Day2
Week3
2 Samuel
”Then the men of Judah came and there anointed David as king over the house of Judah, and they informed David that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul. So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead saying, “May you be blessed by the Lord, you who have shown this loyalty to your Lord Saul by burying him. Now may the Lord show you loyalty and faithfulness, even as I deal kindly with you who have done this thing.“
2 Samuel 2:4-6 MEV
Cross references
1 Samuel 31:11-13;
2 Samuel 5:5;
1 Samuel 23:21;
Ruth 2:20
Loyalty and Blessings
David is anointed the new king of Judah.
His first act as king is to reach out to the northern town Jabesh Gilead. This town had been loyal to Saul from the beginning. It’s where Saul first gathered Israel’s armies.
David tries to bring together fractured Israel under his leadership. He honors their loyalty to Saul and invites them into a new alliance—a new covenant—with him.
Let’s take another look at this.
So Saul caused great distress for David for many years. Saul and his men threatened David’s life repeatedly and even attempted to kill him more than once. Now, with Saul out of the way David can accept his rightful place as king over God’s people. Saul got what he deserved,right?
By human standards that seems right, but by God’s standards David’s act honoring Saul was true worship.
When Saul rose to power, we saw his cowardice and rebellion. Saul hid from his own coronation (1 Samuel 10:22), and he refused to listen to God (1 Samuel 13:13).
That’s why as David rises to power, we’re shown his loyalty to God and His Kingdom. He would rather bless those who were loyal to God’s anointed than celebrate the death of his enemy.
David wished to honor who God had chosen and remain loyal to God’s Kingdom even if it cost him his own.
Loyalty and blessings go hand in hand.
Can you see the parallel here?
Jesus, like David, humbly considers God’s Kingdom as more important than giving his enemies what they’re owed (Philippians 2:8).
Even while being tortured, he forgives his captors (Luke 23:34). Jesus would rather die as God’s anointed than celebrate the death of his enemies.
Jesus is the unifying and humble King we need, and if you swear loyalty to him, he will faithfully lead you into his Kingdom where blessings flow like a river.
Action Step
May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to see the God who has appointed a King for his people. And may you see Jesus as the King we need to unite our world and lead us into his Kingdom.
What do you need today?
Ask your King.
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