The Reign of David: Joy & Homage

1. The Reign of David: Joy & Homage 2 Samuel, Chapters 5 - 10

2. David Is King Over Israel (5:1 – 2) The tide of Israel’s favor turned toward David. Abner had placed Ish-Bosheth (Saul’s remaining son) on the throne, yet later Abner was God’s instrument to swing the nation to David. David had ruled Judah for seven and a half years, but many from other tribes had defected to join his army. When Ish-Bosheth was murdered, all Israel came to David at Hebron, asking him to be their king. Enemy assaults made these tribes aware of their foolishness in not putting themselves under David’s leadership. David graciously accepted his long-awaited role as king of all Israel. He made a covenant with his brothers from all the tribes, and for the third time was anointed king. David chose Jerusalem, a strategic city in the heart of Israel, as the new capital. Jerusalem was then occupied by the Jebusites. They taunted David and boasted that David would never take the city. But God helped David did take the city, which he then built up and repaired. The king of Tyre even built him a palace! Up until now, the Philistines did not bother David when he reigned only over Judah. But with all Israel united under David, they felt threatened and went after him. David went to a stronghold. There he sought the LORD, who promised him victory. The Philistines brought their idols into battle, just as the Israelites had done earlier with the ark. In defeat, they left their useless idols behind. David gave orders to destroy those idols. Later the Philistines attacked Jerusalem again; again David looked to God. God told him to go behind the enemy and set an ambush. David obeyed, waited for God’s signal to attack, and then won decisively.

3. A New Covenant, A New Capital (5:3 – 16) David graciously accepted his long-awaited role as king of all Israel. He made a covenant with his brothers from all the tribes, and for the third time was anointed king. David chose Jerusalem, a strategic city in the heart of Israel, as the new capital. Jerusalem was then occupied by the Jebusites.They taunted David & boasted that David would never take the city. But God helped David did take the city, which he then built up and repaired. The king of Tyre even built him a palace! Up until now, the Philistines did not bother David when he reigned only over Judah. But with all Israel united under David, they felt threatened and went after him. David went to a stronghold. There he sought the LORD, who promised him victory. The Philistines brought their idols into battle, just as the Israelites had done earlier with the ark. In defeat, they left their useless idols behind. David gave orders to destroy those idols. Later the Philistines attacked Jerusalem again; again David looked to God. God told him to go behind the enemy and set an ambush. David obeyed, waited for God’s signal to attack, and then won decisively.

4. The Philistines Get Nervous (5:17 – 21) Up until now, the Philistines did not bother David when he reigned only over Judah. But with all Israel united under David, they felt threatened and went after him. David went to a stronghold. There he sought the LORD, who promised him victory. The Philistines brought their idols into battle, just as the Israelites had done earlier with the ark. In defeat, they left their useless idols behind. David gave orders to destroy those idols. Later the Philistines attacked Jerusalem again; again David looked to God. God told him to go behind the enemy and set an ambush. David obeyed, waited for God’s signal to attack, and then won decisively.

5. The Philistines Defeated (5:22 – 6:1) Later the Philistines attacked Jerusalem again; again David looked to God. God told him to go behind the enemy and set an ambush. David obeyed, waited for God’s signal to attack, and then won decisively. Though victorious and prosperous, David could not relax while the Ark of the Covenant lay neglected in Kiriath Jearim. He encouraged the people to support him in breaking back the Ark to Jerusalem and they responded positively. But David forgot to inquire of God, and to make sure all was done properly. The Israelites should have known the Law, including the rules for transporting the Ark. Only Levites could carry it, but no one could touch it or they would die. The crowd placed the Ark on a new cart driven by Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio. (The Ark had been in Abinadab’s home many years.) When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached to steady the Ark and died on the spot. A joyful occasion turned into a disaster! David’s first reaction was anger at God — after all, they were bringing the Ark to Jerusalem to please Him! But soon David was filled with reverence and awe for the LORD and he decided to leave the Ark in the house of Obed-Edom. This new awareness of God’s holiness made David ask how the Ark of the Lord could ever come to Jerusalem. Learning three months later that Obed-Edom’s household was blessed by God due to the presence of the Ark, David tried again to bring it to Jerusalem. This time David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem successfully. It was placed in a tent properly prepared for it. A celebration took place. David danced in worship before the LORD and all the people. But Michal, Saul’s daughter, felt no joy. Married to David in his youth, she had been given by Saul to another man, and had been returned to David at his insistence. She “despised him in her heart,” asking how he could demean himself by dancing before his subjects. David replied that God had made him king and that he would celebrate before Him even if others thought it undignified. After blessing the people, David went home.

6. Bringing The Ark To Jerusalem (6:2 – 7) But David forgot to inquire of God, and to make sure all was done properly. The Israelites should have known the Law, including the rules for transporting the Ark. Only Levites could carry it, but no one could touch it or they would die. The crowd placed the Ark on a new cart driven by Abinadab’s sons Uzzah and Ahio. (The Ark had been in Abinadab’s home many years.) When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached to steady the Ark and died on the spot. A joyful occasion turned into a disaster! David’s first reaction was anger at God — after all, they were bringing the Ark to Jerusalem to please Him! But soon David was filled with reverence and awe for the LORD and he decided to leave the Ark in the house of Obed-Edom. This new awareness of God’s holiness made David ask how the Ark of the Lord could ever come to Jerusalem. Learning three months later that Obed-Edom’s household was blessed by God due to the presence of the Ark, David tried again to bring it to Jerusalem. This time David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem successfully. It was placed in a tent properly prepared for it. A celebration took place. David danced in worship before the LORD and all the people. But Michal, Saul’s daughter, felt no joy. Married to David in his youth, she had been given by Saul to another man, and had been returned to David at his insistence. She “despised him in her heart,” asking how he could demean himself by dancing before his subjects. David replied that God had made him king and that he would celebrate before Him even if others thought it undignified. After blessing the people, David went home.

7. If At First You Don’t Succeed… (6:8 – 12) David’s first reaction was anger at God — after all, they were bringing the Ark to Jerusalem to please Him! But soon David was filled with reverence and awe for the LORD and he decided to leave the Ark where it was. This new awareness of God’s holiness made David ask how the Ark of the Lord could ever come to Jerusalem. Learning three months later that Obed-Edom’s household was blessed by God due to the presence of the Ark, David tried again to bring it to Jerusalem. This time David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem successfully. It was placed in a tent properly prepared for it. A celebration took place. David danced in worship before the LORD and all the people. But Michal, Saul’s daughter, felt no joy. Married to David in his youth, she had been given by Saul to another man, and had been returned to David at his insistence. She “despised him in her heart,” asking how he could demean himself by dancing before his subjects. David replied that God had made him king and that he would celebrate before Him even if others thought it undignified. After blessing the people, David went home.

8. Celebration, Dancing and Scorn (6:13 – 23) This time David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem successfully. It was placed in a tent properly prepared for it. A celebration took place. David danced in worship before the LORD. Michal felt no joy. Though she once loved David, now she despised him. She asked how he could demean himself by dancing before his subjects. David replied that God had made him king and that he would celebrate before Him even if others thought it undignified. After blessing the people, David went home.

9. David’s Desire, God’s “No” (7:1 – 29) David was now at “rest from all his enemies” and talked with God’s prophet, Nathan. He longed to build a proper temple for the Ark of God and Nathan encouraged him to do so. That night, God did commend David for his desire to build the temple. But God told Nathan that David’s son was to build the temple for the Ark. David later realized he was not chosen to build the temple because of his involvement in so many wars. David was disappointed, but he prayed to his Lord then went on to rule his kingdom.

10. A New Covenant, Anticipating Jesus (7:5 – 17) God made a covenant, promising to make David a great king whose sons would reign after him. His son, Solomon was the one to build the LORD’s temple, as he would reign in a time of peace. But God’s blessing on the house of David was conditional; disobedience to Him would bring punishment. Intermingled with the promises concerning Solomon is mention of One who would come from David’s line and reign forever.

11. David is Victorious, The Kingdom Expands (Chapters 8 and 10)  Chapters 8 and 10 can be summed up in these words: “The LORD gave David victory wherever he went” (8:14). Military victories extended Israel’s kingdom to the north, south, east, and west. David defeated the Philistines, the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Edomites. David won most of the ground that enabled his son Solomon to enjoy a kingdom so large it almost fulfilled God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18).

12. David Keeps His Promises (9:1 – 12 )  Chapter 9 illustrates David’s fulfillment of his promise to both Saul (1 Samuel 24:21) and Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-16) to be good to their descendants. Wanting to show “God’s kindness” to “the house of Saul,” he found Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibosheth. David restored his land, inviting him to eat at his own table. From then on, Mephibosheth ate “at the king’s table.”