1 Chron11:1 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your God said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.'" 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
There is a real sense of togetherness derived from common purpose. There aren’t many greater common purposes than survival. As the elders and leaders of Israel assembled together with David at Hebron, their collective survival as a nation was at risk. Saul, that great cinematic wonder boy was dead. Saul had been everything Israel desired in a king. He was tall, head and shoulders above other men. He was good-looking. He was charismatic.
But as the days went by, people began to see another side of Saul. He was prideful, and only partially obedient to God on several occasions. (Partial obedience = disobedience.) Being the head had gone to his head, and Saul was passing from the scene even as he was on the scene.
One much less-suspected of being kingly material was emerging. His name: David. A name revered in the nation of Israel to this day. By the time of Saul’s death, David was anointed and positioned to replace Saul – by God’s sovereign arrangement. The people were aware of both his presence and his power, and so he became the only logical choice to turn to as far as they were concerned. David was God’s ordained man to take the people into a true kingdom of God under God – and not under man.
About 1,000 years after David, a new King emerged on the scene. Even though His name was Jesus, He identified Himself as the “Son of David” many times. He is often referred to as the “Son of David” by the gospel writers.
The reference and the comparison is clear. We, as the nation of Israel long before us, have been following after the ‘Sauls’ of this world. The ones who ‘look’ the part of what we think we should follow. The tall. The handsome. The charismatic. The shiny. The colorful. At some point in the life of every man comes the realization that their king ‘Saul’ is either dead or dying.
And then we see our true ‘King David’ for the first time. Our very survival is at stake. What a blessing to know that not only will our ‘King David’ save us – He is also bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh! Will you covenant with Him? He is ready and able.
- Pastor Bill
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