So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 2 Samuel 5:3

Saul and, David’s bestie Jonathon was gone. Jt was now David’s time to rule Israel. David was anointed as a boy to be King. God used all the years that Saul was king to prepare David for the task of King.  From our vantage point, David got to understudy Saul.  Saul used to suffer from depression and he found comfort when David play. David then was very often in a space where he could hear how decisions were made. The discussions that took place.  David fought in several bathes, so he could lead an army and he would have learned military tactics. So by the time Saul had died, David was ready and able to take on the challenge of king. 

But guess what. There was no voting from what our reading says. There was no dissention and quarrel either They were all agreed.  David became King by a covenant. They did so by consensus. It is the way the world used to be run once up on a time.  Several business deals were made with a handshake. The cheaters and schemers were in the minority.  Remember that is how Matthias was selected to replace Judas. Yes they drew straws, but first they agreed that they would do that. Acts 1 verses 23-25 says they nominated two men, they prayed, then they drew straws.  There was no voting.  There was consensus.

Choosing our leaders by consensus is impractical, but like  the ancient elders, we recognize the need to pray for a ruler who will be choose to be divinely guided, to be fair and to act with integrity. At another level, we can conduct our business by consensus. We can act in our family by consensus.  We can live with our friends by consensus.  Consensus means acting in the interest of the common good.  Having a common sense of roght and wrong. Having a common sense of what is in the best interest of us all.  Consensus keeps harmony and peace alive. It removes the anxiety of always looking over your back, it relieves the unease that someone is out to get you. In consensus we all agree to do God’s bidding. We hear a singular voice and act. We decide together what God is saying through prayer and discernment.  Once the decision is made, we stand by it.  

We are challenged to be on good terms with others. We are challenged to always see the other person’s point of view and to make a compromise. We are challenged to live in harmony.  We are challenged to not second guess ourselves, but to trust God that whatever the outcome of our decision, that God will see us through.  As we seek to do God’s will and to be in agreement with those around us , may the strength of God  pilots us, the power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us. May the way of God direct us. May the shield of God defend us. May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world. Knowing that with God all is well All will be well All manner of things will be well