TODAY’S READING: II SAMUEL 5-8
OVERVIEW:
David is anointed as the king over all ofIsrael; the stronghold of the Jebusites (Jerusalem) is captured by David; David brings the Ark of God intoJerusalem; the Davidic Covenant: David’s prayer of thanksgiving: David’s victories over the Philistines, the Moabites, the Syrians, and the Edomites.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
David had reigned over the tribe ofJudahfor 7½ years inHebron. In chapter 5, he is anointed king over the entire nation ofIsrael, and did so for 33 years, making his entire reign forty years.
With the extension of his kingdom, He now needed a more centralized location from which to rule, and choseJerusalemto be the capital city. The only problem was, the Jebusites dwelt inJerusalemandIsraelhad not yet found a way to capture this stronghold of the enemy (Josh. 15:63; Judges1:21). The Jebusties were so cocky about their ability to maintain their stronghold they defied them saying, “The lame and the blind could defeat you,” yet David and his men defeated the Jebusites, andJerusalemeven came to be called “the city ofDavid”!
Like David, our King, the Lord Jesus Christ, has been anointed (Messiah) of God to rule from the throne of our hearts over our entire life. We must allow Him to remove any and all “strongholds” that the enemy has established. II Cor.11:35says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”
But notice in II Samuel 5, that just as soon as the stronghold had been defeated and David had been established inJerusalem, the old enemy, the Philistines, show up! Recognize, that until we receive our glorified body, we’re never going to be “out of the woods,” and that one of the key times Satan will attack us, is when he thinks we have been “lulled by the blessing” of a recent victory.
Note also, that as the Philistines were in pursuit, David sought clear direction from the Word of the Lord and victory was granted. As the enemy (the Philistines) attacks a second time, David didn’t assume another victory, but once again sought clear direction from the Lord. (These are key principles to file in the forefront of our understanding concerning spiritual warfare!)
In chapter 6, David is about to do something monumental: Return the ark (representative of God’s presence among His people) to its rightful placed. The ark has been in the possession of the Philistines for 20 years, and sadly, no on seemed to miss it, or be impassioned to see it returned!
The return of the ark was an incredibly exciting and worshipful experience for all involved. The spiritual atmosphere was electric! A great lesson is to be learned, however. God is never interested in self styled worship, and good intentions and proper motivation mean nothing if there is not complete obedience to God’s Word. In David’s zeal to see the ark returned, the method of carrying it (on a new cart) was in violation of how God had clearly instructedIsraelto carry it. (See Num. 4:15; 7:9) When the oxen pulling the cart stumbled on Nachon’s threshingfloor and well-meaning Uzzah reached forth to keep the ark from falling off, just as God had warned, he was immediately zapped! Don’t ever forget, “God says what He means, and means what He says” (Num. 4:15). (That Ark was a picture of Christ himself, which is holy and pure. Uzzah made the mistake of thinking his hand was cleaner than the mud that the Ark was about to fall into. The whole incident caused David to “take the standing eight count” as to whether returning the ark was what he really wanted. He pawned it off on the Obededom, and it stayed there for three months, until David saw how the ark had brought such blessing to Obededom and his entire family.
In chapter 7, God established the Davidic covenant. This key unconditional covenant promised that David would have a child that was yet to be born who would succeed him and establish his kingdom.
This son (Solomon) would build the temple instead of David, and the throne of his kingdom would be well established forever, even in spite of the sins he may commit. It further promised that David’s house, his kingdom, and his throne would be established forever.
David was deeply moved by God’s covenant of grace, and humbly came into God’s presence and offered the prayer of thanksgiving recorded in7:18-29.
In chapter 8, David consolidates the kingdom by defeating in rapid succession the Philistines, the Moabites, the Syrians, and the Edomites. The key to theses conquests is found in verse 14, “And the Lord preserved David withersoever he went.”
CHRIST IS REVEALED:
Through DAVID, THE ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL – II Samuel 5:3 (Psalm 2:2; John1:41– Christ is the Lord’s Anointed. Note that “Christ” is the Greek word for the Hebrew word “Messiah,” which means “anointed one.”)