David's First Step: 2 Samuel 2:1-4
There is no better place from which to lead than from your knees before God. We can only guess at what the future will hold, God knows. We can only hope our plans will bear fruit; God’s plans always bear fruit. Leadership is done best when it ultimately originates with God.
With Saul dead, there is a leadership vacuum among the Hebrew people. David knows he is the Lord’s anointed; he was present when Samuel anointed him. That anointing was done in private, though. The rest of the Hebrew people aren’t aware of this fact.
It might seem like a simple transition for David to step into the kingship. From a historical perspective, we know he’s the next king, so we might expect him to step up and go into the role. What we easily forget, though, is Saul already had an existing network of spies and support. When Saul dies, his top generals would step in. They already have the infrastructure to take over. This is why incumbents usually win an election over a challenger so long as people think they’ve done an average job or better. David knows Saul’s generals, like Abner, or spies, like Doeg, will naturally rise to Saul’s position. David needs a plan to deal with that eventuality.
David devises an incredible plan. He pauses and asks God if he should go to the Hebrew people. David needs to leave Ziklag if he wants to assume control over the Hebrew people. It is impossible to rule a country while living under the authority of some other leader. Therefore, staying in Ziklag is out of the question. Rather than assuming the land was his to rule at this moment, he pauses to ask God if the timing is right. David knows what the future will hold because God promised it to him. He is checking on the timing.
Next, David inquires about where God desires him to go to. He is genuine humbling before God. David doesn’t suggest a city to God; David is willing to go wherever God leads. His people were from near Bethlehem. Many of his followers would have come from other places. David wants to pick the spot God desires, not the place his own heart or the hearts of others would have him pick.
When David arrives in Hebron, the leaders of Judah come and anoint him. They declare him the leader of Judah. The intention is to set him up over all the Hebrew people, but the leaders in Judah don’t have the authority to do this. Instead, they set him up as the leader over Judah and imply he is their candidate for the next king of the Hebrew people.
David starts his leadership humbly and on his knees. He is looking to God and accepting God’s lead. David leads from a position of humbleness. There is no better place from which to lead than from your knees before God.
