The First Hundred Days

Ever since the aggressive presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the American people have invested the “first hundred days” in office with great significance. A leader wishing to establish himself or herself in an important job will use those initial weeks to set the priorities of the administration to come. Our text, a snapshot of David’s “first hundred days” as king, tell us about the kind of life that God establishes (see 5:10, 12).

The Jebusites had held Mount Zion a long time. In Genesis 15, God promised Abram to uproot them and give their land to him. But Israel had found them hard to budge from that steep, rocky mountain. So while Joshua had defeated them, Israel failed to run them out in the days of the Judges. They’ve been there ever since, making trouble and mocking God’s people. Israel gave up on removing them. There can be things in our lives like that: stubborn, trouble-making sin issues that we know God wants gone. But they’ve been there so long, are dug-in so deep, and have defeated us so many times, we just settle for an unhappy peace.

But David immediately confronts the Jebusites. They taunt that, “The blind and the lame could hold you off,” just as Goliath once mocked Yahweh and his anointed. And again, David responds with faith. No matter how steep the mountain, or how many times we’ve failed before, if God has promised to remove them, there must be a way! David finds it in a hidden water shaft the Jebusites used to access spring-water without leaving the mountain. His men climb a steep, wet, enclosed tunnel—and then fight at the top! (1 Chr 11:4–6 says Joab is the first guy up; that’s why David kept him around). David reclaims this city for Yahweh. He makes Jerusalem his capital, and the most important city in the Bible. And “David became greater and greater, for Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him (10).” God establishes a resilient faith, one that simply believes and acts on his Word. Even when obedience is difficult, or others discourage you—God will establish your life when you open your Bible, trust his Word, and obey.

Soon, the UPS man shows up at David’s house: “I’ve got a shipment for ‘King David.’ Where do you want it?” David looks out to see a construction crew and container after container of building supplies. They are gifts from Hiram, King of Tyre, who wants to build David a palace! Such tribute was how lesser kings stayed on the good side of greater kings. It tells us David’s fame is now international. Other kings straighten up when he walks in the room—and it wasn’t long ago that David was living in a cave! Many people crave this kind of glory; King Saul certainly did. But David has not sought it. He did not plot out his life to attain celebrity status. He has not maneuvered, networked, and promoted himself. David’s ambition has been to glorify God and to serve his people. In whatever post God has assigned him, he has kept his head down and been faithful: as a shepherd, meal-deliverer, a harp-player, and a soldier. He trusted God to promote him, in his own time.

This is the character God establishes. You take the low seat, and let God say “come up higher.” Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand, and at the proper time he will exalt you. David sees it clearly: “And David knew that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel (12).” He knows that all his success is the blessing of God, and that God wants him to steward that blessing to serve God’s people. That’s true for all of our successes, too.

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Article by Eric Smith
Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church