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David was chosen and anointed by God through Samuel to be the king of Israel—16:1, 12-13:
A
After David slew Goliath, he was praised by the women of Israel as higher than Saul (18:7), but with David there is no hint that he was made proud or that he became ambitious for the kingship; when David was under the trial of Saul's persecution, he was approved to be the right one to carry out God's economy by establishing the kingdom of God on earth.
B
When David was under Saul's persecution, he had two chances to destroy Saul, but David would not do this because of his fear of God in that Saul was God's anointed; this indicates that David maintained a good order in God's kingdom—chs. 24 and 26; cf. Rom. 12:3.
C
No doubt, David learned a lot regarding not avenging himself but denying himself for the fulfilling of God's purpose, on the basis that he was a man according to God's heart—1 Sam. 13:14a.
D
David is a typical model of a genuine child of Israel in the enjoyment of the good land promised and given by God to His chosen people; he trusted in God and walked with God according to His sovereignty and according to His leading and instruction in all his trials; David expected to remain in the good land, sharing in God's inheritance and serving Him—17:36-37; 23:14-16; 30:6b-10; 26:19b.
E
David's sincere trust in God and his faithful walk with God qualified him fully to enjoy the good land to a high level, even up to the kingship according to God's heart with a kingdom that became the kingdom of God on the earth; David was one with God; what was his was God's, and what was God's was his; he and God had only one kingdom; such a one enjoyed the good land, typifying Christ, to the uttermost.
F
After the death of Saul, "there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker" (2 Sam. 3:1); David was established by God as king with his kingdom exalted for the sake of God's people Israel (5:6-25); furthermore, "David became greater and greater; and Jehovah the God of hosts was with him" (v. 10); this indicates that David had God's presence.
G
If in any matter we do not have the inner sense that the Lord is with us, we must be careful and reconsider our way (1 Sam. 16:14); in the Lord's recovery, whenever we do anything, we must take care of the sense of the Lord's presence; we all need to learn the lesson of caring for two things: the inward presence of God and the outward confirmation in our environment (cf. 2 Sam. 5:11-12).
Morning Nourishment
1 Sam. 13:14 …Jehovah has sought a man according to His heart for Himself, and Jehovah has appointed him ruler over His people…30:6…But David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.
2 Sam. 5:10 And David became greater and greater; and Jehovah the God of hosts was with him.
David was chosen and anointed by God through Samuel (1 Sam. 16:1, 12-13). After David slew Goliath he was praised by the women of Israel as higher than Saul (18:7). With David there is no hint that he was made proud nor that he became ambitious for the kingship.
After David was anointed and before he was enthroned as the king of Israel, he went through the trial of Saul’s persecution for about seven years, from about 1063—1057 B.C. While he was under the trial, he was approved to be the right one to carry out God’s economy by establishing the kingdom of God on the earth.
When David was under Saul’s persecution, he had two chances to destroy Saul. However, David would not do this because of his fear of God in that Saul was God’s anointed (chs. 24, 26). The fact that David would not do anything to damage God’s anointed indicates that David maintained a good order in God’s kingdom. (Life-study of 1 & 2 Samuel, pp. 130-131)
Today’s Reading
At the death of Saul David did not rejoice but rather sentenced to death the reporter of Saul’s death and then sang a dirge praising and uplifting Saul to the uttermost (2 Sam. 1). No doubt, David learned a lot regarding not avenging himself but denying himself for the fulfilling of God’s purpose, on the basis that he was a man according to God’s heart (1 Sam. 13:14a).David was a person who trusted in God and walked according to God’s sovereignty in all his trials (17:36-37; 23:14-16; 30:6b-10). While he was under trial, he sought God’s leading. He was one with God and behaved according to God.
David is a typical model of a genuine child of Israel in the enjoyment of the good land promised and given by God to His chosen people, by trusting in God and walking with God according to His leading and instruction. David expected to remain in the good land and share in Jehovah’s inheritance and serve Him (26:19b). His sincere trust in God and his faithful walk with God qualified him fully to enjoy the good land to a high level, even up to the kingship in the good land according to God’s heart with a kingdom which became the kingdom of God on the earth. David was one with God. What was his was God’s, and what was God’s was his. He and God had only one kingdom. Such a one enjoyed the good land, Christ, to the uttermost.
David’s being established by God is seen…in the building of Zion as his stronghold and of Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:9). Furthermore, “David became greater and greater; and Jehovah the God of hosts was with him” (v. 10). This indicates that David had God’s presence. In serving the Lord, we need to have the assurance that we have His presence. If we are really following the Lord for the fulfillment of His economy, we will certainly have His presence. If in any matter we do not have the inner sense that the Lord is with us, we must be careful and consider our way…. In the Lord’s recovery, whenever we do anything, we must take care of the sense of the Lord’s presence.
Everything concerning David was arranged under God’s sovereign direction to accomplish one thing: the building up of His kingdom in His elect through the proper person. At that time the proper person was David, but today it should be the people in the Lord’s recovery…. In this age…the particular thing that God intends to accomplish is to recover everything that has been lost and is missing in today’s worldly Christianity. (Life-study of 1 & 2 Samuel, pp. 131-132, 142, 144)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1964, vol. 4, “The Vision of God’s Building,” ch. 11