DAVID...KING OF JUDAH!

After years of running from Saul, David is finally crowned king of Judah (Israel).  In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" And the Lord answered, "Go up!  Go to Hebron!"


So David went up with all his family and the families of the men who had stayed with him.  The men of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David king over the house of Judah. (The rest of Israel did not accept David as king for nearly eight more years.)  David publicly thanked the men who had buried Saul, for they had risked their lives to do so.  Still, the two sides who had made battle against one another, one side for Saul, the other for David, these two continued to pursue one another in war. And this war would last a long time, a war between those who had followed Saul and those who still followed David, but David grew stronger and stronger while Abner, fighting for Saul's men, grew weaker. There seemed to be everlasting jealousy between the warriors that seemed would never die.


Finally, the men who had warred against  one another and their leaders agreed to set aside their differences and come together under David's Kingship which had flourished during this time.  All the tribes of Israel came to David and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.  In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.  And the Lord spoke to you and said, "You will shepherd my people Israel.. and you will become their ruler.""  David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.  


Now, a tribe named the Jebusites lived in Jerusalem, and David and his men marched to Jerusalem to capture the fortress of Zion.  They succeeded and the fortress became "the City of David."  He built up the area around it.  Hiram king of Tyre sent  cedar logs, carpenters and stonemasons to build a palace for David, and David knew the Lord had meant him to be king.  And David did not do any fighting unless the Lord sent him to do so, his goods and servants increasing.


David, in thanksgiving to God, proceeded to have the ark of God brought from the place where it had been hidden in Israel, to the City of David.  But, one of the oxen stumbled while pulling the cart carrying the Ark and one of the carriers touched it.  God struck the man down and David became angry at God! Because of this, David feared the Lord and left the ark in another safe place for three months,  the household of Obesd-Edom a Gittite, and the Lord blessed him and his household.  It was found that wherever the Ark went, the persons were blessed.  So, David desired the Ark to be with him in the City of David.


That day happened not too long afterward.  David danced behind the ark as it was carried into Jerusalem, and the people loved it.  Except for Michel...remember her?...she was the daughter of Saul who was given to David in marriage because of his fearlessness in battle.  And she now hated David.


Study/ "Whatever the reason Michal was contemptible of David dancing behind the Ark, the contempt she felt toward her first husband escalated and she ended up childless for life with her second husband.  Feelings of bitterness and resentment that go unchecked will destroy a relationship.  We must deal with our  feelings before they escalate into open warfare."


I couldn't agree more.  Yet I feel sorry for Michal, spoiled by her father and unable to accept David who lived in caves and on horseback.  Yet it was her father who wanted David dead and a man can't stand still and wait for death to come!!  Poor Michal, a very unhappy, jealous woman.


I guess I like the stay at home type, too. 


Jo INMN