DEVOTIONAL

We are back! The story continues to follow the shepherd David that the Lord anoints as the next King of Israel. David is the youngest of his brothers and the unexpected choice, but the sovereign power of the Lord prevails. In 1 Samuel, we saw how the Lord continued to physically protect and nourish David mentally and spiritually through the attacks of the enemy. The new series that starts today flips between 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles based on how they are written chronologically.

The book of 2 Samuel spans across the forty-year reign of David over Judah and then Israel. If you thought 1 Samuel was filled with action-packed drama, buckle up. David takes his official place as king at the young age of thirty. As you read through 2 Samuel, it helps me to remember David’s age and context of where the events fall in the full scope of his life. The beauty that unfolds by the Lord is how Israel’s territory that was once diminished under King Saul expands under King David. The Lord gives more and more favor to David. And David receives the Lord’s favor with upmost humility. This is so hard to live out. David has no problem sleighing actual giants across enemy lines. We witnessed that in 1 Samuel. However, I noticed the biggest giant David faces is the sin wrestling inside of him.

Q: What causes the sin wrestling inside of us to win? Is there a sin you need to confess to close friends or a minister to diffuse its power over your life?

David’s heart is ripe for the Lord when he is called to be king. When David takes official reign after Saul dies, David desires for his motivations and meditations to please the Lord. The legacy David carries as “king of war” is completely opposite of what his son Solomon will be known for. In these physical battles, King David has the Lord and faithful mighty men claiming each victory. In 2 Samuel a theme playing in the background through each situation King David faces is the faithfulness of the Lord’s people behind their King David who is a man after God’s own heart. The leadership of Israel’s King, whether it is Saul or David, is quickly evident by how the people respond. And David starts leading from a place tucked closely next to the Lord. Let’s pick up in 2 Samuel 1-4.

The book opens with a somber reaction from David as word spreads that King Saul and Jonathan are dead. In good ole David fashion, he writes a song to express his grief (1:19-27). With the death of King Saul, Israel is without an official king. And here is where division, jealousy, and absolute madness ensues. Judah (southern territory of Israel) anoints David as king, but other people think Saul’s only remaining son Ish-bosheth should be king. Therefore, Ish-bosheth is anointed as king of Israel (northern territory of Israel) which is between Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. The duel for power begins between the house of Saul and the house of David for seven years.

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 3:1

My first thought is David gets no reprieve. Where is the break from constant attacks? How in the world has David not walked away? Is the Lord not doing right by David anointing him as king and making him go through all of this? And then David replies in 4:9, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity” that gut checks me. Right. This is about the Lord, not me. This is about the power of the Lord and not how great I think I am. During real adversity after David escapes the sword of King Saul in 1 Samuel, David speaks with credibility and humility. David takes place as king knowing that he has limits. He has felt depleted. He has asked the Lord for guidance and protection countless times. David has experienced how the Lord prevails in every circumstance. The Lord brings hope when life feels hopeless.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight; O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

After the events in 2 Samuel 1-4, David writes Psalm 19 that fits in place like a glove as David moves into position as king. David titles the psalm “The Law of the Lord is Perfect” that tells us the focus of David’s heart and mind as he begins to lead as king. In 2021, when I read Psalm 19 after the passage in 2 Samuel, I summarized Psalm 19 “David’s anthem” as king. As creation points back to their Creator God and the written law of God is proven 

blameless, David wants these reminders to be the foundation of his leadership as king. David ends the psalm in verse 14 with a commitment and confession, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight; O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” This could be a public and personal commitment from David. I do not know. The word “acceptable” is language used for sacrifice. David gives all of himself to the Lord for continued use however the Lord plans. This shows a trustworthy heart in the Lord. What a sign of humility and sanctification in the Lord to have your motivations (internal workings) and what actually comes out in word and action align with the law of the Lord. I want David’s anthem for my life. I want my life to be an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord. For His gain, not mine. For His glory, not mine. Different seasons of life make this harder than others. As we continue to read in 2 Samuel, David does not live out this anthem perfectly, but guess what? He wants to. David is motivated by the faithfulness of the Lord to lean in and say “yes Lord” to the next thing in front of him. The good news is this is all the Lord asks of us too.

Q: Where do you see the Lord’s faithfulness repeatedly over the last 2-5 years? Celebrate that!

Q: Are you weary and in need of a restart? Write out Psalm 19:14 and define practical ways your words and motivations can change to please the Lord.