David Made King over Judah
2 Then it came about afterward that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the [a]widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron. 4 Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
And they told David, saying, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” 5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed of the Lord because you have [b]shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. 6 And now may the Lord [c]show kindness and truth to you; and I also will [d]show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. 7 Now then, let your hands be strong and be [e]valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
Ish-bosheth Made King over Israel
8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken [f]Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 And he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 11 And the [g]time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
After Saul’s death, some might have thought it was obvious that David should just go claim the kingdom. But still he asked God before even returning to Judah.
God has a plan for our lives, and sometimes we just know what is next. We feel it in our hearts, and know the direction to go. But there is never a time when it is unwise to ask God before taking the next step.
When we ask Him for guidance, God will be faithful to answer. It may not be in a way we expect, and sometimes He doesn’t just give us one choice. Trust God in everything, and you will not be lead astray.