04 The Anointing of Two Kings

Upon receiving word that both Saul and Jonathan had been killed, David assumed the posture of what might be called “unassuming leadership”.  Meaning that his first act, was to compose a song honoring Saul and Jonathan, and then he gave instruction that it be taught only to the people of Judah.

While many others, might have assumed that it was to be the moment for them to become the next king (after all, the Lord had already anointed him as such) – David did nothing of the kind.

Here, Second Samuel 2, we find David rather, assuming the role of the Lord’s follower, as he enquired of God, whether he should even leave his Philistine compound in Ziklag, and return to his homeland of Judah:

1 Inquiring of the Lord

2 Samuel 2:1

Even though David had fled to Philistia because of Saul’s intent to kill him, even Saul’s death wasn’t enough to convince David that he should return to Judah, therefore he placed the question to the Lord:

2 Samuel 2:1a

So, even though God had already chosen David to become Saul’s successor, David didn’t want to presume that this was the time for that to take place.  He wasn’t about to act presumptuously.

David asked two separate questions, God gave two separate answers.  First he asked whether he should return to Judah, and the Lord responded that he should.  Once secure with that information, David then asked the next obvious question, to what part of Judah should he go?  And the Lord instructed him to go to Hebron.

Hebron was centrally located in Judah, which would make it a strategic location from which to rule – again showing how the Lord had clearly mapped everything out.

2 David’s Obedience

Once again, David’s leadership was displayed through his obedience to the Lord:

2 Samuel 2:2-3

David along with his two wives (it should be noted that he did not have any children at this time), along with his 600 men and their families then obediently moved to Hebron and its environs.

Once again, David refrained from assuming it was time for him to become the new king, but was content to obediently follow the Lord, in the place where God had directed him.

Interestingly, it had been close to twenty years from the time when God had anointed him as Saul’s successor, and yet, David was still content to wait on the Lord.

By moving back to Judah, David and his men were in effect reintroducing and reestablishing themselves into Judean society, since they’d spent about 18 months living in Philistia.  That would also mean they had to reestablish the trust of the people of Judah.

3   David Anointed King

At some point (again it’s no known how long after their re-patriating) that the men of Judah anointed David as king:

2 Samuel 2:4-7

Even though it had been nearly two decades between God’s choosing and anointing of David, until he would know be ratified and anointed by the people of Judah, God had been at work the entire time.

Even while David had been living in the Philistine town of Ziklag, unbeknownst to their king, David had been assisting the people of Judah, by going on frequent raids against their enemies.  There’s no doubt, that those of Judah remembered those actions, which would have contributed to the people’s acceptance of David and his men, and their desire for him to become their next king.

After anointing David as king, some of the men of Judah advised him of how the men of Jabesh Gilead  had shown compassion by burying the greatly abused corpse of Saul, which the Philistines had grossly left displayed, handing on a city wall.

It’s not known exactly why the men of Judah advised David, and especially once he’d been anointed as king.  Some commentators have suggested that it was with the hope that David would have the men of Jabesh Gilead executed, for showing mercy for the evil king Saul.  While their intent is not mentioned in the passage, it is certain, that these men didn’t know David’s heart, and how he’d already shown mercy and forgiveness for Saul.

David praised the actions of those from Jabesh Gilead, and asked that the Lord would bless them, and then promised that he would repay them with kindness, since he’d now become Judah’s king.

4 Another King Established

While the people of Judah were undoubtedly rejoicing in the fact that they had a new king, the enemy was also at work, desiring to work against the work which God was beginning in Judah.

Abner who had been Saul’s military commander, then made Saul’s lone surviving son the king of all territories other than Judah, this establishing that there would be two reigning monarchs at the same time:

2 Samuel 2:8-11

Abner was certainly a picture of the enemy of God’s people (Satan), who clearly rejects God’s will and plan, but desired that his will would be done.  While Ishbosheth in many ways pictures many in the world, who simply follow the ways and whims of the world, simply “going with the flow”.

The key takeaway is that while God had chosen and anointed David to be king, Ishbosheth was made king by the hand and will of man.