Independence or dependence

2 Samuel 5:1-5 “So all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and they said, “Here we are, we are your flesh and blood. For some time, when Saul was king over us, you were leading Israel in and out. Yahweh had said to you, ‘You shall be the shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be the leader over Israel.’ ” All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the presence of Yahweh; then they anointed David as king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years. He reigned over Judah at Hebron for seven years and six months; and he reigned over all Israel and Judah at Jerusalem for thirty-three years.”

2 Samuel 5:11-12 “So Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and craftsmen skilled in wood and in stone masonry, and they built a house for David. David realized that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that he had exalted his kingdom because of his people Israel.”

2 Samuel 5:17-25 “When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David as king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come, and they spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go up to the Philistines? Will you give them into my hands?” Yahweh said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” So David came to Baal Perazim and defeated them there; and David said, “Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like the bursting of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. They had left their idols there, so David and his men carried them away. Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of Yahweh, but he said, “You shall not go up. Rather, go around to their rear and come to them from opposite the balsam trees. And it shall be that when you hear the sound of marching in …”

As we celebrate the 247th birthday of our country, we take note of what happened on July 4th, 1776; the Declaration of Independence was signed, a declaration to Great Britain that we were going to be our own country. Some of the text is as follows: , “....That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do....”

While a country has the right to tell another country or countries that they have a right to exist and self-govern. We as children of God must understand that we exist by the love and mercy of God, we must also understand that we cannot think of ourselves as independent from God. In him we need to trust, in him we must depend.

God established: in the text we find that David understood that the LORD had established him to be king over Israel, not for David’s sake, but for God’s people’s sake, the people of Israel. If you study 1st, 2nd Samuel, 1st & 2nd Kings and also 1st & 2nd Chronicles, you will find story after story of people who either accepted that they were wholly dependent on God and his provision or they rejected God and thought they could operate independent of the God of Israel. God did not want his kings to rule just for the sake of power, he wanted them to be his earthly agents over his people, Israel. As his earthly agents, they needed to all understand that God had established them. David understood it, Hezekiah understood it and Nebuchadnezzar understood it.

Baal-Perazim: this literally means, lord of the breaches, outburst. God broke through or breached through his enemies. David understood this in 2 Samuel 5:20 “So David came to Baal Perazim and defeated them there; and David said, “Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like the bursting of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.”

God wants us to depend on him: 2 Kings 20:1-7 “In those days Hezekiah became deathly ill, and Isaiah the son of Amoz the prophet came to him and said to him, “Thus says Yahweh, ‘Command your house, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’ ” Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, saying, “O Yahweh, please remember how I went about before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and remember the good that I have done in your eyes.” Then Hezekiah wept bitterly. Isaiah had not gone out from the middle of the city when the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “Return; you must say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘Thus says Yahweh the God of David your ancestor, “I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears. Look, I am about to heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the temple of Yahweh. I will add to your days fifteen years, and from the hand of the king of Assyria I will deliver you and this city. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.” ’ ” Then Isaiah …”

Understand where your blessings, position, etc, come from: Daniel 4:34-37 ““But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and then my reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and the one who lives forever I praised and I honored. “For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom continues from generation to generation. And all the dwellers of the earth are regarded as nothing, and he does according to his desire in the host of heaven and among the dwellers of earth, and there is not one who can hold back his hand, or ask him, ‘What are you doing?’ “At that time my reason returned to me, and also the glory of my kingdom and my majesty and splendor returned to me, and my advisers and my lords searched me out, and I was established over my kingdom and abundant greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the king of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways are justice and that he is able to humble those who walk in pride.””

Neither hot nor cold: Laodicea a church that took on the personality of its city Revelation 3:14-22 ““And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “This is what the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation, says: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! Thus, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth! Because you are saying, “I am rich, and have become rich, and I have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and pitiable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire, in order that you may become rich, and white clothing, in order that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and eye salve to smear on your eyes, in order that you may see. As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. Be zealous, therefore, and repent! Behold, I stand at the door and knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, indeed I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. The one who c…”