DAVID: TRAINING FOR THE THRONE

And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king; to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will – Acts 13:22

A study of David’s life shows that he passed through certain stages of development and submitted his life to God’s Will in each, before he could rule Israel. David was trained for the throne. Traveling with David from Bethlehem, to Adullam, to Hebron, and finally to Zion, is a journey of growth and change from glory to glory (Matt.11:12; 2Cor.3:18). Each of these places represented specific lessons believers must learn in order to be trained to rule and reign in Christ.

BETHLEHEM – Faithful in Natural Things (1Cor.15:44-46). When Samuel came to Bethlehem to anoint him, David was actively faithful in the natural things, just being a good shepherd boy and a faithful son. Until he learned to care for the sheep responsibly and consistently, laying down his life for them, God would not anoint him to be king over His people. The Holy Spirit trains us to reign over self and flesh, in our family roles, and in the mundane matters of life. Being faithful in the natural, everyday, mundane things of life is the lesson of Bethlehem and the beginning of becoming great in God’s Kingdom. We are told of how Jesus grew and increased, being faithful to His parents while growing into maturity (Lk.2:51-52).

ADULLAM – Faithful in Need. Adullam is where anointing and success invite diverse problems and persecution. David’s time here was a period when he was in great need, but at the same time the anointing on him caused a lot of needy people to come to him for help (1Sam.22:1-2). He had to learn the principle of serving the needy while he himself was in need, and finding his security only in the Lord. God desires to anchor us in no one but Himself, just as He did with David at Adullam. Even Jesus had His Adullam crowd – the sick, tormented, possessed, lunatic, and palsied (Mt.4:23-25; 1Cor.1:26-29).

HEBRON – Faithful in Relationships. Hebron is where we commit ourselves to covenant relationships, and learn to relate to people not on the basis of what they do for us, but in recognition of God’s work in bringing us together (2Sam.2:1-4). Only such relationships will stand the test of success. They are based on covenant, not convenient love. The Adullam friend is a parasite; the Hebron friend stands with you in strength and unity no matter what happens. Contrast the Adullam crowd with the Hebron Company (Jh. 6:68-69). Hebron is higher ground, implying higher faith, higher vision and greater commitment.

ZION – Faithful in Ruling. Zion is the expected by-product of having been faithful in the natural things, faithful to meet the needs of others while you are in need, and faithful in covenant relationships. It represents corporate victory, not an individual victory. The Lord sends the rod of His strength out of Zion (Psa.110:3). Zion is a life where the King has taken His Throne!

God has His ways of maturing us. Just as the little baby who has the legal rights to all the benefits of the family, but gets it in bite-size pieces as he proves responsible, we are given our inheritance through a process of growth and development.