2 Samuel 5
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2 Samuel 5:1-3, All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
With the last sons of Saul slain in the previous chapter, there is no longer any plausible opposition to David as king. David certainly had all the credentials: he was a military leader and victor, he had the respect of the people, and the prophecy pointed to him. The elders would have known all these things so it was time to make it official. This had been a long time coming! Think of the years in which David was on the run, living in foreign lands, unsure of how and when God would allow him to be king. But David trusted God and the time is now.
One other important point here is that David, as ruler, would shepherd the people. He didn’t own the people. He didn’t lord over the people. He was God’s chosen human being to rule God’s people. The nation of Israel still belonged to God and David understood this. As such, David made a covenant with the elders before the Lord and he was anointed king. This would have been a religious ceremony as much as a political one. We know that as long as God is with David, he will be blessed and in turn, the people will be blessed.
As I reflect on David’s experience, I wonder how many of us have had similar experiences. I’m guessing none of us have been on the run from people who sought to kill us. But we have walked through dark seasons of life, knowing that God is with us but unsure of how or when our situation is going to get better. In those seasons, we simply have to make the decision to trust, as David did.
Let’s pray…God, We trust you. We trust you. We trust you. We are making that decision today. More of you and less of me. Amen.