AT LAST! 2nd Samuel 5 David becomes king, 1-5 Beginning with this chapter, many of the events historically recounted are also written in the 1st Chronicles, which are the archives of Israel’s history. When we read the same events or instructions in the Bible, they are usually given to us to see things from God’s perspective and the human view of the same things. One is for our instruction from the Lord, and the other is so we will apply the lessons taught to our own lives.
Even though we might know what the mind of the Lord is about a matter, we only sometimes know when He will bring it to pass. Waiting patiently is very difficult when, by nature or other people, we are pressured to "get up and go." Rather than getting instant results and success, we must remember that more is involved than fulfilling a task. Waiting times develop character. Character develops wisdom. Wisdom develops skill and proficiency. Skill and proficiency produce excellent and lasting results that far exceed what a "quick fix" can accomplish.
David was first anointed king by Samuel when he was seventeen. After thirteen years of "training for reigning," the men of Judah anointed him as their king. Finally, when he was thirty-seven, he was anointed king of a united Israel. He patiently waited for God's promise to be fulfilled and unmistakably established his authority to be the king of Israel. Half-hearted followers of less-than-proved leadership leave people in a weakened condition, with unsure and unstable results.
The tribes of Israel were led by elders who had become so used to relying on a failing king that they did not enquire of the Lord as to what they should do. They finally turned to David, who had been anointed to be the king twice and now, for the third time, was anointed king of all Israel at age thirty-seven. He was an Israelite by birth of the tribe of Judah, so he was an Israelite as much as any of those elders. He had led Saul’s military campaigns nearly twenty years earlier and had been successful. Because of Saul’s jealousy, David was rejected by those men, and they all suffered years of civil war. Finally, they recognized that they needed a “shepherd” who was chosen by the Lord.
Far too often, people have their ideas, favorites, schemes, and personal agendas that hinder the effectiveness of an assembly of God’s people. Faithful shepherds who have been raised up by God need to be recognized, honored, and obeyed as they “feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof.” Assemblies of Christians need leaders who know why they are in a community and what needs to be done to preserve God’s people and further the Gospel. We are not independent people, each doing their “own thing.” We are to be people of one accord and one mind who labor together for the spread and outcome of the Gospel.
The death of human leadership in Abner and Ishbosheth cleared the way for God's will to be done and for David to be king over Israel, not just Judah, his tribe. God’s will for David to be Israel’s king had become generally known throughout all the tribes, and they finally submitted to the will of the Lord.
When we know the will of God but put off doing it, the consequences are conflict, insubordination, and division. On the other hand, if we try to force people to do the right thing when they are not ready or willing to do it, we defeat the whole purpose of going forward “not by might, nor by power, but by My (God’s) Spirit saith the Lord.” Waiting for God to move on the hearts of those who are recalcitrant is hard but necessary. But when true unity comes, it is effective in its outworking, meaningful to those who labor together, and glorifying to the Lord.
The effect of David’s thirty-three-year reign over the united Israel was far-reaching and led to years of peace under his son Solomon's reign. Before glory came years of suffering, tension, and division that finally gave way to thousands of people's faith, victory, expansion, and blessings. Patience, perseverance, prayer, and the pursuit of God's will led to this promise of the covenant with David being fulfilled.
Waiting, watching, and working through challenging times builds our character, establishes our reputation, and enhances our public testimony. That which is godly and holy stands out best to the watching world in times of darkness. It is then that the glory and power of God are demonstrated in the lives of God’s children.
Jerusalem becomes the Capital, 6-10 When he was king of Judah, David lived in Hebron, located in the south of Israel. Ishbosheth ruled eleven tribes from Jabesh-Gilead to the northeast on the east of the river. Neither of these places was suitable for a capital city for the twelve tribes of Israel. So, David wanted to make Jerusalem, which was located in a strategic place in the center of the nation, the place from which he would live and rule. It was first called Jebus and located at one end of a high ridge, so it was hard to access from three sides. The Jebusites still lived in the city (Zion). It seemed to have been considered neutral territory because it was on the border of Benjamin and Judah.
Those who wanted to conquer the city would have to climb up the hill and face a high stone wall unless they came from the well-fortified north side of the ridge. The Jebusites living in the city were so confident of their safety that they boasted to David that blind and lame people could defend the city from David’s men. However, there was a tunnel for bringing water into the city from a spring, and through that water shaft (“gutter.” KJV), David’s men entered and defeated the Jebusites.
It is wrong for us to discriminate or demean people who are of different cultures, nationalities, or genders and those who are handicapped in some way. But when people, no matter who they are, resist, rebel, and reject the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot go along with them nor overlook their attitude toward God. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them.” In assemblies of God’s people, we are to support the weak but not compromise the truth.
On the same ridge toward the north that Jerusalem, “The city David,” was located, is where Abraham offered Isaac to the Lord and where Solomon built the temple during his reign. The victory over Jerusalem was accomplished because David knew "the Lord of hosts (the Lord God Almighty) was with him." "David perceived the Lord has established him king over Israel."
Obstacles can be surmounted when God works in us and for us. What the natural eye may overlook can be perceived when we see things as God sees them. The impregnable city of Jerusalem could be penetrated through the "gutter," the water shaft, and what should have been done generations before was finally accomplished. In a strategic location, that strategic city became "the city of David." It remains a crucial location in the affairs of nations today.
David's first international connection was a long and friendly relationship with Hiram, king of Tyre, which began when he became king of Israel. This would have been important to Tyre because the inland trade routes went through Israel, and Tyre depended on Israel for much of its food. Israeli agriculture was significant to nations whose economies depended on the sea and international trade.
There was also cedar in Tyre, a durable, long-lasting wood that wealthy people prized for decorative purposes and building. The building of a house for David by Hiram, king of Tyre, may have been a political act between the two leaders, but in a sense, it was secondary to David. However, in some way, it assured him that the Lord had established his kingdom, which others in the Middle East recognized.
Relationships are important because we live in the world, do business in the world, and have contact with all kinds of people who are not believers in Christ but with whom we need to be able to communicate favorably. Many very nice people are all around us, and they think being good to their neighbors, practicing good citizenship, and being as honest as possible will earn them favor with God and take them to heaven when they die.
It is difficult to get self-righteous people to see their need for a Savior when they don’t seem to have a sense of guilt because of sin. To the minds of many, openly breaking the law is a sin, not the thought of foolishness, anger, envy, covetousness, and all of those sins that do not have an open consequence before the eyes of the people. The best way we can influence them to where we can present the message of the Gospel is to get to know them well enough that we can give our personal testimony as to God’s saving grace for us. Then, we can tell them what the Bible says about sin, salvation, and forgiveness through the substitution of Christ on our behalf.
Our attitude toward neighbors, people we work with, and relatives who are not Christians is of great importance. Joy in the Lord during times of difficulty, sickness, and disappointments impacts those who know us. They know what they are like in those times and may compare themselves with those who love the Lord and realize believers have something they don’t have. That is when we can tell them of “Someone” who “having not seen we love” and then present the Gospel to them.
Personal Complications, 13-14. Monogamy has always been God’s intention for the contentment and continuation of the human race [Gen.2:23-24]. Still, because of human sin, polygamy began to be practiced early in human history [Gen.4]. Throughout history, we learn that tribal disputes and potential warfare were often settled by giving a young woman to be married to the leader or a man of status in another tribe. In the book, “Peace Child,” a baby was exchanged between leaders so that there would be peaceful coexistence between tribes living close to each other.
It wasn’t because of his unnatural skill, and it wasn’t because he became famous and killed the giant, but because the sovereign God had a plan to fulfill that He had chosen David to be king. David's weakness still needed to be overcome even though he was the king of Israel, reigning from Jerusalem. More wives and concubines complicated his already complicated personal life. The marriages of David to wives and concubines reflect his involvement in making treaties, settling disputes, and forming alliances with other tribes in that area. Concubines did not have the same rights as wives because they likely came from a lesser status than tribal leaders.
Jewish kings were told not to “multiply wives” [Deu.17:17] because of the danger of making decisions based on emotions and pressure instead of wisdom and faith in God. Despite that weakness, God was willing to use his servant, who was weak in one area of his life, to empower him to be successful in other areas of his life and service.
A great leader knows his limitations and needs divine guidance in every part of his life. David had a general understanding of God's intention and his responsibility to carry it out and lead the people, but he needed specific guidance in each situation. It is a wise leader who takes time to consult the Lord on how to do a task. Psalm 18 gave voice to David's thoughts in this situation. Ambition has to be kept on a short leash. Conquest, armies, wealth, and power do not guarantee victory. We need God in every work or conquest we face.
Every one of us has areas of weakness where we are inclined to act on feelings, emotions, and “spur-of-the-moment” pressures. In our areas of weakness, temptations become strong and will strike at our “weak spot” to defeat our Christian testimony. We must strengthen our will, resolve, and faith by being aware of each situation in which our weakness is most vulnerable. The word of God written on the tables of our hearts is a wonderful help against temptation, but even more, there is the need to open the Bible and read it. Then, when we pray, we will not be led “into temptation” but “delivered from evil. We will have God-given strength, not just our moral strength, to overcome the effects and attacks on our weaknesses.
The Philistines had not come against David when he was king of Judah, but they had dominated much of the northern part of Israel after the defeat of Saul at Gilboa. They had a vested interest in that area, and when David became king over the united twelve tribes of Israel, they attempted to stop him. The first attempt would likely have been immediately after he became king of Israel and before the Israelites took Jerusalem. So, when the Philistines came against him to stop the power of a united Israel, God had His man in place.
Whoever wrote the book arranged the narratives by topics instead of the chronological order in which the events occurred. Therefore, the second attempt would have happened at a later time. In each case, David asked the Lord if he should go against the Philistines and how he should arrange the battle. Then, he followed God's specific instructions, which differed in each case, and God gave the victory. Appropriately, he gave God the glory for the outcome. Of interest is that the Philistines left their gods on the battlefield, likely thinking they were powerless against the God of Israel.
There is no particular template to follow when confronting our enemies—the world, flesh, and the devil. In every aspect of our lives and daily, we must consider what God’s will is at that time and then take action based on what the Bible says in words that apply to the situation. When we “lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us,” we will find that God’s will is not complicated even though it may differ from our natural response.
There are times when doors open, and we are compelled to go through to fulfill the commission our Lord gave us. Others may question and wonder what we are trying to do, but it is plain God has guided us, and now it is up to us to act in fear of God and do the right thing.
When one has the inward sense, the Spirit of God is leading us in a particular direction, and if the scriptures of truth confirm something in one's daily reading of the Bible, then it is wise and right to act, for it is God you are obeying. He guides you to do the work He has chosen you to begin. His guidance doesn’t always promise a walk of ease or even apparent success, and you can see what other people don’t understand. God has been preparing you in advance, and it has pleased Him, so no longer wait to wonder just when you should act.
The work was designed long before you even knew what it was. It is sufficient to know that you are expected to go forth in the Lord Jesus’ name to do His will, and God is always and forever the same. So, the time has come to dig right in. Do the work, don’t be afraid to plod through the hard times when you are alone. Even though other people may think you are odd and out of touch with the times and attitudes of the people, work for the Lord and leave the results to God.
Some insightful people will realize the Lord established you in this place for this work. Everything is never genuinely done at once. God has been at work for a long time since making us what He wants us to be. He planned for you to be the worker through whom He fulfills His purpose and blesses His people.
The people liked David; he had established a good reputation, was successful, and had the potential for greatness, but he knew he needed God. When God has the first place in one's life, and each thing we are called upon to do is done under divine control, we can expect success and give God all the glory. The challenge of the Philistines was obvious, and conflict was inevitable. How to accomplish the task was up to the Lord. In both battles with the Philistines, the wisdom and power of God were needed. Because something works well, one time does not mean that is what we are to do the next time.
It was important to David to have unmistakable instructions from the Lord before each battle. He did what the Lord said because he first asked if he should fight. Then he got advice from the Lord and did it. When the victory was won, he gave God all the glory and credit for the success. These three principles are important to act on in our service to the Lord. Leadership means we must protect the Lord's people. We must keep them unified and establish and maintain the testimony of the Lord's united people.
When God gives us a victory, however large or small, we are expected to “Give God all the glory, great things He has done.” Any claim we might want to take for ourselves leads to sinful pride. In some cases, God expects us to go against the forces of evil openly; in other cases, another approach from “behind” is what the Lord knows is best. In any event, we face, there is potential for spiritual defeat. We must ask the Lord where to go, what to do, and how to do it. Then, we will realize that God has been working through us to accomplish His will in a way that will defeat evil, give God glory, and give us peace.