Fri.’s Devo - David Becomes King of Judah

Read: 2 Samuel 1:1-2:11; John 12:20-50; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 15:27-28 Three days after David had been home from his victory over the Amalekites, a man from Saul’s camp came to see him, He bowed down to him and told him he had escaped from the battle with Israel. David wanted to hear all about it. The man told him that Israel had fled in the heat of battle and Saul and all his sons had been killed. David asked him how he knew for sure that Saul and his sons were dead. The man told him that he had happened upon Saul while he was leaning on his own sword. Saul asked him to kill him because he was dying too slowly. So the man killed him and took his crown and bracelet to bring to David. *** David was overcome with grief and tore his clothes. He mourned, wept and fasted till that evening. He found out the man who told him was an Amalekite. He rebuked him for not being afraid to kill God’s anointed and had him killed. He then quoted a prophecy from the Book of Jashar about the death of Saul and the defeat of Israel. *** David asked the Lord what he should do next and the Lord told him to move his family to Hebron. The men of Judah came and anointed him as the king over the house of Judah. *** David learned what the men of Jabesh-gilead had done to Saul and his sons bodies and blessed them and promised to reward them. *** Meanwhile, Abner made Ishbosheth king over Israel. Ishbosheth was 40 years old and only reigned 2 years. David was king in Hebron over Judah 7 years and 6 months. *** In John, it was the time of the Passover so all the Jewish men had come to Jerusalem to celebrate. Some Greeks also came to the feast and were hoping to see Jesus. Jesus told his disciples that it was time for the Son of Man to be glorified. *** Jesus said that unless a grain of wheat dies, it will not bear fruit. He was that seed. For a person to find their lives, they would have to lose it. Whoever wants to follow him will have to lose their life to find eternal life. *** Jesus was troubled in his soul but knew he was brought to the world for this very purpose. He praised that God’s name would be glorified. When he said this, God spoke from heaven and said, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd only heard God’s words as thunder. Others thought an angel had said the words. Jesus told them that the voice they heard was not for his sake, but for theirs. Judgement had come to the earth and the ruler of this wold would be cast out. When he was lifted up from the earth on the cross many would come to him. When they didn’t know who the Son of Man was, he told them he was the light. If they believed in his light, they would also walk in light. *** Jesus left and hid himself. Many, though they had seen the miracles he did, did not believe in him. It was just as Isaiah had said, God had blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts or they would have believed. But, some did believe, but were afraid to admit it for fear of being kicked out of the synagogue. *** Jesus told him that he didn’t come to the world to condemn or judge it but to save it. He had spoken only what his Father had told him to say and his commandment brings eternal life to all who believe. *** Lord, thank you that you have given us eyes to see and a heart to understand who you are. May we always walk in your light and may our light show others the way to you.