“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.” So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them. But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.”
‭‭‬‬

2 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT

David was not entitled. This doesn’t mean that he didn’t act entitled from time to time, but he truly believed that what was his was only his, because God had given it. It was God who decreed him king, as much as it was God who gave him all his victories. From bears as a shepherd to giants as a boy, to armies as a soldier, and now a throne for a king, nothing truly belonged to David of his own accord. This is the major difference between him and Saul. He knew that he wasn’t actually successful, nor were his merits his own. These things were blessings from a God who loved him. He wanted to do right by this relationship. Sometimes, it meant killing a giant, sometimes it meant not killing a king. He knew that these things were decisions for God alone to make. And so he built a habit of inquiring of God’s desire and design. He asked him specific questions and generally waited on his response before making moves. Though simple, it is a difficult and powerful tool to use in everyday life. Its application can work for us commoners as much as it can for a king as David was all of those things. We must remember that when David failed it was because he chose not to rely on God. When we succeed, it will be because we remembered.

David’s Belief: David believed that God gave him everything, including the throne and victories.

David’s Humility: David understood that his successes were blessings from God and not a result of his own merits.

David’s Relationship with God: David sought God’s guidance and waited for His response before making decisions.