Having completed his 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. He would note that “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).

That is, the Chronicler is pointing out to us that the reason for Saul’s loss of the kingdom was pre-eminently theological. Moreover, David’s accession was likewise a matter of divine decision: “They anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel” (11:3). “David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him” (11:9).

One interesting note comes in what we might call the Battle of the Barley Field. It turns out that 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). It is not simply that these two mighty warriors were so fierce that dozens or hundreds of Philistine warriors fell, until the rest fled. No, beyond that it was divine intervention: “the Lord saved them by a great victory” (I Chronicles 11:14).

Amasai, inspired by the Spirit, spoke for himself and the other mighty men who joined up with David: “We are yours, O David … For your God is the one who helps you!” (12:19). Indeed, “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 that all these things happened not by chance nor simply by excellent human leadership; instead, we are to understand that David was 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.

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