Fugitive

1 Samuel 18-26 reveals that Saul knows who God has picked to replace him. Instead of humbly accepting this, however, he tries to kill David and puts him on the run. If Saul had let things be, his kingdom would be more secure, but as it stood, Saul opened the way to foreign attack. David, for his part, does not try and take revenge, but pleads his case before Saul, showing that he is truly loyal. David is forced to flee the country to save his life, though, and Saul has driven away one of his best field commanders to his long time enemy, the Philistines.

God wants people who are faithful to lead His people. Ultimately, no one is good enough, and when we are asked to step down, we should not try and cling to power and privilege. When Moses was denied entry into Canaan, God picked a successor for him, and Moses obeyed God by installing Joshua in his place. However awkward it might have seemed, Saul should have done something similar with David.

Strategies

1 Samuel 27-31 finds David living in the land of the Philistines under the benevolence of Achish, who believes that David will do for him now what he used to do for Saul. Possibly hoping that David will ensure a victory over his former master, Achish goes to war against Saul. Saul, meanwhile, is scared to death, and facing certain defeat and death, consults a medium to talk to Samuel. Samuel reminds Saul that God has not changed His mind, and that death awaits him and his sons on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the Philistine lords talk Achish out of having David fight for him, fearing that he could defect to Saul in mid-battle. David and his men are sent back to Ziklag, finding it burned to the ground, and everything they owned plundered. They catch up to the Amalekite raiders who were responsible, and take back everything that was theirs.

Saul's three oldest sons are killed in battle, and Saul commits suicide. The men of Jabesh Gilead, who were earlier delivered by Saul, stop the desecration of his body and the body of his sons by the Philistines.

God is in control of human decision-making. We make plans with our own limited knowledge, but God uses this to advance His purposes for His own glory. What a wonderful reason to submit our plans to Him!

Rise to Power

2 Samuel 1-4 shows David as king of Judah, with friends all around him. All is not perfect, as Abner sets up Ishbosheth as king over the other 11 tribes. But Ishbosheth steadily loses control over his kingdom, and Abner defects to David before his untimely death at the hands of Joab. Ishbosheth is murdered shortly thereafter by his own officers, whom David executes for their actions. David may not care much for having people against him, but he doesn't sanction the killing of his rivals.

God doesn't need our help. He uses us for the glory of His kingdom, but He does so in a way that is consistent with His character. As David showed here, trust in God may seem strange, but in the end it is the course to take.

Dynasty and Empire

2 Samuel 5-10 finds David now as king over all Israel. Now David begins conquering neighboring kingdoms and cities, starting with the Jebusites, who occupy Jerusalem. After taking Jerusalem, David then defeats the Philistines, Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites, and Edomites, and paves the way for a lasting peace.

David also brings the ark to Jerusalem, learning on the way that safety precautions regarding its transportation cannot be ignored. He sets up a place for the ark and is concerned that his own house is better furnished than the place of God's ark. God comforts David in this and promises him that unlike Saul, David's dynasty will not end.

God is faithful to us even when we fail, and even though we could not possibly repay Him. He rewards those who are faithful to Him, and keeps His promises to us even after we are gone.

Trouble at Home

2 Samuel 11-18 shows that David, though consistently faithful, was not perfect. Staying home when his soldiers went to battle, David had the opportunity to watch a beautiful woman take a bath. Unfortunately, she was another man's wife, but David tries to get away with adultery anyway. Failing at that, he tries his hand at conspiracy to murder and succeeds. David may be able to cover up his actions at the moment, but the prophet Nathan shows him just how wrong he is. The sentence, death of the child fathered by David and continual strife among his children, unfold in the following chapters. Amnon rapes his sister Tamar and is murdered by Absalom; Absalom then usurps power from his father, taking the kingdom, the concubines, and the people; and Absalom is then killed by Joab.

Our humanity has plagued us every step of the way, and will do so until God establishes His eternal kingdom. Even though the temple has not yet been built in David's time, the covenant God makes with him is the last one God will make until Jeremiah's time, when the end of David's earthly kingdom in Judah is imminent. Now the people of Israel, and the kings who reign over them, must decide whther to trust in God or not. And this is our choice as well, for as long as we live.