2 Samuel 5:1-3 – David is God’s Choice
Normally when someone becomes king, it’s simply because they’re next in line, but here in 2nd Samuel 5 the royal family is changing from Saul’s line to David’s. One of the reasons the tribes of Israel give for recognising David as king is David has already been doing the job anyway (v.2). It was the king’s role to lead the people out in battle. Yet they acknowledge here that even when Saul had been king, David had been the one doing that anyway.
While this isn’t a major point of the chapter, there is a bigger principle here about life and service in the kingdom of God. If someone is cut out by God for a particular role in the church, then they will demonstrate that long before they’re formally called to the task. Paul writes to Timothy about deacons and says ‘let a deacon be tested first’. In other words, before someone is given a role, there should already be evidence that they can fulfil it. A church can’t actually make anyone an elder or deacon, or at least they can only do so in name. Elders and deacons are gifts from God. Our only responsibility as congregations is simply to publicly recognise those whom God himself has already called and equipped to that role.
In fact, that’s actually the other reason that the leaders of the tribes of Israel give for accepting David as king in v2. They remind David: ‘The LORD said to you: ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel’. They acknowledge what Abner had initially refused to acknowledge. They acknowledge what Ish-bosheth had persistently refused to acknowledge. That is that David was God’s choice. That’s what we’re doing when we elect elders and deacons in the church. We’re simply looking for men who it’s clear from their character and gifts that God has already chosen. And if that’s clear, then it would be foolish for either the congregation, or the man himself, to fight against that. It wouldn’t have been humble for David to turn round here and say: ‘You know, I don’t really think I’m the man for the job’. Because the leaders of the tribes are simply recognising him as the one God has already chosen.
Question
- What are two reasons the people give for making David king?
Prayer Points
- Pray that God would raise up men to be elders and deacons.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.