Devotionary

David’s first attempt to relocate the Ark of the Covenant into his new capital, Jerusalem, had been an abysmal failure. And all because he had chosen to ignore God’s commands concerning the proper handling of the ark. David’s enthusiasm and haste had resulted in the death of Uzzah. But now, three months later, David would try a second time to bring the ark into the city. This time, he would do it God’s way. And yet, in his obedience, David would meet with resistance, from one of his own wives. In 2 Samuel 6:12-23, we have the story of David dancing before the ark and Michal looking on in disdain. This is a story filled with contrasts and conflicts. It reveals an interesting aspect of David’s life, who in his heart wanted to do what was right, but was always seeming to suffer from things he had done wrong. He would always find himself fighting against the consequences of his own impulsive tendencies and his human nature that too often led him to make unwise choices that resulted in uncomfortable outcomes.

Enthusiasm can be a great attribute. But it can also get you in trouble. Especially if your excitement causes you to step out of the will of God. That’s what happened to David and we can read about it in 2 Samuel 6:1-11. It seems that David was so pumped about his new capital of Jerusalem, that he wanted to move the Ark of the Covenant there as soon as possible. But in his excitement, he got in such a hurry that he failed to do things according to God’s standards. And his over-zealousness had some deadly ramifications. David’s heart was in the right place. He was well-intended. But disobedience is disobedience. And being in a hurry to honor God is no excuse for disobeying Him. David was in a position that came with huge responsibilities. He was God’s shepherd over the entire flock of Israel. And His sins carried corporate weight. As king, when David sinned, everyone suffered. And even zeal for God was not an excuse.

David had been crowned the king of all Israel, but that didn’t mean his problems were over. As a matter of fact, they were just about to begin. As the newly crowned sovereign over the state of Israel, David was going to discover that his list of potential enemies was long. And at the top of that list were the Philistines. They saw the crowning of David and the unification of the nation as a threat to their well-being. So, they set out to defeat David while his reign was in its infancy and the Israelites were getting over their recent internal battles. And in 2 Samuel 5:17-25, we see David approaching his problems with a slightly different perspective. Rather than taking matters into his own hands and acting impulsively, David took his problem to the Lord. He sought divine counsel. And He received it. Along with a rousing victory over his enemies. He was learning that God’s battles, fought on God’s terms and in God’s power, brought God-ordained victories.

David was now the king of all Israel. God had brought about what He had promised so many years earlier. But now that David was king, he was going to learn that God would hold him to a higher standard. He was not free to rule and reign as he saw fit. Everything he did was going to be judged by God and would result in either blessing or discipline from God. His decisions would have consequences. His sins would have ramifications. As the king of Israel, David was expected to live a life of submission and obedience to God. He was to reign according to God’s standards, not his own. He was to do things God’s way, not his own. But David would find himself constantly challenged by his own desire to put his own personal touch on his reign. And in 2 Samuel 5:11-16, we’ll get a subtle glimpse into one of the areas where David will leave the fingerprints of his personal touch.

David had waited a long time for this day. In fact, it had been seven years since he had been anointed king by the tribe of Judah. Now, he would finally receive the approval and anointing from the 11 other tribes, unifying the kingdom under his rule and reign. In 2 Samuel 5:1-10, we are provided with details surrounding this most important day in David’s life. We are also shown how he established Jerusalem as his capital. And if we look closely, behind the scenes, God is orchestrating His divine plan that will one day set up the arrival of the Son of David, the Messiah. He too would one day be crowned in the city of Jerusalem, but His crown would be made of thorns. He would be dressed in a royal robe, but only in an attempt to mock Him for His claim to be the King of the Jews. And one day, He will return to Jerusalem, where He will set up His kingdom on earth and rule from the throne of David.  

Sometimes, it’s when things begin to look up that we find ourselves getting into trouble. We see what we believe to be the light at the end of the tunnel, only to discover that it’s actually an oncoming train. In 2 Samuel 4, a relatively short chapter, we get an important insight into the potential train wreck that that seems to be headed David’s way. Ever since the death of Saul, things have not gone well. When David should have been experiencing great relief and extreme joy over his anointing as the king over Israel, he found himself facing stiff competition for the crown. And he tried to take matters into his own hands, making plans and alliances that only made matters worse. After years of learning to lean on God for provision and protection, David seems to have suddenly decided to do things his way. And in doing so, he only made things more difficult for himself and those around him.      

Why is it that we think that God somehow needs our help? And before you’re too quick to deny it, just consider how many times you’ve made decisions without God’s input. And yet, we’d all probably agree that God is sovereign and the one who is in ultimate control of all things. So, why is it that we think our plans are an improvement on His? David certainly felt that way at times. And in 2 Samuel 3:31-39, we see him orchestrating a whole series of events designed to turn the unexpected death of Abner into a positive PR opportunity. His main objective was the unification of the kingdom under his rule, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen, whether his actions were God’s will or not. But when we take matters into our own hands, it rarely turns out well. Seeking to accomplish God’s will, but without seeking God’s input is a dangerous game to play.

While sin is simple to commit, it is anything but simple in its ramifications. Sin brings consequences, regardless of the size of the sin. And in 2 Samuel 3:22-30, the sins of David and all those around him, were going to create a maelstrom of increasingly more complicated problems. Doing things apart from the will of God always produces less-than-satisfactory outcomes. David’s desire to have his wife Michal returned to him led him to make some bad decisions. He made unwise allegiances with a traitor. He refused to act as king and punish those who were guilty of murder. He became obsessed with expediency and was willing to do whatever he thought best to fulfill his own desires. Sin is complex and results in complicated outcomes. It may start out with a simple decision, but it has a way of growing in intensity and infecting all those around us.

We all struggle with indwelling sin. It comes with being human. Even those of us who have placed our faith in Christ, still find ourselves battling the persistent presence of our own sin natures. And David was no different. In 2 Samuel 3:6-21, we see this man after God’s own heart making some rather ungodly decisions, because his thinking was clouded by sin. We have already seen that David could be impulsive. And, in his effort to unify the kingdom and establish his reign over all Israel, David made some unwise decisions that would come back to haunt him. He allowed himself to forget that his reign as the king of Israel was God’s will and, therefore, up to God to bring about. God didn’t need David’s help. But as David sensed the opportunity to help speed up the unification of the nation, he grabbed for it. He allowed himself to be swayed by the flattering words of Abner. But rather than make his life easier and establish his kingdom quicker, it was going to produce even greater problems.     

As we will see in 2 Samuel 3:1-5, there was conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David. Saul was dead, but Abner had made his son the king. Now, there were two kings over Israel, David and Ish-bosheth. But that wasn’t the only conflict brewing behind the scenes. David was battling his own inner demon, his love affair with the opposite sex. His attraction to women had proved to be an ongoing issue for him, resulting in his marriage to multiple women. And, now that he was king over the tribe of Judah, this predilection for the female sex was going to become a problem for him. David probably thought Ish-bosheth and Abner were the greatest threats to his kingdom, but he would soon find out that his inner passions were just as deadly as any outside threat he might face. David may have been a man after God’s own heart, but he was going to learn that God wanted all his heart.  

Division in the family of God is not only dangerous, it can be deadly. Polarization and conflict fueled by pride and self-centeredness can destroy fellowship and dishonor the name of God. Not only that, it grieves God. And when Abner, the military commander for the late king, Saul, decided to anoint Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth as the next king of Israel, it was motivated by self-interest. He was trying to maintain his position of power and prominence, and saw Ish-bosheth as the key to his future. But Abner’s efforts ended up diving the kingdom. He was placing his will over that of God. He had no business anointing or appointing anybody king, but his ego got the best of him. He wasn’t a big fan of David, and was willing to do just about anything to keep this former fugitive from justice from ascending to the throne of Israel. And for Abner, the will of God seemed to have meant nothing. He was going to do things his way, regardless the cost.

It just seems like David can’t get a break. Everything came hard for this young man. Even with Saul out of the way, the path to the throne was still covered in land mines of all kinds. And while David may have thought that, with Saul’s death, the throne was now vacant, he was in for a big surprise. Because it seems that Saul had yet another son who, unlike Jonathan, had not been killed in battle, but was alive and well. And Abner, Saul’s military commander decided to anoint the surviving son of Saul as the heir to his father’s throne. The next thing David knew, he had a competitor for the crown and a civil war to fight. Not only had the people of Israel been defeated by the Philistines, now they were fighting among themselves. Not exactly the way David wanted to begin his reign. But, in spite of the circumstances, God was still in control. He was fulfilling His plan according to His sovereign will. None of this caught God off guard. And David was learning to trust God in spite of the circumstances.

Saul was dead. And the path to the throne of Israel appeared to be free and clear for the first time. But David did not act rashly. He didn’t respond impulsively, but instead, sought the will of God. He had waited a long time for this moment, but he was in no rush to make things happen. He had done that before and had lived to regret it. This time, he was going to seek God and wait on His will to be done. No short cuts. No work-arounds. And while David might have been anxious for the long wait to be over, he was in no hurry to get ahead of God. He had learned a lot during the years he had spent running from Saul and living in self-imposed exile in Philistia. His view of God had expanded and his trust in God had deepened. There was nothing better than God’s will done God’s way and on God’s timeline. So David was willing to wait a while longer, allowing God to move the hearts of the people to accept David as their new king.

What’s your normal response to anyone who tries to hurt you? Get even? Seek revenge? We seem wired from birth to respond to those who attempt to do us harm by giving them a bit of their own medicine. And when we read 2 Samuel 1:17-27, we’re a bit surprised to see David crying over the news of Saul’s death. And they were not tears of joy. He was legitimately upset that his former king and mentor was dead. Even after all Saul had done to him, David mourned his death and even composed a song about him. There’s a great deal we can learn from the response of this young man. He had every right to be angry with Saul. And it would only seem natural if he had exhibited a bit of joyful relief at this man’s death. But to the end, David showed Saul respect, continuing to view him as the Lord’s anointed, even in death. Keep in mind, David was not the king – yet. He still remained a faithful Jew, even though he was currently residing in Philistine territory. And he saw the death of Saul as a blow to the kingdom and the sad

As we open up the book of Second Samuel, the story of David continues. But the events surrounding his life are beginning to shift dramatically. Saul is dead. And while David is still living in the land of the Philistines, the path to the throne has been suddenly cleared of its greatest obstacle. But before David can become the next king of Israel, we are going to see how he reacts to the death of Saul. You would expect him to celebrate, rejoicing over the demise of his long-term adversary. But that’s not what David does. In fact, 2 Samuel 1:1-16 presents a somewhat ironic tale of a misguided Amalekite coming into contact with the future king of the Israelites. And this encounter will not turn out how the young man expected. Rather than receiving a reward, he’ll lose his life. His fictitious claim to have killed Saul will prompt David to kill him, not congratulate him. Because David still held Saul in high esteem.

First Samuel 31:8-13 brings this portion of the life of David to a close. But it is far from the end. In fact, it represents a new beginning. Saul is dead and the path is now open for David to become king. God is implementing His divine will and setting in motion all the plans He has laid out for David’s ascension to the throne. But the book of 1 Samuel ends with a stark portrayal of Saul’s demise, and it is not a pretty picture. His body was mutilated and decapitated by the Philistines and hung on the wall of one of their cities. He was stripped of his armor, which was put on display in the temple of their god. The former king of Israel was ridiculed and mocked, his body hung as a public display of disdain for Israel’s king and a sign of disrespect for their God. And had the residents of Jabesh-gilead not risked their lives to rescue the body of Saul and his three sons, there would have been no funeral for this former king of Israel.

The long ordeal between David and Saul was about to come to an abrupt and, for Saul, unpleasant end. His days were numbered and his reign as good as done. But Saul was going to lose far more than his kingdom. He was going to witness the deaths of his three sons and then be faced with the unenviable task of taking his own life. And in 1 Samuel 31:1-7, this sad end to the life of Saul stands in stark contrast to the recent victory God gave David over the Amalekites. While David and his men were busy celebrating the rescue of their wives and children, Saul was watching his sons die at the hands of the Philistines. Then, unable to convince his armor-bearer to take his life, Saul was relegated to falling on his own sword. He committed suicide rather than face mistreatment at the hands of the Philistines. His life had a far-from-ignoble end because he had chosen to live in disobedience to God. But David, in the midst of one of the worst moments in his life, had chosen to seek God. And was rescued.

We know from many of the psalms he wrote, that David often felt like he had been abandoned by God. There were days he felt alone and forgotten. And in 1 Samuel 30:16-31, David was in a particularly dark period of his life. He was living in the land of the Philistines and his hosts were at war with his own people: the Israelites. And while he and his man had been away from Ziklag, the city in which the lived, the Amalekites had raided and pillaged it, taking all the women and children captive. As a result, his own men threatened to stone him. But In the midst of all his suffering and sorrow, David was learning an invaluable lesson: He was learning to trust God. And it began when he sought the will of God. Not only would he defeat the Amalekites and rescue all the those who had been taken captive, he would find himself given a second chance by God.

We all have had those moments in life when it feels like God has abandoned us. In the midst of difficult circumstances, we sense that He is nowhere to be found. He appears to be distant and disinterested in our predicament. And yet, in 1 Samuel 30:7-15, we are given an encouraging reminder from the life of David that God is always there. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is simply waiting for us to cry out to Him. He is patiently biding His time, until we reach the end of our own resources and realize that our hope is in Him. And when we seek Him, we will find Him. When we turn to Him, we will find Him there ­– ready to assist us in our greatest times of need. But the challenge we all face is our proclivity to act as our own savior. We have the tendency to try to solve our problems in our own power. But we make lousy gods. Our solutions rarely produce the results for which we are looking. In fact, we tend to only make matters worse. But David was going to learn to trust God by learning to turn to Him in h

If we’re honest, we all have to admit that there have been times in our lives when we made a royal mess of things. Through poor decision-making and, sometimes, pure disobedience to the will of God, we’ve found ourselves in less-than-pleasant circumstances, dealing with the aftermath of our choices. And in 1 Samuel 30:1-6, we find David faced with the task of having to clean up the mess left from one of his most disastrous decisions. He had returned to Ziklag, his base of operations in Philistia, only to find that it had been raided by the Amalekites. They had burned the city to the ground and taken all the women and children captive. And David’s men were so upset by this turn of events, that they began making plans to stone him. David had made a real mess of things. He was stuck in Philistia, having deceived King Achish into believing he was on his side. But now the Israelites and Philistines were at war and David’s little charade was blowing up in his face. But in spite of all his missteps, God was still the