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David Becomes King
(1 Chronicles 11.1-3)
1Israel's leaders met with David at Hebron and said, “We are your relatives. 2Even when Saul was king, you led our nation in battle. And the Lord promised that someday you would rule Israel and take care of us like a shepherd.”
3During the meeting, David made an agreement with the leaders and asked the Lord to be their witness. Then the leaders poured olive oil on David's head to show that he was now the king of Israel.
4 David was 30 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 40 years. 5He lived in Hebron for the first seven and a half years and ruled only Judah. Then he moved to Jerusalem, where he ruled both Israel and Judah for 33 years.
How David Captured
(1 Chronicles 11.4-9; 14.1,2)
6 The Jebusites lived in Jerusalem, and David led his army there to attack them. The Jebusites did not think he could get in, so they told him, “You can't get in here! We could keep you out, even if we couldn't see or walk!”
7-9David told his troops, “You will have to go up through the water tunnel to get those Jebusites. I hate people like them who can't walk or see.”
That's why there is still a rule that says, “Only people who can walk and see are allowed in the temple.”
David captured the fortress on Mount Zion, then he moved there and named it David's City. He had the city rebuilt, starting with the landfill to the east. 10David became a great and strong ruler, because the Lord All-Powerful was on his side.
Reflect
Have you ever tried to resist what you clearly knew was God’s plan? What were the results? Frustration? Loss? Disappointment? Confusion? All of these and more?
In this text, we read of the final resolution of the leaders of Israel to accept God’s directive to have David serve as king of his chosen people. But reaching this resolution took years and cost plenty.
And what was the result of this final resolution? While the text does not speak of an inner sense of peace or joy, there most likely was on the part of the supporters of Saul’s family as they soon began to witness the forward movement of God’s plan and his ultimate blessing on their decision to accept it.
It is never advisable to resist God’s plan. Instead, accept it and enjoy the benefits of his blessing.
Respond
Thank you God that you do have a plan for me and the ones I love. Help me to clearly understand your plan for me and give me the courage to accept it.
Jon Ohlhauser
Jon was born in Calgary, Alberta but shortly after, moved to Carbon, Alberta where the family farmed. Jon is currently President of Hope College in Drumheller, a community based, not-for-profit school that focuses on building people and community. Jon holds a Ph.D. in Communication and has held various faculty and administrative positions in post-secondary education in New Brunswick, Ontario and Alberta. He also served as a legislative speech writer in Edmonton for a number of ML A’s. Jon has been married to Jeneanne for 23 years and they reside on an acreage near Drumheller with their 7 children. Jon enjoys the challenge of living a healthy and active lifestyle and is currently a registered, competitive amateur boxer.