“Then all Israel gathered before David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be the leader of my people Israel.’” So there at Hebron, David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel, just as the Lord had promised through Samuel. Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (or Jebus, as it used to be called), where the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land, were living. The people of Jebus taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here!” But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David. David had said to his troops, “Whoever is first to attack the Jebusites will become the commander of my armies!” And Joab, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah, was first to attack, so he became the commander of David’s armies. David made the fortress his home, and that is why it is called the City of David. He extended the city from the supporting terraces to the surrounding area, while Joab rebuilt the rest of Jerusalem. And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him.”
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1 Chronicles‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT

It is clear in this passage that the one reason that David was flourishing as a king was because the Lord was with him. Everything else, all of his accomplishments, were merely ways in which people could visibly and historically confirm that truth. This passage, is of course, perfectly placed in juxtaposition to the passage of Saul’s death which ends with remarks showing the opposite. Saul chose not to be with God at every turn, and so his kingship was a failure. Ironically, God honored this choice, and chose not to be with him. Yet David, in this way is his polar opposite. We ought to be as well. We ought to view the areas in which God has made us kings as areas in which God has made us king. Not because we are kingly material and substance, but because it was his will. We must always tell a story of God’s glory. That he can take a lowly shepherd boy and raise him to be a king. In many ways, this is the entire biblical narrative. We are finite creatures who are being primed to be rulers over all creation with him. If we rely on him, we will be magnificent with him. But if we deny him and choose to confuse his goodwill with our innate goodness, we will fail spectacularly.

David’s Kingship: David’s success as king was due to God’s presence, with his accomplishments serving as evidence of God’s favor.

Saul’s Kingship: Saul’s kingship failed because he rejected God, highlighting the contrast between God’s blessing and rejection.

God’s Sovereignty: God’s power is evident in elevating ordinary people to positions of authority, emphasizing the importance of relying on God for success.