1 Chronicles 11

“All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, ‘Here we are, your own flesh and blood. Even when Saul was king, you led us out to battle and brought us back.  The Lord your God also said to you, “You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over My people Israel.”’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron.  David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel, in keeping with the Lord’s word through Samuel.”  1 Chronicles 11:1-3 (HCSB)

In contrast to chapter 10, where Saul perished because He abandoned God’s Word, David’s kingdom is miraculously established.  God’s favor is on David, and He is going before him in battle.  Not just militarily, God is also turning the hearts of the people toward David.  After a season where the best fighting men from throughout Israel were drafted into the army to hunt down David and his men, we have this statement of allegiance, “We are your own flesh and blood. ”Only God can do that!  David, the “man after God’s own heart,” lives within the blessing set apart for those who pursue God rightly.  

But we know David’s story, don’t we?  We know David will not remain faithful in certain situations.  And we see God’s favor lift off of him.  Nathan, the prophet, had the difficult job of pronouncing the Lord’s rebuke to his friend (and king), David.

“Nathan replied to David, ‘You are the man!  This is what the Lord God of Israel says: “I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.  Why, then have you despised the command of the Lord by doing what I consider evil?  You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword. Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.” This is what the Lord says, “I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly. You acted in secret, but I will do this before all Israel and in broad daylight.”’” 2 Samuel 12:7-12 (HCSB)

So, at this point, we ask ourselves, “If David, God’s anointed, cannot maintain a righteous relationship with God, how can ANY man stand before Him?”  Perhaps it helps to keep reading.  Because salvation (throughout the Bible) has always been by God’s Grace, through faith in Him.  Instead of asking how we can maintain righteousness before God, we should ask what He requires for us to return to Him whenever we fall.  We confess our sin and turn from it.  And He forgives us.  (1 John 1:9)

“David responded to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Then Nathan replied to David, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin; you will not die.’” 2 Samuel 12:13 (HCSB)