2 Samuel: The Rise of a King
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1 Samuel pivots around a decision God's people take:
- having lived through the ages of judges,the Israelites now desire to have a king over them.
- a complicated issue: 1) the judges have failed them
2) wanting to be like the other nations - effectively turning their back on God
Samuel, the prophet, rails against them - this is a really bad idea.
and yet ... God allows it & allows them to go through it & to have a king
Since Genesis, the search - looking for a son to crush the Serpent;
now the search is both for a son & a king ... God incorporates the
desired role into being a key part of his Saviour/Messiah rescuer
- What kind of king are you going to have?
opinions divided - a warrior / diplomat/ absolute ruler/ senior politican
Saul - how a king shouldn't be;
how he turns away & doesn't listen - unravelling.
The figure of David emerges: how a King could be.
After the death of Saul, the transition point:
what kind of king is going to emerge in David?
2 Samuel 1 - 6: David’s rise to become the King over Israel
I. 2 Samuel 1
Paul Mathole
From out of the battle with the Amalekites,
David's response to the news of Saul's death:
- Not his plan or purpose to overthrow Saul, whom God had appointed.
- David's just, righteous, holy love for the LORD
- David leading his people with poetry
in a public lament which lends a shape to his emotions
David & Jonathan:
- I wonder if we have, in the cacophony of our modern world,
in some ways, lost a language of deep intimacy, of spiritual friendship
- that isn't sexual - between our Christian brothers & sisters.
I wonder if we are the poorer for not having it.
God saying through David:
'I am this kind of God; I bring this kind of king.'
Through David's perspective & passion,
we see a demonstration of the same:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength.
- &, as he leads his people in the lament, "love your neighbour as yourself";
words of Christ; he who will ultimately fill out the role of kingship.
II. 2 Samuel 2: 1 - 7 (PM)
Homecoming King
1. Unlike Saul, David "enquired of the LORD"
- asks where to go, listens & acts upon the answer
Hebron: this is a big move - a return back into Judah,
from having been on the fringes, in a place of safety, in Ziglak.
2. A significant place in the history of God's people
... Abraham at Mamre; burial place for the Patriarchs
One tribe. King over Judah, in the South.
Jesus will say later, the kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed
- starts out small, gradually grows & develop.
One tribe but it's beginning. First step.
Outward-looking King
the kingdom begins to grow -
The men from Jabesh Gilead - night-raid to rescue bodies of Saul & his sons,
displayed in victory, to give them a proper, dignified, honourable burial
v.5 David sends messengers into Philistine-occupied territory to JG,
to speak to those loyal to Saul -
those who could easily be rivals to David, if not enemies.
Due to the "lovingkindness" [hesed] & commitment they had shown to Saul,
- that God would bless them & have favour on them;
- that he, David, would - extraordinarily - show them blessing; an agent of God;
- thirdly, an encouragement to have courage.
Through winsome appeal, by acting in grace,
David wins them round & offers them his leadership.
III. 2 Samuel 3: 6 - 38 (PM)
Joab & Abner: the field marshals of their day
- The concubine accusation (equiv. to making a design on the king's throne)
- Outrage at the questioning & insult to his loyalty towards Saul's house
v.9-10: The oath & promise
- restoration of David's wife (1 Sam 18) from Saul’s household
- David strengthening his claim to the throne
Blueprint:
Former enemies /
God's chosen king /
Sent in peace ... Col 1: 21
Abner’s murder: an act of defiance by Joab to avenge his brother’s death.
David distances himself from these actions;
from feast -> state funeral, David's response is to establish his innocence
- The writer identifies this as David also establishing his kingdom
* v.31 Kingship; first time this name has been declared, signifies a shift.
IV. 2 Samuel 4 (JS)
These men take the back route so as not to be seen
- seeking to win favour from David
- right words but wrong actions of murder & brutality
What they are trying to do may bring in David's kingdom
but the position he holds is: not in this way;
not by taking matters into his own hands
◘ Very radical in comparison to practices at a time
when power was routinely seizes through force & violence
i.e.: David has a strong army but is choosing not to use it
~ standing in a show of strength & trusting in God
Deut 21: "anyone who is hung on a pole is under God's curse"
This kingdom is coming about through the attractiveness of the King.
◘ What helps you to remember that God's kingdom is going to be established?
___________
◘ Leadership
The sphere you are in is yours to rule over,
to have influence in - Gen 1
1 Sam 17:32: David's example -
Saul should be the man to fight Goliath as King of Israel
but he & his people are collectively "dismayed & terrified" v.11
David: v.26 "in God's strength"
v.32 "let no one lose heart" - cf: angels to the shepherds
David's faith pushes away any fear, will not bury his talent
......
In praying for a leadership problem - a difficult boss, a tricky situation
by praying for them too, we bring that problem to God &
by acknowledging that God has the ultimate power and influence and control,
we dethrone that person from that place they hold in our heads
& submit to His will instead.
___________
V. 2 Samuel 5
Kingdom united under David: "all of the tribes"
Jebusites: not idolatry but worship of the true & living God
Philistines: David's response - to inquire of the LORD (v.17)
Kingly Rule ...
David: Jesus
Servant king
Shepherd king
Prayerful, humble
Servanthood
Kingdom (New Jerusalem;
Eph 1: 20 - 22)
___________
VI. 2 Samuel 6
The Ark of the Covenant:
the very presence of God,
enthroned - from the exodus
During Saul's reign, the Ark was kept
on the margins / periphery of the kingdom
- David wants to see it restored to the very centre of the kingdom
- David's intentions are good but he is acting on his own terms
The passage seems shocking & extreme (cf also 1 Chron. 13:10)
however these actions directly contravene God's rules
- (Numbers 1: 50 - 52; 1 Chron. 15: 26)
God's rules exist from a place of love
- God does want to bless His people with His presence (Obed-Edom)
however, it is improper to approach God however you want
* the shift in scale of sacrifices from v.13 - v.17
Repentance / Obedience → Blessing / Favour
_____________________
VII. 2 Samuel 7:18
David’s Prayer
How do we keep trusting in this Promise?
David’s understanding of himself; humility
David looks up,
back*
& forward
◘ Character
- God cannot lie (Titus 1:2)
- His Word cannot return empty (Isaiah 55:11)
Trust that God is trustworthy
Why else do we keep reading on the Bible?
To increase faith, to remind ourselves of the promises He has made
◘ Track record (fulfilment; v.24 )
Jesus expected his followers to look back (the Last Supper);
* Ps 126:5 ™
And now, GOD, do it again - bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest
So those who went off with heavy hearts
will come home laughing, with armloads of blessings <<999>> [1182]
_______
Paul to Timothy (2 Tim 2:8) -'remember Jesus'
"Our feelings do not affect God’s facts" - Amy Carmichael
◘ v.25 Deflecting the praise
~ that God’s name will be glorified & honoured: its far-reaching effects
"so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say..."
◘ v. 29 ~ prayer model of ACTS;
adoration - thanksgiving - supplication
Rev 21:15: "these words are trustworthy & true"