Proper 9

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

5 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ”

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces  inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

Sermon

So far, we have been spending this summer in the Old Testament. Looking at the nation of Israel during the lives of Eli and Samuel, Saul, and David. Two weeks ago, if we had been together, we would have heard the story of David and Goliath. How David with only a sling and stone and his faith in God, defeated the giant who threatened Israel. Last week we would have heard about Saul’s death and David’s psalm of grief as he honors the memory of Saul and his friend Jonathan.

Now, you might think after Saul’s death, everything would be good. Samuel had warned the people about how bad Saul would be, so bad king dies, problem solved. But instead, the problems continued. While Samuel had anointed David to be the next king as God had instructed him, Abner, who was a cousin of Saul felt Ishbosheth, Saul’s son should take the throne. This created a civil war between the House of Saul and the House of David. Now, there are a lot of twists and turns in this story but eventually Abner and Ishbosheth are both killed which ends the division as we read this passage this morning.

Who comes to celebrate David as the new king? All the tribes of Israel. And who does David join in a covenant with? All the elders of Israel. And where does David lead? All Israel and Judah. Three times the word “all” is used. What was once divided is united under David.

But David is more than a king. The tribes remind him of the words of the Lord who said, “you will shepherd my people”. Now David had been a shepherd. In fact, When Samuel showed up for the sacrifice looking for the new king, David had been watching his father’s flocks. And here again, David is invited to the role of shepherd. This time with the people of God. And the idea of being a shepherd means that David is to care for the people, protect them, watch over them. Unlike Saul who used his position to achieve his own selfish goals, David is going to help the nation. He’s the only king in the history of Israel who enters into a covenant relationship with the people.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR THE SEASON AFTER PENTECOST (ORDINARY TIME, OR KINGDOMTIDE)

The pastor stands behind the Lord's table.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift hands and keep them raised.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,

always and everywhere to give thanks to you,

Father Almighty (almighty God), creator of heaven and earth.

You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God,

and spoke to us through your prophets, who looked for that day

when justice shall roll down like waters

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,

when nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

The pastor may lower hands.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The pastor may raise hands.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor,

to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

and to announce that the time had come

when you would save your people.

He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection

you gave birth to your Church,

delivered us from slavery to sin and death,

and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

At his ascension you exalted him

to sit and reign with you at your right hand.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread, or touch the bread, or lift the bread.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,

gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me."

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the cup, or touch the cup, or lift the cup.

When the supper was over he took the cup,

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

The pastor may raise hands.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,

and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,

that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

The pastor may raise hands.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,

all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God ), now and for ever.

Amen.