What events led to David becoming king after Saul?

The journey of David from a young shepherd boy to the king of Israel is a fascinating narrative filled with divine orchestration, human courage, and moral lessons. The events that led to David becoming king after Saul are meticulously recorded in the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel, and they reveal much about God's sovereignty, human frailty, and the unfolding of divine promises.

The story begins with the reign of Saul, Israel's first king. Saul was chosen by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1). Initially, Saul showed promise as a leader, but his reign was marred by disobedience and a failure to follow God's commands. One of the pivotal moments that signaled the end of Saul's favor with God was his incomplete obedience in the battle against the Amalekites. God had commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions, but Saul spared their king, Agag, and kept the best of the livestock (1 Samuel 15:9). This act of disobedience led to a stern rebuke from Samuel, who declared that God had rejected Saul as king (1 Samuel 15:26).

This rejection set the stage for David's rise. God instructed Samuel to anoint a new king from the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1). Samuel obeyed and, after evaluating Jesse's sons, was led by God to anoint the youngest, David, who was tending sheep at the time (1 Samuel 16:12-13). This anointing was done in secret, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day forward, signifying God's choice and blessing.

David's introduction to the royal court came through his musical talent. Saul, tormented by an evil spirit, found relief in David's harp playing (1 Samuel 16:23). This brought David into close proximity with Saul and his court, though Saul was unaware of David's future role as his successor. David's reputation grew further when he courageously defeated the Philistine giant, Goliath, with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17:49). This victory not only demonstrated David's faith in God but also endeared him to the people of Israel and to Saul's son, Jonathan, who formed a deep and loyal friendship with David (1 Samuel 18:1-4).

However, Saul's initial favor towards David turned to jealousy and fear as David's military successes and popularity grew. The women of Israel sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7), which fueled Saul's paranoia. Saul's attempts to kill David began in earnest, and David was forced to flee for his life. Despite being pursued relentlessly by Saul, David consistently showed respect for Saul's position as the Lord's anointed king. On two notable occasions, David had the opportunity to kill Saul but refrained, citing his unwillingness to harm the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 24:6, 1 Samuel 26:9).

David's time as a fugitive was marked by his reliance on God for protection and guidance. He gathered a band of loyal followers and lived among the Philistines for a time, even feigning allegiance to them to survive (1 Samuel 27). Throughout these trials, David sought God's will and displayed a heart of humility and trust in God's timing.

The turning point came with the tragic end of Saul's reign. The Philistines mounted a significant attack against Israel, and in the ensuing battle on Mount Gilboa, Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, were killed (1 Samuel 31:6). Saul's death left a power vacuum and a divided nation. David, who had been living in Ziklag, a Philistine city, received news of Saul's death through an Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul at his own request to avoid capture (2 Samuel 1:10). David mourned deeply for Saul and Jonathan, demonstrating his respect and love for them despite Saul's pursuit of him.

Following Saul's death, David inquired of the Lord whether he should go up to any of the cities of Judah. God directed him to Hebron, where the men of Judah anointed David as king over the house of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4). This began David's reign, but he was initially only king over the southern tribe of Judah. The northern tribes of Israel followed Ish-Bosheth, Saul's surviving son, leading to a period of civil war between the house of Saul and the house of David (2 Samuel 3).

The conflict between the two houses was marked by intrigue and shifting allegiances. Abner, the commander of Saul's army, initially supported Ish-Bosheth but eventually defected to David's side after a falling out with Ish-Bosheth (2 Samuel 3:6-11). Abner's support was crucial in bringing the northern tribes to recognize David's kingship. However, Abner was murdered by Joab, David's commander, in an act of personal vengeance (2 Samuel 3:27). David publicly mourned Abner's death, distancing himself from the act and showing his commitment to justice and unity.

Ish-Bosheth's reign was short-lived, as he was assassinated by two of his own men (2 Samuel 4:5-7). The assassins brought his head to David, expecting a reward, but David condemned their treachery and had them executed (2 Samuel 4:12). This act further demonstrated David's commitment to justice and his refusal to gain power through unrighteous means.

With Ish-Bosheth's death, the elders of Israel came to David at Hebron and anointed him king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:3). David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years, first in Hebron over Judah for seven and a half years, and then in Jerusalem over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years (2 Samuel 5:4-5). David's kingship was marked by his desire to unify the nation and establish Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Israel. He captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his capital (2 Samuel 5:6-9), bringing the Ark of the Covenant there and establishing it as the religious heart of the nation (2 Samuel 6).

David's journey to kingship is a testament to God's providence and the importance of a heart aligned with God's will. Despite numerous challenges and opportunities to seize power through force, David consistently sought God's guidance and displayed a deep respect for God's anointed leaders. His rise to power was marked by patience, faith, and a commitment to justice, qualities that would define his reign and leave a lasting legacy for Israel.

David's story also foreshadows the coming of Jesus Christ, the ultimate anointed King. Like David, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, faced rejection and persecution, and ultimately established a kingdom not through force but through sacrificial love and obedience to God's will. David's life points us to the greater David, Jesus, who reigns eternally as King of kings and Lord of lords.