Text: 2 Samuel 2:1-9
Review- Israel entered into the
Promised Land and desired a king like the nations around them. They asked God
for such a king and they got what they wanted in King Saul. This brings to mind
the proverb, Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.
God had intended to provide a king for
Israel. He served as their king and wanted them to have a king who was
interested in God’s kingdom. Their sin was not so much that they wanted a king
but that they wanted a king like the nations around them. They were pre-mature
and immature in their request. They were not willing to wait on God.
In the subsequent history of Saul and
Israel, we see this immaturity over and over. They do not wait on God. They run
ahead and get themselves in trouble.
Saul becomes the paradigmatic king to
represent Israel. He, too, runs ahead of the Spirit. God is gracious to Saul
but Saul does not wait for Samuel to offer sacrifices. Saul does not follow the
command of the Lord. He is hasty and he is disobedient.
David, on the other hand, waits on God.
Even when circumstances avail themselves, he will not act rashly. He does not
presume to know God’s mind when Saul is within his grasp. He refuses to listen
to the voices that want him to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed.
David is content to let God do the work to bring him into his kingdom.
We need to learn the lesson of David.
Patience really is a virtue. It has become a proverb for me that time and
patience takes care of most things. We are often clamoring for something to
happen. We want someone to fix a situation, whether it is a person in
authority, a parent, a teacher, a coach, a pastor. But time and patience are
the need of the day. We often need to be content to let God sort things out.
This is true both for good things and
for bad things. David was willing to wait for God to sort out the consequences
for both he and Saul. What should be done about Saul? Nothing. Let us wait and
see what God will do? What should be done about your anointing from the prophet
Samuel? Nothing. Let us wait and see what God will do. In both situations, God
sorts it out. Saul is judged and David comes into His Kingdom.
Of course, it sometimes takes great
wisdom to know when and how to act. Men should be men of action and initiative.
But we should also be men who are willing to wait and see what God will do. We
need to be cautious about making hasty judgments and actions. Waiting a little
longer never hurt when dealing with sinners. Waiting a little longer never hurt
when waiting for promised blessings. Be patient. Settle down. God has it under
control.
The
Promise- God
is not slow about fulfilling His promises. Some count Him slow but we cannot
count high enough to know what slow is.
The
Davidic Kingdom was not without opposition and enemies. After many years of
rebellion, God’s promises finally come together. Saul is dead and David is
king. Since this is the case, we might assume that the Davidic Kingdom would be
one of an instant reign of peace. But that is not what happens. David becomes
king but there is still opposition. Saul’s family lays claim to the kingdom.
Abner is in opposition to David. The Northern tribes are unsure of whom they
will serve.
David sets up his kingdom at Hebron and
waits seven more years before consolidating his power in Jerusalem. His full
kingdom does not suddenly appear. Even after arriving in Jerusalem, David is
still surrounded with enemies within and enemies without.
Some of this trouble was of his own doing. I am
thinking of the trouble with many children from different wives. This did not
have to be so. But a great deal of his trouble was from internal agitators and
external enemies. David had to continue to fight for the peace of His kingdom.
2
Sam. 2:1 And it came
to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into
any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up.
Even
after the judgment has fallen on Saul and his sons, David is not hasty. It
seems really clear that God has now given him the kingdom. It seems especially
clear that David’s tribe would receive him as king. But David does not presume
upon God. He asks God for an answer.
Often
pastors are sought for advice. But the seeking is often two fold. One man comes
and asks advice for a decision he has already made. He really does not want
advice. He wants the pastor to agree with his decision. But that is not really
seeking advice. In such situations I try to figure out if the man has already
decided. If so, he does not need my advice and he does not want my opinion. He
wants me to agree with him and a failure on my part is seen as opposition to
him.
Another
man comes in the throws of a decision. He wonders what the Bible says about it,
if anything. He wonders what the elders might think? He wonders if the pastor
has experience or wisdom to relate to the decision. He weighs this multitude of
counselors in order to make a wise decision.
The
first man deserves no answer. The second is a wise son and will hear from God.
David
was like the second man. He was ready and willing to make a move but he really
wanted to do so with the blessing of God. He wanted to know what God wanted him
to do. He was willing to not go up depending upon the Word of the Lord. Thus,
when he does go up, he goes with the confidence that God is with him. He has
not simply spoken his own mind and gathered yes men to exhort him on.
And David said, Whither
shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
David
not only asked ‘if’ he should go up but also ‘where’ he should go. He did not
have pre-conceived ideas about when and where his kingdom would be established.
He was willing to follow the Lord wherever the Lord sent him.
2 So David went up
thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s
wife the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were
with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in
the cities of Hebron.
The
answer from God is to go up to Hebron and there be made king. David had a ready
army and kingdom. Many men come to join kingdom and establish his kingdom in
power and glory.
4 And the men of Judah
came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
David
is of the tribe of Judah and the men of the tribe of Judah anoint David their
king. Keep in mind that David has not become the undisputed King of Israel. In
some ways, he is less of a king at this point than Saul was. He is the rightful
King of Israel but there will be a struggle to attain his full kingdom.
Heb.
2:5 For unto the angels hath he not
put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying,
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou
visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the
angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the
works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things
in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him,
he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all
things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was
made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb.
2:10 For it became him, for whom
are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons
unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are
sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call
them brethren,
And they told David,
saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried
Saul.
This
is a bit of a test for David and for his men. Why did they report this? Was it
that David would lash out at the men of Jabeshgilead? Or, so that he would know
who those are that are loyal to Saul? David is now in the world of kings, the
world of intrigue and court politics. But David is not a king like the nations
around him. David rules in the wisdom of God. He is not afraid of man because
God is on his side.
5 And David sent
messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be
ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even
unto Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now the LORD shew
kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because
ye have done this thing.
David
blesses the men of Jabeshgilead. In this, David shows great wisdom. He honors
Saul and Jonathan, in life as well as death. He reaches out an olive branch of
peace to those who were loyal to Saul. He blesses them for being loyal and
honorable to their king.
This
is wisdom. David is now the king and he desires the same kind of loyalty that
he showed King Saul and that these men of Jabeshgilead showed Saul. Far from
punishing these men, David esteems them high honor.
7 Therefore now let
your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead,
and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
David
commends them and exhorts them to strong and valiant. He exhorts them to
transfer their allegiance from Saul to David. They loved Saul and David loved
Saul. Judah is now serving David and David invites the men of Jabeshgilead to
that same service.
The
city of Jabeshgilead was in the tribe of Gad.
2
Sam. 2:8 But Abner
the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and
brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over
Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over
Benjamin, and over all Israel.
From
Day One, David has trouble in his kingdom. But that does not alter the fact
that David is the rightful king and that his kingdom will be firmly established.
But it takes time and patience and work and rest in God.
This
is not unlike Christ’s kingdom.
Psalm 2-1 Why do the heathen rage, and the
people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against
his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands
asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He
that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in
derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,
and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king
upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psalm 8-1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is
thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast
thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the
enemy and the avenger.
Psa.
8:3 When I consider thy heavens,
the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and
the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a
little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the
works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the
field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and
whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy
name in all the earth!
Psa.
110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord,
Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength
out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day
of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou
hast the dew of thy youth. 4 The LORD hath sworn, and
will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchizedek.
Psa.
110:5 The Lord at thy right hand
shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall
fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many
countries. 7 He shall drink of the brook in the way:
therefore shall he lift up the head.
David’s
kingdom like Christ’s kingdom, what prideful schemes are they in vain devising?
Why do the enemies plot a vain thing?
God
looks at this and hold them in derision and laughs. This present suffering is
part of the glory of our inheritance in the saints. This is true when enemies
plot against the Lord’s anointed and it is true when suffering enters the lives
of the saints. God is working something great out of all of this.
EXHORTATION
We
are overwhelming conquerors, in this life and in the one to come. We enter into
the sufferings of Christ but nothing can separate us from Christ. We cannot
understand this or put proper words to it but the Spirit can. It makes sense to
Him and He goes to the Father with it because we are in the Son. So, the chief
thing is to be in the Son.
Rom. 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the
hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh
intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose.
Rom. 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he
also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
them he also glorified.
Rom. 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely
give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing
to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy
sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
