2 Samuel 5:1-25 [Our Unifier & Victor]

After a crash, it may take some time for things to be restored. 1 Samuel ends in a crash driven by self-willed King Saul. In the first 8 chapters of 2 Samuel David picks up the pieces of wreckage and finished the task of establishing, not a Monarchy, but a Representative Theocracy. David realizes that ultimately it is God Himself, not ANY king, who rules over His people.

The first 8 chapters of 2 Samuel detail how David puts both his countrymen and the enemies of God under God’s footstool. As I read these 8 chapters this week I found chapters 5 and 7 to be high-water marks of this process of restoration and alignment. Since I spoke on chapter 7 back in September of 2019, We will focus today on 2 Samuel 5

For those who are interested, the archives of that earlier sermon are available on our Facebook, YouTube pages as well as sermon page of our refreshed website, titled “The Reigning God” if you are looking for something to listen to as you drive to Thanksgiving dinner.

Today we see king David as a picture of Christ himself. David AND Christ both gather and unify their followers, and give victory over their enemies. Although 3 sons died with Saul in 1 Sam 31, 1 son lived on and tried to assume the throne of his father. But it wasn’t his reign to assume! The Hebrews are divided between Saulists and Davidists and we see skirmishes, civil war and insurrection. Out of this mess, the people see their need for a GOOD king who will lead them in righteousness and victory/. God’s people need a king who will neither rebuild nor make them great again, they need a king to lead them to new heights.

Sidenote: There are a plethora of idols and small-g gods that people turn to when lives are in ruin. No matter what ideas you have been chasing, David is a picture of the Christ who can turn your skirmishes and insurrection into righteous victories!

TRANSITION: Let’s look at the Historical facts that will point us to our current solution.

2 positive traits from Psalm 78:72 “With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.”

Integrity of heart expanded the Kingdom (2 Samuel 5:1-10)

7 years in Hebron (Judah) (v.5a)

Hebron is mentioned 5x in these first 13 verses. Hebron is a town where Abraham had lived so this location is connecting David with the people before the Egyptian migration and slavery.

David doesn’t seem to be on a public relations tour or campaign. He appears to me to be one who is intent on leading God’s people in God’s way. The enemies of God notice this when they are defeated, and the 10 Northern tribes take notice when their leaders are falling like flies.

David is not driven by aspirations, he is content with godliness.

The best definition of Integrity that I have ever heard goes back to the hay day of the PromiseKeepers’ movement. I heard some speaker or read in one of the men’s movement books that “Integrity is what you do when you don’t think anyone is watching.”

I don’t want to paint David as a perfect leader. We’ve already seen that his faith wavered when Saul was chasing him. We will see next week that his passions led him into bad situations with deadly consequences, but, in contrast to Saul, he was bent on obeying God.

33 years in Jerusalem (united monarchy (v.5b)

While David is still reigning over Judah (2:4), “All the tribes seek him out to become their king, with the endorsement of the elders of their clans (5:3)

I ran across a quote this week that struck home. The longer I live the more I want to “listen to my elders before they become my ancestors”.

I see a difference between the scene described and our methods of democracy. In those days the emphasis was on those who had earned the right to have an opinion. In our days it seems like campaigns are targeting segments of our electorate—immigrants, racial or religious subsections of the population, young voters on campus or those receiving entitlements through welfare, financial aid or social security. Young black guy chooses old white guy as running mate; woman chooses a candidate who is more extreme to attract voters toward the fringe; business man chooses running mate with reputation in faith community; old white guy chooses woman as running mate, etc. Our system seems to be more about strategy than unity, for either side. Political strategist search to attract the most and repel the least, rather than promote the best.

Transition: David’s integrity was not just theoretical or perception. It proved itself practically.

Skillful hands increased victories (2 Sam 5:17-25)

Wisdom considers both how and when to act

David prays before each battle because he knows 1 strategy won’t fit all situations.

Immediate, frontal attack (vv.17-21)

The Valley of Rephaim is just south of Jerusalem on the way to Bethlehem.

Imagine if Emporia were Jerusalem and you drew a circle around it from Newton, through McPherson, up to Salina, over to Junction City, Topeka, down to Ottawa and down south to Highway 54. The Valley of Rephaim was a low place not much bigger than the Tall Grass Preserve. This was the ONLY place in that big circle that Philistine chariots would have an advantage over the mountains in the rest of that big circle.

Notice that the place is given a new name (v.20). You may recall that when the Philistines defeated Saul, they paraded their bodies throughout the region as a cry that the God of the Israelites had been defeated. The name Baal-Perazim literally means the gods (of the Philistines) have been broken through.

3. Delayed, rear attack (vv.22-25)

If insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and expecting a different result, the Philistines are insane to gather again in the same valley.

God tells David that he will gain victory again, but this time will be a little different.

Not only will you win, you will cut off their path of retreat.

4. Same enemy, same God, different strategies!

What happened to Moses when he thought he knew how God was going to provide water from the Rock? Striking the rock the 2nd time prevented him from ultimately entering the promised land.

Transition: Everything seems to be going right for David, but one verse in the middle of this chapter warns that there is potential for problems.

Heart Passions became a distraction for David. (2 Samuel 5:13)

Women (2 Sam 11)

We will focus on this event in David’s life next week.

I don’t want to burden you with “be careful your appetites don’t lead you into trouble” sermon just days before Thanksgiving.

David’s multiple wives were prohibited for Israel’s kings in Deuteronomy 17:17 for a specific reason

His list of wives provided not less than 20 children (plus the unnamed from concubines), creating an unruly family.

Some times less is more!

Transition: David’s other passion is military might

Warriors (2 Sam 24, 1 Chr 21)

1. The census was an opportunity to “flex in the mirror”

From the 400 in the cave in 1 Sam 22; to the 600 who were in his militia after Ziklag in 1 Sam 30; by the end of David’s expansion it takes Joab nearly 10 months to count all the 1.3 million fighting age men.

2. In 24:10 David realizes the sin of his prideful action. Even though David confesses his sin, there are still consequences that must fall so that all will realize disobedience to God always has been and always will be serious.

3. David gets to “pick his switch” and chooses God’s mercy (24:16) over the unpredictable consequences of famine or his enemies. This flex prompted a plague that killed 70K

4. After the discipline, an interesting exchange happens with David and Arunah of Jerusalem (24:18-25). An interesting principle of worship that David won’t only offer what is easy, but true worship may be costly.

Transition: This is where we see the integrity and skill as pointing to Jesus.

Jesus unites all peoples under one throne (Phil 2:10)

Philippians 2:10 ESV:2016

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

It matters not if you are Philistine (Palestinian), Jew, American, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, beyond our southern border, or East of Israel.

Ever since the Garden of Eden, even when God chose to make a great nation of Abraham, the instructions to the Jewish people was always to show mercy to the sojourner.

God has ALWAYS had a heart for ALL people.

It matters not if you are Jew or Gentile, slave or free (rich or poor), raised near or far from God, just as David unified a nation from those who had been enemies, Jesus calls us all equally to the foot of the cross!

Transition: Not only does Jesus unite us at the level ground at the foot of Calvary…

Jesus grants victory over all his foes (Eph 1:22)

There is no sin that can keep you from God’s grace and there is no sin that cannot be defeated by God’s mercy.

Real quick, notice all the times we see this phrase in the New Testament.

Gospel authors

Matthew 22:44 ESV:2016

44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?

Mark 12:36 ESV:2016

36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’

Luke 20:43 ESV:2016

43 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

John in Rev 11:17

Revelation 11:17 ESV:2016

17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

NT History

Acts 2:35 ESV:2016

35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’

Epistles

1 Corinthians 15:25 ESV:2016

25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Hebrews 1:13 ESV:2016

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

Conclusion

Through one death upon one cross, forgiveness is offered for all sin!

It becomes perfectly clear that in Jesus we are all invited into one united family, regardless of past or circumstances.

When He adopts us into His family, He dominates sin and grants victory to all who will submit to Him.

Preachers today like to summarize this by saying, “If you call upon Him as your Savior you will be saved and if you submit to Him as Lord, He will transform you into His own image.

This is the good news, the Gospel, and it is sufficient reason to be thankful both today and this Thursday.

Song of Response #.. “Thank You, Lord”

Benediction: Ephesians 3:20 (ESV) — Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,