Having completed these brief preliminary remarks (!) about genealogy and restoration, the Chronicler would now turn to the main point of his first book, devoting the remainder of its chapters to David, who became king by the will of God.

“So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance, and did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death, and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse” (I Chronicles 10:13-14). “They anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord” (11:3). “David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him” (11:9).

In the Battle of the Barley Field, no one was left to hold off the attacking Philistine warriors but David and one of his officers, Eleazar son of Dodo. (Dodo is another great Bible name that no one gives babies any more – but check out Tola’s grandfather in Judges 10:1.) Outnumbered as they were, David and Eleazar nevertheless took their stand against the Philistine warriors, and “the Lord saved them by a great victory” (11:14).

Amasai, inspired by the Spirit, spoke for himself and the other warriors who joined up with David: “We are yours, O David … For your God is the one who helps you!” (12:18). And the Chronicler summarizes the arrival of reinforcements from all over Israel with these words: “from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God” (12:22). In all this description it is clear that the Chronicler wants us to recognize what all the people around David also recognized: David became a great king, because God called him and sustained him.

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You have not chosen me as a king, O Lord, but as a servant: yet just as much as David I need your sustaining presence, day by day. Teach me to walk in your way, to choose your will, to be courageous in standing for your people: and to trust you, in life and in death, for the outcome.