Daily Devotional for Tuesday, November 28

David’s City

“And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David,” 1 Chronicles 11:7.

Up to this point, David’s life had been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. As he was minding his own business tending his father’s sheep, Samuel came to anoint him as king (1 Samuel 16:12, 13). There were many ups (defeating Goliath, marrying the king’s daughter, military conquests) and downs (living in caves, having no home, running from Saul, being betrayed) with several twists, turns and loops. Even after Saul was killed in battle, the people of Israel did not recognize David as king, and there was no end to the roller coaster in sight.

After seven-and-a-half years of reigning only over Judah, the elders of Israel finally came to anoint David as their king. Now he needed a city as a central location to rule. The stronghold of Jerusalem had been used for years by different kingdoms and nations, changing hands and names along the way. It was currently the land of the Jebusites, and feeling powerful and protected, the inhabitants began taunting David and his men as if they would never be able to overtake the city. The Jebusites forgot a pretty important detail, though. They forgot who had really appointed David as king and whose Spirit empowered David. Sneaking in through the water system, David and his men conquered the city. Not only did they conquer the city, they began to dwell there, building and strengthening this new city of David.

Almost thirty years passed from the time God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint ruddy little David until the time David was finally reigning in Jerusalem over all of Israel. Our lives may seem like a roller coaster sometimes. We may not understand God’s timing, but trust that He will always follow through on His promises as we are faithful to follow Him.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: What has God called you to do? Remain faithful and obedient in the mighty strength of an all-knowing, perfect Father.

Ashley Ridings