Dovid HaMelech’s eternal state of life pertains to every single Jew who says, “Dovid Melech Yisroel chai v’kayam,” on a monthly basis, at the time of Kiddush Levana. * Through Dovid HaMelech, Dovid Malka Meshicha, one goes out of his own personal exile.
Translated by Boruch Merkur
One tzaddik to whom eternal life is ascribed is Dovid HaMelech. In the following sicha, the Rebbe MH”M focuses on how the eternal life of Dovid HaMelech is unique in that his kingship over every single Jew lives on eternally, providing the capacity for each Jew to transcend his own personal exile.
Through Dovid HaMelech, Dovid Malka Meshicha, one goes out of his own personal exile, and goes in the way of Dovid HaMelech, conducting himself according to his teachings, insofar as “Dovid Melech Yisroel chai v’kayam – Dovid, king of the Jewish people, is alive and well.” That is, even now he is “chai v’kayam,” in a manner of “Melech Yisroel.” Dovid HaMelech’s eternal state of life pertains to every single Jew who says, “Dovid Melech Yisroel chai v’kayam,” on a monthly basis, at the time of Kiddush Levana.
It is said regarding Dovid HaMelech, “I have found Dovid, My servant” (T’hillim 89:21), meaning that the Alm-ghty G-d has found and discovered that Dovid is a faithful shepherd. This is true of Dovid HaMelech both with regard to sheep, in the literal sense, and how much more so with regard to the Jewish people (regarding whom it is said, “And you, My flock, the sheep of My pasture” (Yechezkel 34:31)). Indeed, Dovid is the shepherd and leader of the entire Jewish nation.
(Although from the outset, Dovid was only the king of Yehuda, later, for thirty-three years he ruled as king over all the Jewish people – not just over Yehuda, but the entire Jewish nation.)
The leadership and rule of Dovid HaMelech stands eternally; even today he is called “Melech Yisroel” and he is “chai v’kayam” as a king of the Jewish people. That is, even now, during the time of exile, after the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash, etc., the Torah says that every month, at time of Kiddush Levana, one must say “Dovid Melech Yisroel chai v’kayam,” because that is the way it is even now [i.e., Dovid HaMelech lives forever].
This constitutes the general difference between Dovid HaMelech and Chanoch, as well as Eliyahu HaNavi (who are also “chai v’kayam,” living eternally): Dovid HaMelech is “chai v’kayam” as a king of the Jewish people. The special quality of a king is that he is one “who leads them out and who brings them in” (BaMidbar 27:17), meaning that he leads every single Jew (including one who sins, for even after he sins, “Yisroel hu – he is [still considered to be] a Jew”), and every single Jew conducts himself in accordance with his teachings.
(Sichos Kodesh 5741, pg. 17, second day of Chag HaShavuos, bilti muga)