We’re back to the narrative of 1 Chronicles which parallels the history we already read in 1 Samuel – 2 Kings. I will try not to repeat lessons we’ve already written about. The L O N G list of names, 1 Chronicles chapters 1 – 9, ends with the genealogy of Saul, which was also given at the end of chapter 8. Neither list gives any indication that Saul was king. It’s just a list of names. Odd.

Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal. The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah…. (1 Chronicles 9.39, 40, NIV)

Then we pick up the narrative in chapter 10 with the death of Saul, including the fact that he took his own life as reported at the end of 1 Samuel. Then this commentary:

So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (1 Chronicles 10.13, 14, ESV)

Chapter 11 cuts through the years of civil war after Saul’s death and goes straight to David’s kingship and making Jerusalem the capital city:

Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’ ” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel. And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. (1 Chronicles 11.1 – 6, ESV)

David becomes king “according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.”

Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16.11 – 13, ESV)

As with Joseph, who became Prime Minister of Egypt at age 30, after 13 years of slavery, so David became king of Israel at age 30. If he, too, was about 17 when the promise came, he had 13 hard years as well. Our lessons from Hebrews apply:

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10.36 – 39, NIV)