Lessons from the Life of David - Chapter 5
Dependant on God
Last time we were thinking about David's anointing first of all as king of Judah and then as king of Israel and the commencement of a forty year reign. Today we will observe from 2 Samuel chapter 5 verse 6, that David's first act as king was to capture Jerusalem, "The stronghold of Zion and the city of the great king."
It was the earthly centre of God's government and a type of the heavenly Jerusalem to which we as believers have come, according to Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2. Mount Zion the city of the living God. Says the writer further "you have come by faith to God the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect - to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant." How blessed we are as Christian believers, by the provision of our God! No city on earth, someone has said, can touch Jerusalem for interest and importance. In the Bible "Shalom" means peace, taken from Jerusalem which means city of peace or the foundations of peace. Yet no city has so belied its name. It has suffered more sieges and warfare than almost any other in the world. We are told in verse 6 that David and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who jeered at David and said with certainty, "You will not get in here. Even the blind and lame can ward you off." However, they underestimated David's military knowledge and skill and he and his army captured the fortress of Zion, the city of David. We are told further that David became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him, and his continuing story was one of success and prosperity. David recognised that God had set him as king in Zion and his eyes were ever to the Lord. Whatever his human faults were, and like all of us he had many, he maintained a devout reverence for his God, the Lord Jehovah.
Someone has said because of his reliance upon the Lord, he went on going and growing. From conflict to conflict and victory to victory he progressed. He grew to be a great conqueror because he was constantly endeavouring to grow into a good man. He would teach each of us that fellowship with the Lord of hosts can only be maintained in this way. While David realised his need of divine assistance in the encounters with the enemies of Israel, he was also conscious of needing the same grace in respect of his own life. One of the great dangers of life is that its outward activities can prevent the believer from engaging in communication with the Lord. We can try so hard to live so well before men, that we fail to make time for living before God. The call of the street is so loud that it drowns out the note that summons us to the sanctuary.
David's next victory in battle was with Israel's hated enemies the Philistines. We read that when they heard that David has been anointed king over Israel they went up in full force to search for him. However, David heard about it and went down to their stronghold. We note that 2 Samuel chapter 5 verse 19 tells us that first of all David enquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The Lord answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you." So David went to Baal-Perayim and there he defeated them. He went on to say, "As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me." David showed yet again, his implicit faith in the Lord his God, and would not take a step without seeking his guidance and approval first. The chapter goes on to tell us that this was the first of two victories against the Philistines in the space of a very short time. On this occasion the Lord instructed David on the method of attack he would use. He did as God directed and prevailed victoriously.
Moving now to 2 Samuel chapter 7 we read of David's next great venture for God and Israel. It was to bring back to Jerusalem the Ark of the Covenant - the Ark of God. Moses, the great leader of Israel, had been instructed by the Lord to build this most sacred piece of furniture and place it in the most holy place in the tabernacle many years before. Sadly, in a battle with the Philistines, Israel was defeated and the ark carried off. It finally was returned by the Philistines, who were afraid to keep it in their territory because of the judgement of the Lord God of Israel. It was eventually taken to the house of Abinidab, where it stayed for twenty years. As he reigned in Jerusalem, David longed for the day when the ark of the Lord could be brought to his royal city and given its rightful place in the midst of his people. So one day he set out with thirty thousand chosen men and they brought back this most sacred piece of furniture. Some have said that this was the most joyous event of David's reign. King and people united in glad thanksgiving that once again the sacred sign of God's presence was re-established in their midst. David himself was lost in joyous wonder and the work was done in the spirit of worship before the Lord.
Our service for God is to be joyful, thankful and done with all our might. David had been greatly blessed in his life by the Lord and here was another opportunity to show his gratitude. We are told then that David blessed the people and made sacrificial offerings to the Lord. We must always ensure that the Lord is honoured among his people. This is a great privilege that we, like Israel that day, can share in. David then with regal liberality provided food for every one of his subjects and then ventured home to bless his own household. Let us ever remember our responsibilities to our families - it is often said that love begins at home, where we should always be a witness and blessing to our loved ones.