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II Samuel 5:1-5; 8:15

DAVID was the second king of Israel, being the successor to Saul, whom the Prophet Samuel anointed in response to the demands of the people for a king to rule over them. David also was anointed by Samuel. This took place a considerable time before King Saul died. Saul ruled well for a while, but later disobeyed the Lord and was rejected by him. It was then that the Lord instructed Samuel to anoint another to rule over Israel, and David, a shepherd boy, the son of Jesse, was the Lord’s choice.

However, David did not press his claim as the rightful king of Israel, preferring to wait until the Lord’s overruling providence s clearly indicated that the time had come for him to assume the responsibility. While Saul lived he bitterly persecuted David, and would have taken his life except for divine protection. But David was not embittered by this, and did not seek revenge. He acted on the principle expressed by the Lord, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.”—Rom. 12:19

Even when Saul died and no longer stood in the way of David’s ascension to the throne, David was not immediately accepted as king by all Israel. At first only Judah accepted him as the anointed of the Lord, and for seven years he reigned in Hebron. Then representatives of all the tribes interviewed him in Hebron and asked him to be king over all Israel. Then the government was set up in Jerusalem, and there he reigned for thirty-three years, making his total reign forty years in length.

The kingdom of Israel was in reality a theocracy; that is, a nation ruled by God. David was anointed to be king by a prophet of God, and he was God’s selection for the post. When at Hebron he was accepted as king over all Israel, the people’s representatives anointed him again, but in reality this was superfluous, although David did not object, probably reasoning that it would strengthen his position as ruler over all the tribes.

When representatives of all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, they paid tribute to his past achievements as a warrior and leader of Israel’s army during the time when Saul was still king. Indeed, it was the enthusiasm of the people over David’s bravery and skill as a soldier which had earlier helped to stir up jealousy in Saul’s heart against this youthful shepherd. This began when, following David’s slaying of the giant Goliath, the people shouted: “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”—I Sam. 18:7

David was recognized as a valiant soldier. Israel was at war throughout much of the forty years of his reign. This was in sharp contrast to his successor’s reign; that is, Solomon’s, which was characterized by peace. Nevertheless, David was more than a brave soldier and military strategist. More important was the fact that he was a faithful servant of God, one whom God affectionately spoke of as a man after his own heart.—Acts 13:22

Even David’s military success was due largely to the fact that God was with him. In II Samuel 8:14 we read that “the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.” This statement is made in connection with the information that he had conquered Edom and placed there an army of occupation, making servants out of the people. God had entered into a covenant with the nation of Israel, and Israel’s kings reigned as his representatives. Under these circumstances, they properly looked, to the Lord for guidance and help in battle, for Israel’s enemies were God’s enemies.

The kingdom of Israel was typical of the future kingdom of Christ, a divine rulership which will put down and destroy all the enemies of God, of righteousness, and of mankind; the last and greatest of them all being death. No other kingdom, and no other nation has ever held this unique position. With respect to the wars which have been fought between the opposing nations of Christendom, those on one side have had just as much right to claim God’s help as those on the other. The fact is that God has not been on either side, although for centuries the warring nations of Christendom have blasphemously claimed that he has.

David’s reign was, on the whole, one of justice and righteousness. Being a man after God’s own heart, we could hardly expect that it would be otherwise. He made mistakes, but was of a repentant disposition, and was always willing to acknowledge his wrongdoing, and make amends. This is one of the noblest qualities which anyone can possess. The determination to justify oneself in everything, whether it be right or wrong, is almost certain to lead to serious trouble in one’s relationships with others.

I Chronicles 22:17-19

IT HAS been the general custom of ruling families throughout the ages to wait until the incumbent ruler dies before his successor takes the throne, but this was not the case with David for while he was yet living he gave instructions that Solomon be anointed king in his place. David was “stricken in years” and realized that he was no longer able properly to take care of the affairs of state, so he arranged for Nathan the prophet, and Zadok the priest, to anoint his son Solomon to reign in his stead.—I Kings 1:32-35

David, was wholehearted in this, and did all he could to assure Solomon a successful and just reign, and one which would bring glory to God. Of first importance, he made it a matter of prayer. In one of the greatest prayers of all time, recorded in I Chronicles 29, David acknowledges the greatness, love, and keeping power of Jehovah, and that all which Israel possessed had been provided by him, therefore belonged to him.

Then he continues, “O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.”—vss. 18,19

“David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son,” our lesson states. (vs. 17) David had had one great ambition as king, which was to build a temple for the Lord. He was not permitted to do this, but was instructed that it would be done by Solomon, his son. In David’s mind, therefore, the outstanding achievement of Solomon’s reign was to be the building of this temple for which he had gathered the material. So to Solomon he said:

“Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever. Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and. do it.”—I Chron. 28:9,10

David was alert to note the providences of the Lord, and to learn the proper lessons from them. To the princes of Israel he said: “Is not the Lord your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side?” (vs. 18) He had been used by the Lord to put down Israel’s enemies, and looking ahead he could see a long period of peace for the nation. This would be the time, therefore, for Solomon to concentrate on building the temple.

Solomon did not continue faithful to the Lord throughout his reign, but he did build the temple, and dedicated it to the Lord. Sin always leads to disaster, and the latter years of Solomon’s reign prepared the way for the division of the kingdom of Israel after he died. Thus all twelve tribes of the nation remained united under the rule of kings only during the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon; and even during seven years of David’s reign, Judah alone recognized him as the rightful ruler of the nation.

QUESTIONS

Who was the first king of Israel, and why was David anointed to take his place?

How long was it after Saul’s death that David was acknowledged to be king by all Israel?

Was David’s ability as a military leader his only qualification as a king?

Why was it proper for David to look to the Lord for guidance in connection with Israel’s battles?

What was one of David’s noblest qualities?

In what ways did David show his interest in the coming reign of his son Solomon?

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