2 Samuel 1-3

April 1

2 Samuel 1-3

When Saul and Jonathan died, David became king over Judah. This was not a position David pursued or asked to receive. It is a position God had anointed David to receive. It has been many years since Samuel came and picked David among the sons of Jesse. David had killed Goliath, played the harp for Saul, and been on the run hiding from Saul over those years. Perhaps David wondered if he would ever be king. If it had meant Jonathan would not die, I imagine David would have been fine allowing Saul’s family to remain on the throne. But God had plans for David. David was a man who loved God and wanted to walk in obedience to God no matter the cost.

When the man came and reported to David that Saul and Jonathan were dead, he probably thought David would be pleased. After all, Saul had been hunting for David in order to kill him. David could now relax and not have to continually look behind him for Saul and his men. But when the man told David that he had killed Saul at his own request because he was mortally wounded, David did not see it as a mercy killing; he saw it as murder of God’s anointed. David’s primary goal in life was to walk in such a way as to honor God in all he did.

Before leaving Ziklag and going to Judah to claim his crown, David inquired of the Lord. David knew God had chosen him, but he wanted to make sure he followed God’s timing. He knew he would be king, but he did not want to charge ahead of God. God told David to go and David went to Judah and became king. The house of Israel was still under one of Saul’s sons. God would put Israel under David’s control at a later time.

Are we as patient as David? Are we as willing to submit to God’s plans and God’s timing as David? Do we honor God by accepting His plan, His chosen leader, and his timing? During this portion of David’s life, it is easy to see why God would call him “a man after my own heart.” David trusted God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength.

 May God help us do the same.