“Therefore
all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron…And they anointed David
king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.” (v.3)
David had
been anointed king on three different occasions. The
first time as a young boy, by Samuel the prophet, at God’s direction (for a future time), in front of the sons of
Jesse in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1,13). The second time was when the "men
of Judah" anointed him king over "the house of Judah”, where he ruled for 7 years and 6 months (2 Samuel 2:4).
This third time mentioned in our text, David was anointed king over a united people,
including "all the elders of Israel." His long awaited time had now come.
The last part of the sentence in our text is important not to
skip over though. For this all happened, “according to the Word of the Lord” by the
prophet Samuel. This sentence marks the complete fulfilment of what had been
foreshadowed in 1 Samuel 16:12-13. What may be seen as a reflection on the part
of the writer based upon the facts of scripture, nonetheless speaks to the
forknowledge and council of God and that His Word can not be altered.
So it was written, and so it was accomplished.
The Truth
“My
covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once
I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure
forever, And his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever
like the moon, Even like the
faithful witness in the sky.” (Psalm 89:34-37)
