Should Have Fought

After this, David asked the LORD, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?” “Yes,” the LORD replied. Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?” “To Hebron,” the LORD answered. David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah. When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, he sent them this message: “May the LORD bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. May the LORD be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.” But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth. There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel. [2 Samuel 2.1-9]

I know David was intent to do Saul no harm. But maybe, he should have fought!

After Samuel declared to Saul that the LORD had left him and that David would be king, was that 'anointing' David referred to still on Saul?

The point I am making is this: Had David taken either of the opportunities to kill Saul (once as he slept, and another time in a cave), how would the story have been different? It could not have been more bloody, because there was much conflict yet to follow. Could that conflict have been avoided?

Was David honoring an 'anointing' that was no longer effective?

I know this goes against conventional Bible story opinion, but it is worth considering I think. I am not picking on David, but he was not perfect (close, but not perfect).

The thorn in David's side that Saul was, was not the only problem David had because he failed to go to battle or fight... think Bathsheba.

Father, help me to further consider these thoughts as I read more about David this year. Thank You for constantly speaking to me through Your Word!