SHEPHERD AND KING
Opening Prayer
Lord Almighty, the Shepherd-King, You are with me now. Help me to serve You faithfully.
Read 1 Chronicles 11:1–9
David Becomes King Over Israel
11 All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”
3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, he made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.
David Conquers Jerusalem
4 David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there 5 said to David, “You will not get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.
6 David had said, “Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief.” Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command.
7 David then took up residence in the fortress, and so it was called the City of David. 8 He built up the city around it, from the terraces[a] to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. 9 And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord Almighty was with him.
Footnotes:
a 1 Chronicles 11:8 Or the Millo
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Ephesians 1:4 tells us that we were chosen. How does that knowledge impact the way you pray and live today?The Lord also chose David—let’s consider why. He certainly seems to be the democratic choice (1) as well as God’s anointed. It’s wonderful when the people at large happily agree with the wisdom of the Almighty. That is the case here, for several reasons.
Looking back from our point in time, as the Israelites cannot, we know that David is related not only to them, but God’s incarnate Son was his descendant. David’s gifts as a military leader are not in doubt. However, he has an even more special qualification, another connection with his far-greater descendant. David is a shepherd of God’s people (2). Of course, that was his original job when Samuel first headhunted him for the kingship.
Like many of the great people of history, and like Jesus himself, David’s human origins are humble ones (1 Sam. 16:11). Now his friends and followers have the good sense to recognize that their king needs to be not only an up-front leader but also the one who cares for and nurtures his flock.
“The Lord Almighty was with him” (9). Despite David’s deep flaws, he was chosen by God, not only to protect and care for God’s people, but also to be in his very person a sort of precursor to the true leader of God’s people, the Shepherd-King who would come.
Apply
Have you ever realized that God has much bigger plans for you than you have ever had for yourself? Are you holding onto your plans or allowing God to have his way in you? Do you need to choose today?
Closing prayer
Sovereign God, I know the plans You have for me are good (Jer. 29:11). Teach me how to trust Your hand at work.
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