I Am a Worm: The Humility of King David

King David is one of the most fascinating figures in the scriptures. He was a shepherd, a warrior, a king, a poet, and a man after God’s own heart. Yet David also experienced seasons when he felt small, rejected, frightened, and completely dependent upon God. Psalm 22 gives us a glimpse into one of those moments.

David begins, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” He describes himself as surrounded by enemies and mocked by those who believe God will not save him. Then comes the striking statement: “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” (Psalm 22:6.)

Why would a powerful king describe himself as a worm?

David knew what it meant to be weak. Before he was king, he was the youngest son in his family and a shepherd. He faced Goliath not because he possessed superior strength, but because he trusted the Lord. Later, after being anointed to become king, David spent years fleeing from King Saul, hiding in caves and living as a hunted man. The Lord had promised him greatness, yet his circumstances often made him feel anything but great.

That is an important gospel lesson. Being chosen by God does not mean we will never feel weak. In fact, the Lord frequently allows us to discover our weakness so that we will learn where true strength comes from.

David’s description of himself as a “worm” was not necessarily a declaration that he had no worth. Rather, it expresses the profound humility of someone who recognizes that, compared with God, his own strength is insignificant. A worm is small, vulnerable, and easily overlooked. David understood that without the Lord, he was vulnerable too.

There is another important dimension to Psalm 22. The words David wrote also point prophetically toward Jesus Christ. Christ Himself quoted the opening words of this psalm while suffering on the cross: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Many details in the psalm echo the Savior’s suffering and crucifixion. David’s experience therefore becomes more than the story of one frightened king. It becomes a witness of the Savior who willingly descended below all things.

For us, this makes David’s words especially powerful. We do not need to pretend that we are strong when we are struggling. We can acknowledge our weakness and still have faith. The Book of Mormon teaches that the Lord gives us weakness so that we may become humble and learn to rely upon Him.

The message of the worm is therefore not “I am worthless.” It is “I am weak without God.”

And that is where strength begins.

When we recognize our weakness, turn to Christ, and trust Him, He can transform weakness into strength. Like David, we may sometimes feel small. But in the hands of the Lord, even a worm can lift something that seems impossible.

Product: Next Level Apparel N6210 Men's CVC Crew

Next Level Apparel N6210 Men's CVC Crew

• 4.3 oz.,

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• Colors have a slightly heathered look

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• CVC blend

• 1x1 baby rib-knit set-in collar

• Shoulder to shoulder taping

• Tear-away label

• Side seamed