The Bible sets before us two ways and two ways only: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked (Psalm 1:1–6). There is no neutrality when it comes to a relationship with God. Both the Old and the New Testaments prescribe an unswerving loyalty to God. The Sinai covenant makes this perfectly clear: You shall have no other gods before me.… For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God
(Exodus 20:3–5). Divided loyalty is as offensive as outright rebellion, possibly worse because it amounts to wicked syncretism as was the case on the day Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He asked them, How long will you go limping between two different opinions?
(1 Kings 18:21). God demands full-out loyalty from his covenant people. Jesus affirms this in no uncertain terms: You cannot serve God and mammon…. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters
(Matthew 6:24; Matthew 12:30).
Saul’s loyalty failed on three counts: disobedience to God’s Word, consultation with a witch, and failure to consult with God (1 Chronicles 10:13). In contrast, David’s loyalty thrusts him into kingship. The Chronicler provides several concrete illustrations in the following chapters of how this loyalty manifested itself: the return of the ark of the covenant to the national religious life of Israel (1 Chronicles 13:1–15:29), the reestablishment of the Lord and his saving deeds as the centerpiece of worship (1 Chronicles 16:1–43), and the prayer that David’s dynasty will make known the Lord as Israel’s God to the nations (1 Chronicles 17:23–24).1
David’s loyalty to God in turn serves to stimulate similar loyalty among those who recognize him as the Lord's anointed, which caused a ripple effect of loyalty to God throughout all Israel. The Chronicler’s summary may be stated as, Loyalty to God induces the mutual loyalty of the tribes to each other, which results in the blessing of God on Israel.
For the Chronicler, nothing short of a similar commitment is essential to restore the postexilic community to the former greatness of Israel united under David.2
Ultimately, true loyalty is not expressed as allegiance to some charismatic leader or political figure (see Psalm 146:3; Psalm 147:10–11). Loyalty and unity of purpose must be rooted in an authority that transcends human ability and strength. One greater than David and Saul, the One who ordained kingship in Israel in the first place (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Samuel 16:13). Greater still is the God of Israel, who has established that sacred office for the purpose of shepherding his people (Psalm 23:1–6; Psalm 45:1–17; John 10:11). This formed the basis, in part, for David’s loyalty to God and explains his reluctance to take any action against Saul despite the repeated attempts against his life by the tormented king (1 Samuel 18:11; 1 Samuel 19:1). Tribal unity was forged by true loyalty to God and was not a kind of robot-like, quid pro quo (something for something) relationship rooted in a human emotional and volitional response of allegiance to God (or king).
23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD.