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In Christ, Mark
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All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel and you will become their ruler.' "
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the Lord and they anointed David king over Israel.
David was thirty years old when he became king and he reigned forty years. In Hebron, he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
2 Samuel 5:1-5
This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
In chapter 3 of 2nd Samuel, we read where Abner and David came to an agreement. Abner, who had been the commander of Saul’s army but was seeking to form an alliance with David, promised to convince the Israelites to recognize David as their king. This would allow David to rule over the entire nation. In return, David asked that his wife, Michal, be returned to him.
And so this is the way things played out but unfortunately Abner didn’t get to see his end of the bargain because you’ll remember that he was murdered out of revenge by Joab at the end of the chapter.
Despite this, we see where God’s plan still came to full fruition in chapter 5 of this book as “all the tribes of Israel” come to David at Hebron and say:
“We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'"
And so with that, David and “all the elders of Israel” made a “compact…at Hebron before the Lord” and he was “anointed… king over Israel”, a reign that the scriptures tell us lasted thirty-three years beyond the seven years and six months he had ruled over Judah.
As we look closer at the content within these five verses, we find three main points about David found in the words of the Israelites present at his anointing. Let’s take a moment to examine each one.
1. The people of Israel were David’s flesh and blood.
"We are your own flesh and blood.”
We know that David was an Israelite, the son of Jesse of Bethlehem. And so to the Israelites, he was one of them…a brother who followed and served the same God…the almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses.
Indeed, David was family and this helped the Israelite people feel comfortable embracing him as their leader.
2. David was already a proven leader.
“In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.”
David had already displayed his bravery and fighting prowess at a very young age when he defeated the mammoth Philistine warrior named Goliath. Then, as he grew older, he further cemented his reputation through his many battle victories while leading Israel on their military campaigns. Saul might have been king but we see where the Israelites viewed David as a leader too, worthy of replacing Saul as their king.
3. God had appointed David to be king.
“And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel and you will become their ruler.'"
It goes without saying that of these three main points, this was the most critical and important. For the Israelites knew that David had been selected by God to be their ruler and shepherd…and therefore, if it was God’s will for David to be king, then it needed to be the will of the Israelite people as well.
And so it was as they anointed David as the king over all of Israel. They now had a shepherd…one who would protect and watch over them…one who would care for them and provide for their needs. Ironically, we remember that David was a shepherd boy when God chose him to follow Saul in the first place.
And so David knew all about being what it took to be a shepherd. It was in his blood and he had lots of experience in taking care of flocks that he was responsible for. He (David) also made it clear that he had a Shepherd as well (capital S) in the way of God who led and watched over him…a Shepherd who he would write these words:
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23
Indeed, David knew his Shepherd intimately. He understood that the Lord was the One who led him, guided him, protected him, comforted him, and ultimately anointed him shepherd His people. To accomplish this, all David had to do was carry out the direction of His God and guide His people the way He wanted.
Friends, this is all we need to do to in order to lead people in the Lord as well, first seeking God’s will and then leading people in the way He desires. In other words, we shepherd by first recognizing and then submitting ourselves to our Shepherd.
Well, it should be of little surprise that Jesus, God’s one and only Son, would also have words to share with us regarding this matter. Consider what He said in John’s Gospel:
“I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the Shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”
"I am the good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me — just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father — and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.” John 10:11-16
David knew his Shepherd and all He did for him. This helped him know how to be a proper shepherd himself.
As we read the words of our Savior…the good Shepherd…we’re reminded of all we gain from knowing Him in our lives.
For He knows us and we know Him.
He protects us from our enemies even if it means He must lay down His life for us.
He is willing to sacrifice everything for us, His sheep, because He loves us so very much.
Today and every day, let us give thanks that we are a part of Jesus’ flock, under the care of the good Shepherd who shows us how to shepherd others…just as David learned from God, His Shepherd.
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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