David, Crowned by Grace

 1 Chronicles 11:1-9 

    1 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD your God said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel.'" 3 Therefore 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.
    4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land. 5 But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You shall not come in here!" Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). 6 Now David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain." And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and became chief. 7 Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. 8 And he built the city around it, from the Millo to the surrounding area. Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9 So David went on and became great, and the LORD of hosts was with him.

David was acknowledged by God’s people as king by the LORD’s choosing.  They all united under him as one people under God, admitting it was he who led the army of the LORD to victory under king Saul.  They also admitted that it was God who commanded DAVID to lead His people as a shepherd by caring for them, feeding them, and leading them in God’s grace of commandments given them for their good because it was for His glory and honor.  The crowning achievements and call culminated in his crowning per the prophetic word from God through Samuel.  King David then took Jebus and named it Jerusalem, even as its previous inhabitants attempted to deny it to him.  David challenged his army to invade and made the first one in the captain of the forces; Joab became the captain of the army in this way.  David then fortified Jerusalem by building up the embankment called the Millo, a fortified terrace around the city, and expanding it outward as well.  He made this city his stronghold, the City of David, and fixed what was broken there.  The LORD of hosts was seen to be on David’s side and made him great among His people because of his heart for the LORD and the things of God.  We find that God honors those who honor Him and strengthens the one who fights the good fight of the Lord; then it was for a physical nation of His people, but now the people are a kingdom unseen, united in grace for His glory in His Christ, a kingdom of priests who fight the good fight of the gospel of this grace and not with weapons to gain a kingdom or nation on earth.  David was crowned by grace, and we are crowned by this same grace fulfilled in Jesus Christ by His gospel of reconciliation and eternal life given surely as our promised land to come (1 Peter 1:4, 11, Colossians 1:5, Acts 20:32).  We are crowned by grace for God’s glory and given a new Jerusalem to come where the LORD Himself will build up the Millo of His power and protection for eternity as life with Himself.  This is eternal life given freely without our cost, but His alone.  He chose us as He chose David to reign with Him (Romans 8:17, Revelation 11:15, 20:6).  Let us then honor Him and engage in the true battle (Ephesians 6:12) for the truth of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7) with a heart for God, crowned by grace to display His glory to the nations and the world.