2 Samuel 5 -- David Becomes King

My commentary pointed out, "For perhaps 10 years, David was an exile in the wilderness of Judea, hiding from Saul and learning to trust the Lord more and more.  He had patiently waited for the Lord to give him the promised throne, and now that time had come.  It is through faith and patience that God's people inherit what He has promised, and David had trusted God in the most difficult circumstances."

This chapter and those that follow describe the steps David took to unite and strengthen the nation.  In this chapter, they were:  

     1st - "David accepted the crown ... In Deut. 17, the first and most important requirement was that the king was to be chosen by the Lord ... Saul had been the people's king, but he wasn't the Lord's first choice, for God had given him as a judgment against Israel because they wanted to be like other nations."

     2nd - "David established a new capital city," guided by God in how to attack and overcome Jerusalem, which was occupied by the Jebusites at that time.

     3rd - "David formed political alliances ... the Jews were warned not to form alliances with their neighbors that would compromise their integrity ... Phoenicians depended on Jewish farms for their food.  David interpreted King Hiram's kindness as another evidence that the Lord had indeed established him on the throne of Israel."

     ("Again though, Deut 17:17 prohibited Israel's kings from taking many wives, but David seemed to ignore this law ... He had children by at least eight wives plus many concubines ... Solomon also ignored this law, and both paid dearly for their disobedience.")

     4th - "David defeated the Philistines ... As he had done before, David sought the mind of the Lord in planning his attack ... Assured by the Lord that He would give Israel victory, David met the Philistines ... and forced them to retreat ... David gave God all the glory ... The Philistines returned to fight David a second time, and David sought the Lord's will a second time ... By this victory, Israel regained territory ... These two victories added greater glory to God and honor to His servant."

Patience and faith -- these two important qualities are often hard to hold onto.  In my own life in just the past two days, I've barely hung on, yet God has once again shown me how important they are, and once again He has answered prayers.  Thank You, Father, for sowing me in Your Word what I need for each day.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford