What Chesed and Emes did the king form?
R. Yonah: When he does Chesed with his people, he also leads them in the way of Emes. He guards them from injustice, and judges them Mishpat of Emes and Tzedek. The Chesed and Emes guard him from all his enemies; they are a wall over him.
Malbim: This is based on "Chesed v'Emes Man Yintzerehu" (Tehilim 61:8). Emes is based on letter of the law. Chesed is what is done due to Chesed. When a king conducts only based on Emes, he is not properly guarded. Sad, bitter people on whom he poured the anger of Din, they will strike him. However, if sometimes he pardons the due to Chesed, the nation will love him. Similarly, if he conducts only with Chesed, fear of Mishpat will not be on the people, and he will not be secure. If he conducts with both Chesed and Emes, they will guard the king; he will not need another guard 1 .
Surely David, the author of "Chesed v'Emes Man Yintzerehu", conducted with them, and he needed to flee from Avshalom! Perhaps that was an exception; Hashem decreed "Hineni Mekim Alecha Ra'ah mi'Beisecha" (Shmuel II, 12:11). However, David was concerned also for Sheva ben Bichri's rebellion (ibid. 20:6! - PF)
How does Chesed sustain his throne?
R. Yonah: There is no Shi'ur to Chesed (Pe'ah 1:1). Therefore, based on how much Chesed he does, his kingship will continue to his seed after him. Kis'o is bequeathing his kingship to his seed - "u'Vanisi l'Dor va'Dor Kis'acha Selah" (Tehilim 89:5). We find that a king's kingship continues to his children due to Chesed - "v'Echresah Lachem Bris Olam Chasdei David ha'Ne'emanim" (Yeshayah 55:3).
Malbim: Conduct is attributed to the Kisei. It is based primarily on Mishpat, but also Chesed is needed sometimes. It sustains the throne, so it will last. This is like "Al Kisei David... Lehachin Osah u'Lsa'adah b'Mishpat uvi'Tzdakah" (Yeshayah 9:6).
