How important is King David in regards to Judaism? What's his significance?

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I know in Judaism, Moses is regarded as the greatest prophet of God? or at least by many.
He's the one who received the Two Tablets of stone.

But what about David? The forerunner of the Jewish Messiah, writer of most of the Psalms, probably had the most experience with God.
@Mr. Smartypants: agreed with everything until your last statement. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but raised in Nazareth, due to Herod.
@Blue Foots: That is true...but I feel so many underestimate King David, for some reason. Moses gave the Torah to the people of Israel directly from God, but David also taught the Torah in his own style through his Psalms. Also, David faced much more difficult obstacles in life than Moses. Bar none.

And why did God call David a man after his own heart?
@Blue Foots: Yes I believe David made some crucial mistakes, but so did every other patriarch, even Moses himself (he also committed murder and disobeyed a "direct" order from God). David's role was more spiritual, compared to Moses. Moses physically liberated the Hebrews and gave the Revelation. David was different, he was a King, the greatest King Israel ever had. No King David, No Jewish Messiah. God promised the Jewish Mashiach through David, not Moses, and the Jewish Messiah is believed to be greater than ALL ancient Hebrew Patriarchs.
 
"Probably had the most experience with G-d."

No chance. Moses and G-d were intertwined for decades, in person, interacting, leading the people, formalizing and training the people, move toward the promised land. I mean, it's no small task to be a spiritual leader and judge such as Moses was.

Edit: Sure, David was running from those who thought he should not be king. Read Samuel. But, David was also very controversial, sending Uriah to battle and questionably Uriah allegedly divorced his wife and David took her? Yeah, and historically, It took a few years for David to take the throne. Originally David only had Hebron, the rest of the tribes did not recognize his authority. It was through Abner (I believe) that united the kingdom for David, because his legitimacy was solidified. The issue is, yes, he wrote the Psalms and we say the Psalms (Tehillim) today for people who are ill or in need, but David had no special two-way conversation with G-d. David did not redeem the people from slavery, he did not lead them to receive the commands, he did not lead them for 40 years judging between disputes and organizing the people into who they would become in the future. Moses was the one who had to teach hundred of thousands of people the commands and laws that would guide them for the rest of history. This, is a greater connection with G-d.
 
David was not the first king of Israel but the first 'great' king. Christians and Jews alike believe that David was picked by God to be the king and that future kings would come from David's line, they would be direct descendants of David. The Messiah was thought to be coming from the line of David, and would be born in the City of David, Bethlehem.

Of course Jews and Christians disagree on just who the Messiah was to be, and what he would do. Most Jews in Jesus' day didn't recognize Jesus as The Messiah, because he didn't match their view of what he would be like and what he would do. But the writers of the gospels felt they needed to detail Jesus' descendants at least back to David, and also to show that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, even though he came from Nazareth.
 
Well after Moses, there was a a man of the Lord named Elijah. He was a man of God and did amazing things through God. If you read the book of Kings you will see that he did great miracles through God. He was able to summon great armies in the name of God. He arose a boy from the dead. He foretold the future. He called God wrath upon the enemies of Israel. He was a messenger of God and anointed the Kings of Israel and much much more. I have even asked why wasnt he considered the messiah based upon the miracles he performed. Elijah was a prophet, David was a King. Big difference.

David was a King of Israel and according to the bible, followed God word almost perfectly. However he did astray. He was supposed to build the great temple, but because of his inability to follow Gods word completely, his rule was plagued by constant war. So he did not have time to do this. Upon his death however, his son Solomon was placed as King. Because Solomon was a man of God and followed Gods word, God allowed him to build the great temple. Because of David and Solomon following the word of God, God made a covenant with the house of David. This is why he is considered one of the greatest leaders in Jewish history.
 
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