are daunting. “…when the Lord Yeshua is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in a fiery flame. Then he will punish those who don’t know God, that is, those who don’t listen to the Good News of our Lord Yeshua and obey it.” (II Thessalonians 1:7-8, Complete Jewish Bible)
Reliance and obedience are accomplished by trust. Hebrews is a letter intended to convince Jews that Yeshua is the Messiah, and it is through trusting that both Jews and Gentiles have eternal life. Chapter 11 of Hebrews recites the trust of many Jewish ancestors and begins by defining trust. “Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, Complete Jewish Bible) The chapter is filled with the names of great men and women of old “who through trusting, conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, received what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weakness turned to strength, grew mighty in battle and routed foreign armies.” (Hebrews 11:33-34, Complete Jewish Bible)
“Be assured, then, that it is those who live by trusting and being faithful who are really children of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7, Complete Jewish Bible) “because everything which has God as its Father overcomes the world. And this is what victoriously overcomes the world: our trust.” (I John 5:4, Complete Jewish Bible)