THE KING’S BUSINESS
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the place of fellowship their continuing city, “they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.” These wives of David and these compan ions o f ‘David had been partners in his re jection and persecutions and now they were to be partners in his glory. Just so those who have shared with -Jesus Christ in His rejection and sufferings shall share with Him in His glory (Luke 22:28, 29 ; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rom. 8:17, 18). Of course, it was not right in David to have two wives, it was contrary to God’s original ordinance concerning marriage (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19: 4-9), but we must in justice to David re member that there was not the clear light in his day upon this subject that we have in our day, and it is only fair to judge men by the light that they possess. At this point in his career, David was seeking to serve God with a whole heart. All types are necessarily imperfect and must not be over pressed, especially types where men are types of Christ, yet the wives of David are types of the church, the Bride of Christ (cf. Eph. 5:25-32), to at least this extent, that the church will share with Christ in His reign, as she has shared with Christ in His rejection (cf. Rev. 19:6-9). v. 4. "And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.’’ David is now entering upon his glory and in Hebron the city of fellowship, he was first anointed king of Judah and afterwards king of all Israel. The one who would enter upon a life of kingly authority and power must go up to Hebron and enter into fellowship with God (John 15:14-16). Those who now came into power with David had been in sore distress but they came to David, “in dis tress,” “in debt,” and “bitterness of soul” (1 Sam. 22:2 R. V. marg.). Those who in the present day rally about Christ and who will hereafter enter into glory with Him are largely the same class. These men now dwelt close to David (vs. 3, 4) and so we who share his distress and rejection with Him will some day live close to Him (John 14:3; 1 Thess. 4:17). At last David's right ful position is recognized by a part of the
nation. Samuel had already anointed David king at the command of Jehovah (1 Sam. 16:1-13) and the men of Judah now rati fied this work of the Lord. At a later day all Israel will do the same (1 Chron. 11:3). v. 5. "And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of Jehovah, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.” This action of David in dealing with the men of Jabesh-gilead may seem like a mere piece of shrewd strategy but everything points to absolute sincerity on David’s part (cf. ch. 1:13-16, 17-27; 4:5-12). David, in the greatness of his own soul, really honored Saul as his rightful king (cf. 1 Sam. 24: 4-8; 26:7-11), his nobility of heart led him to do the very thing that was the most politic. There is no policy so wise as that to which a generous heart prompts a man. David wished for the men of Jabesh-gilead the highest form of prosperity, blessedness from Jehovah. They had showed kindness unto Saul and now Jehovah would show “loving kindness and truth” unto them (cf. v. 6). What we sow we also reap. God treats us as we treat our fellowmen (Matt. 5:7; 6:14, 15; 7:2; 2 Tim. 1:16-18). But David did not content himself with wish ing that Jehovah might reward their kind ness, he himself undertook to reward it also. There are very many in these days whose generosity toward others exhausts itself in pious wishes that God may bless them, but David’s generosity was not of that type. v. 7. “Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be ye valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.’’ As*they had been strong and valiant for Saul while he lived, David expected them to be equally valiant for him now that Satif was dead and he had been anointed in Saul’s stead. The one who has been faithful to a former master is always the one who can be relied upon to be faithful to a new master. David is now reaping what he himself had sown: he had pursued a generous policy toward
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