David King of Israel

After the death of Saul we are into the book of II Samuel. David returns from defeating the Amalekites and learns of Saul and Jonathon's death. After he mourns he comes to God and to see what he should next:

II Samuel 2
:1 And it came to pass after this, [the death and mourning of Saul and Jonathon]
    that David enquired of the LORD, saying,
        Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?
    And the LORD said unto him,
        Go up.
    And David said,
        Whither shall I go up?
    And he said,
        Unto Hebron.
:2 So David went up thither,
    and his two wives also,
        Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,
        and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.
:3 And his men that were with him did David bring up,
        every man with his household:
    and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
:4a And the men of Judah came,
    and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah . . .

David was made king over Judah only. Abner, the captain of Saul's army, sets up Ishbosheth, Saul's son, to be king over Israel. Ishbosheth was 40 years old at this time and the Word of God tells us he reigned only 2 years (2:10). This division caused a war between the house of Saul and the house of David, a civil war. However, God was with David and his household grew strong while Saul's weakened without the presence of God. One day Ishbosheth accuses Abner of sleeping with one of his concubines and Abner is offended and goes to talk with David about bringing all of Israel under David's reign. There was probably more that went on between Ishbosheth and Abner than this, but this was the last straw. After a deal is agreed upon and Abner leaves he is then killed by avengers of blood (Abner had killed Joab's brother in battle so Joab killed Abner-chapter 3). Not too long afterwards men rose up against Ishbosheth and killed him (chapter 4).

II Samuel 5
:1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying,
        Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
:2 Also in time past,
        when Saul was king over us,
    thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel:
    and the LORD said to thee,
        Thou shalt feed my people Israel,
        and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron;
    and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD:
    and they anointed David king over Israel.
:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign,
    and he reigned forty years.
:5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months:
    and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

 This makes David quite young when he was in battle and running from Saul. If David was truly 12-13 when he killed Goliath and about 17 when he went to battle and slew his 'ten thousands' that means he eluded Saul and his armies for over 10 years. He faithfully held fast to the promise from God that he was going to be king over Israel and he let God establish his throne. He didn't raise his hand against God's anointed and take it.

Geography Lesson : God tells us that David was living in Hebron which is west of the central part of the Dead Sea. David then moves north-northwest about 22 miles [about 32 km] to Zion which is also called the city of David, Jerusalem. This is in the hill country of Judah where the hills are over 3,000 feet (1000 meters) above sea level and valleys are at about 1500 feet (500 meters). Jerusalem is also located on the Judean/Israelite border.

:10 And David went on,
    and grew great,
    and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

    David was loyal to God and looked to Him for guidance. When the Philistines came out against David he didn't trust in the large army that he had he went to God first.

:17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel,
    all the Philistines came up to seek David;
    and David heard of it,
    and went down to the hold.
:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
        [a valley southwest of Jerusalem]
:19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying,
        Shall I go up to the Philistines?
        wilt thou deliver them into mine hand?
    And the LORD said unto David,
        Go up:
            for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
:20 And David came to Baalperazim,
    and David smote them there, and said,
        The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me,
        as the breach of waters.
    Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.
:21 And there they left their images, [Philistines left their idols]
    and David and his men burned them.
:22 And the Philistines came up yet again,
    and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
:23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said,
        Thou shalt not go up;
        but fetch a compass behind them,
        and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
:24 And let it be,
    when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,
    that then thou shalt bestir thyself:
    for then shall the LORD go out before thee,
        to smite the host of the Philistines.
:25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him;
    and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
        [a little over 20 miles or 33 km]

There is a very important spiritual principle here. David was in a similar situation with the Philistines two times yet he asked God what he should do both times. He didn't apply the revelation that God gave him the first time to the second similar situation. When God gives us specific instructions that is for that particular time we cannot apply it to other situations. If David would have not asked God the second time the Philistines came up against Israel he wouldn't of known to come up behind them and wait for wind in the mulberry trees so God would bear His arm to defeat them. God told him something different the second time, basically, to ambush them. And because David did what God told him to do Israel was successful.

James 1
:5 If any of you lack wisdom,
    let him ask of God,
        that giveth to all men liberally,
        and upbraideth not;
    and it shall be given him.

1 John 3
:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not,
    then have we confidence toward God.
:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him,
    because we keep his commandments,
    and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

David frequently went to God to ask for wisdom and help. He also praised God frequently. David didn't always seek God's guidance and when he didn't the outcome was miserable. We will see some of the consequences of his lapses in believing later on. But the point to make here is to go to God with your decisions and situations. It doesn't have to be of a kingly magnitude to qualify for Godly wisdom. If God can provide for the sparrow and lilies of the field how much more is he interested in you, His beloved and masterpiece.

I John 5
:11 And this is the record,
    that God hath given to us eternal life,
    and this life is in his Son.
:12 He that hath the Son hath life;
    and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;
    that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
    and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him,
    that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
:15 And if we know that he hear us,
        whatsoever we ask,
    we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.