Day 7

KING AT LAST

"Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it." Psalm 37:34

It must not be forgotten that over the forty years of his reign Saul had won some remarkable victories, achieved the welding together of a group of tribes into a proud nation and shown much personal courage on many occasions. Had he been faithful to God his reign would have been glorious. Even in death he was still rightly acknowledged as "the Lord's anointed" (2 Sam. 1:14).

David had spent long years as an outcast, hunted as a traitor because of Saul's fear and suspicion in spite of his avowed loyalty. One might expect him to show at least relief at Saul's death and perhaps rejoicing. But 2 Samuel 1 shows clearly and poignantly David's intense grief for both Saul and Jonathan (v17-27). It shows how sincere was his loyalty and the quality of the successor God had chosen!

Acts 13:21 suggests Saul reigned for 40 years and some versions of 1 Sam 13:1 say he reigned for 42 years. Why did God allow him to remain king for so long after his rejection?

What characteristics marked David as a worthy successor?

Does David warrant the accolade of Acts 13:22 at this point?

What does God expect from his people today? Is it any different from what he asked of David? See Micah 6:8 and 1 John 2:1