Year of the Bible: Part Five of Twelve Paraugs

David Takes Leadership in Judah

It is rare to find someone who loves change. Transitions are complex and trigger much anxiety in people. David found himself in a place of change after Saul and Jonathan died in battle. The IVP Bible Background Commentary and Dr. Tony Evans give us a bigger picture of the details of David ascent to Israel’s throne. David took time to mourn Saul and especially his best friend Jonathan, but after the mourning period, it was time to move forward with the purpose for which God had anointed him.

Up to that point, David had been making inquiries of the Lord through the priest Abiathar, using the ephod. This process included asking yes-no questions, and David asked God if it was time to start taking over. God said to go, but David didn’t make assumptions. He then asked, “where?” and God indicated Hebron.

Hebron was centrally located in Judah, one of the region’s most important towns. It made sense that God sent David there because it would be in the middle of his rule. He got support from men of Jabesh-Gilead, who had been loyal to Saul, gaining their allegiance to him as king. David maintained a respectful posture toward King Saul and continued his pattern of letting God establish him, without political posturing or flexing his anointing. Now, not everyone agreed that David was the next leader.

Abner, Saul’s cousin and commander-in-chief, decided David was not a rightful ruler. Maybe he had his own political aspirations, but he hid any of those by putting Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth, on the throne with much of the northern tribe’s support. Ish-Bosheth’s name meant “man of shame,” so he was not likely a strong leader—just what Abner needed to lead from behind the scenes.

We see that even with God leading David, there were still players in the midst who disagreed with God’s calling on his life. It was many years before David was king of all Israel. Even in the face of the defeat of his enemy Saul, he was not fully established in his calling.

Question: Are you waiting for God to bring you fully into a call He has placed on your life? How well are you waiting?

Prayer: David asked God if it was time to move. God said “go” and David asked “where?” Making assumptions about what God means can be a dangerous move. Take some time to ask God if it is time to move. Listen and ask follow-up questions that allow Him to take the lead in your life. If He says to remain still, do that and ask Him for help in waiting well. David was imperfect, but he forced himself to be patient with God’s timing. We do well to learn from his example.