It's Complicated (S2): WK 1 - WED

2 Samuel 2:4a
4 Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.

As we alluded to yesterday, at this point in the story, it’s been roughly 8 or 9 years since Samuel anointed David as the new king of Israel. Here, we have the men of Judah anointing David king, not of the whole nation of Israel, but of the tribe of Judah, which David was a part of.

It certainly was a step in the ultimate fulfillment of the promise, but after all this time and struggle, David was still on the journey to where God wanted Him. I’m sure there were moments, like when he was hiding in a cave, where he may have written these lines from Psalm 22…

1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan
for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I
find no relief.
(Psalm 22:1-2, NLT)

Many times in my life I have wondered what God was up to, feeling at times as if He had abandoned or forgotten about me, only to discover that He was there the whole time, prepping me for whatever was to come next.

In fact, as I look back over the course of my life, the times when I felt most stuck, abandoned, alone, were often the times when God was about to do something I wouldn’t have believed Him if He told me. In those moments, I’ve often felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, not knowing what to do next. The way forward looks tough, nearly impossible. But then God either picks me up and places me where He needs me, or, He gives me wings.

Yes, His ways are always better than my ways, always. It’s trusting in Him as He prepares me for the unknown, that’s the hard part.

28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the
depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like
eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31, NLT)

1. Have you ever felt stuck, no idea what to do next, as if maybe God was either not listening, or didn’t care? What was happening in your life in those moments?
2. Assuming you’re either not in one of those moments now, or you’ve gotten through other moments in the past, what helped?
3. What’s one area in your life today that you need to trust in Him more, let go, and learn how to fly?