1Ch 11:2 | KingComments | STEP | The events in 1 Chronicles 11-20 take place in the period from 1003-995 BC. In that time David grows to the height of his power. All that has happened before the people come to David in Hebron is passed over tacitly. The faults and suffering of David are not mentioned. History begins by presenting what constitutes the power and glory of the kingdom of David. We can connect these histories with the future establishment of the power of Christ, the Son of David, on earth. Here all Israel comes to anoint David king and not, as is described in 2 Samuel, first the two tribes and then all the tribes ( ; ). From now until the end of this book (1 Chronicles 11-29) it is about David. The whole people know that they are his bones and his flesh. In this we can recognize what the New Testament people of God, the church, can say to Christ in the awareness of their close union with Him. In Hebrews 2 this union is expressed by the Lord Jesus ( ). Our union with Him is made possible because He “partook of blood and flesh” ( ), but “without sin” ( ). There is a reminder of what David did for the people before, when Saul was king over them ( ). We see here a picture of what the Lord Jesus did in our life in the past. He has made sure that we have not perished under the rule of satan and the flesh, of which Saul is a picture. When Saul reigned, the true blessing came in reality from David. David was the one who “led out and brought in” the people. This reminds us of the words of the Lord Jesus which He pronounces as the good Shepherd ( ). Therefore it is also good to see that the LORD, the God of David, wants David in the first place to be a shepherd for His people. Then and thereby he can also be king . This applies fully to the true David, the Lord Jesus ( ). First and foremost is the care of God’s people, and then comes the reign. Be shepherd first, then become king. This is also the case in the life of the Lord Jesus. He is now the good Shepherd, while He will soon openly accept His kingship. For us it coincides. We will gladly acknowledge His dominion over our lives now because He has given His life for us as the good Shepherd and also cares for us every day as the chief Shepherd. Surely there is no one we would rather submit to than to Someone Who has given Himself so for us and Who takes care of us every day, is there? There is also much to be learned from this by all those who have a certain authority over others. We can think of the husband’s attitude toward his wife and the attitude of parents toward their children. It is also important for the acknowledgment of authority in the church of God. If God has given persons a place of authority, they can only exercise that authority properly if they know for themselves what it is to serve, to be the least and to care for those entrusted to them. Such persons show the image of the Lord Jesus. Subservience to someone who cares about you, who cares for you with love is much easier, than to someone who only wants to play the boss over you and abuses his position of authority for that. In God’s sight, authority is never separated from care and love, and this has become perfectly visible in the Lord Jesus. After the declaration of all people, the elders come to David as the representatives of all Israel ( ). David makes with them “a covenant … before the LORD”. He will have committed himself to be a good king for his people and to reign in accordance with God’s law for the king ( ; cf. ). In so doing, he was aware that he was taking on a task for which God would ask him to account. He will also realize that he depends on Him to perform his task. The reaction is that the elders anoint David king over all Israel. By this he becomes a person dedicated to the LORD, through which he can act in His Name, with His authority. It is not an act of his own, but “according to the word of the LORD through Samuel”. Here David is anointed for the third time in his life (Elisha is anointed once, Aaron twice and David three times): The first time, David was anointed in his father’s house, in humiliation and among his brothers ( ). We can connect this with the anointing of the Lord Jesus with the Spirit, also in the midst of His brothers, in the Jordan in humiliation ( ). The second time, immediately after Saul died, David is anointed by the two tribes ( ). He is not yet king over all Israel, but only over Judah. This refers to the time when the Lord Jesus returns to earth. Then He will first come in connection with Judah, that is the remnant of the two tribes that are in the land at that moment. They will receive Him with joy as the promised Messiah. The third time is described here, when he becomes king over all of Israel ( ). This looks forward to the time when the Lord Jesus returns and openly accepts His kingship over Israel, visible to all.

‏ 1 Chronicles 11:2

Introduction

The events in 1 Chronicles 11-20 take place in the period from 1003-995 BC. In that time David grows to the height of his power. All that has happened before the people come to David in Hebron is passed over tacitly. The faults and suffering of David are not mentioned. History begins by presenting what constitutes the power and glory of the kingdom of David. We can connect these histories with the future establishment of the power of Christ, the Son of David, on earth.

David Anointed King Over Israel

Here all Israel comes to anoint David king and not, as is described in 2 Samuel, first the two tribes and then all the tribes (2Sam 2:4; 2Sam 5:1). From now until the end of this book (1 Chronicles 11-29) it is about David. The whole people know that they are his bones and his flesh. In this we can recognize what the New Testament people of God, the church, can say to Christ in the awareness of their close union with Him. In Hebrews 2 this union is expressed by the Lord Jesus (Heb 2:11-14). Our union with Him is made possible because He “partook of blood and flesh” (Heb 2:14), but “without sin” (Heb 4:15).

There is a reminder of what David did for the people before, when Saul was king over them (1Chr 11:2). We see here a picture of what the Lord Jesus did in our life in the past. He has made sure that we have not perished under the rule of satan and the flesh, of which Saul is a picture. When Saul reigned, the true blessing came in reality from David.

David was the one who “led out and brought in” the people. This reminds us of the words of the Lord Jesus which He pronounces as the good Shepherd (Jn 10:9). Therefore it is also good to see that the LORD, the God of David, wants David in the first place to be a shepherd for His people. Then and thereby he can also be king. This applies fully to the true David, the Lord Jesus (Eze 34:23-24 ; Eze 37:24).

First and foremost is the care of God’s people, and then comes the reign. Be shepherd first, then become king. This is also the case in the life of the Lord Jesus. He is now the good Shepherd, while He will soon openly accept His kingship. For us it coincides. We will gladly acknowledge His dominion over our lives now because He has given His life for us as the good Shepherd and also cares for us every day as the chief Shepherd. Surely there is no one we would rather submit to than to Someone Who has given Himself so for us and Who takes care of us every day, is there?

There is also much to be learned from this by all those who have a certain authority over others. We can think of the husband’s attitude toward his wife and the attitude of parents toward their children. It is also important for the acknowledgment of authority in the church of God. If God has given persons a place of authority, they can only exercise that authority properly if they know for themselves what it is to serve, to be the least and to care for those entrusted to them. Such persons show the image of the Lord Jesus.

Subservience to someone who cares about you, who cares for you with love is much easier, than to someone who only wants to play the boss over you and abuses his position of authority for that. In God’s sight, authority is never separated from care and love, and this has become perfectly visible in the Lord Jesus.

After the declaration of all people, the elders come to David as the representatives of all Israel (1Chr 11:3). David makes with them “a covenant … before the LORD”. He will have committed himself to be a good king for his people and to reign in accordance with God’s law for the king (Deu 17:14-20; cf. 1Sam 10:25). In so doing, he was aware that he was taking on a task for which God would ask him to account. He will also realize that he depends on Him to perform his task.

The reaction is that the elders anoint David king over all Israel. By this he becomes a person dedicated to the LORD, through which he can act in His Name, with His authority. It is not an act of his own, but “according to the word of the LORD through Samuel”.

Here David is anointed for the third time in his life (Elisha is anointed once, Aaron twice and David three times):

The first time, David was anointed in his father’s house, in humiliation and among his brothers (1Sam 16:13). We can connect this with the anointing of the Lord Jesus with the Spirit, also in the midst of His brothers, in the Jordan in humiliation (Mt 3:16).

The second time, immediately after Saul died, David is anointed by the two tribes (2Sam 2:4). He is not yet king over all Israel, but only over Judah. This refers to the time when the Lord Jesus returns to earth. Then He will first come in connection with Judah, that is the remnant of the two tribes that are in the land at that moment. They will receive Him with joy as the promised Messiah.

The third time is described here, when he becomes king over all of Israel (1Chr 11:3). This looks forward to the time when the Lord Jesus returns and openly accepts His kingship over Israel, visible to all.