I Chronicles 11:2
“In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be leader over My people Israel.’”
Saul and Johathon died in battle. David is to be the next king, that is according to God. This is the people speaking to David. They are refering to his youth; saying that he was the one who was performing the duties of a king. This may have been a year or two after the slaying of Goliath. He could have been around 15 years old. Possibly still growing. Saul didn’t see him as a threat yet.
The people are also affirming that they knew God had said David was to be king. Very interesting. They saw him as capable of being a king and they knew God had decreed that he be king, yet they had to tolerate Saul for 15 or so years. That must have been frustrating.
Now they are glad to embrace David as king. How encouraging that must have been for David. It’s not necessary, but it’s nice. It reminds me of Paul’s words in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”. We want others to get along with us and think well of us. It’s peaceful.
Sometimes we have to do unpopular things. Saul had a hard time with this. He was given the command to go to war and destroy all. He didn’t obey. Samuel asked about this. Here’s Saul’s answer in I Samuel 15:15, ‘He answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”’ He blames the people for his disobedience. He was afraid of looking foolish to them. “These are perfect sheep. Why destroy them?” That logic frightened Saul. I think of the phrase of Jacob Marley from the Christmas Carol, “Man of a worldly mind”. Saul had a worldly mind.
These verses share the mind set on the flesh. “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God”, (Romans 8:6-8). This was Saul’s life.
David’s mind was set on the Spirit. Even though those early years were tumultuous, his mind was at peace. He endured those years stronger. The people appreciated him. While thee were many kings in Israel and Judah, David sticks out as the best.
We will have times of favor, as we follow God. We will also have the difficult times. Those aren’t our markers. It’s to fear God. Like David we are to focus on the Spirit and to please Him. Do that and the other things seem to follow.
God can even give favor from those that oppose us. David said in Psalm 23, “Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies”. This is amazing. As we follow Christ and love our enemies, God turns things that He gives us favor with them. Outside of their gave, I smile. Who would have though we would have gotten respect from them. God does it.
Lord, thank You for the favor You give. While not necessary, it’s nice. You even allow favor to come from our enemies. A blessing from You.