Previously in 2 Samuel, we saw the deaths of both Abner and Ishbosheth. In both instances, David whole-heartedly disapproved, and in the case of Ishbosheth, David had the men who killed him put to death. This was going against the cultural norms, and it demonstrated to the people that David was a just ruler. David behaved wisely in each instance, and after this the nation would come to make him king over them.
So, all the tribes came to Hebron to make David king, and the elders anointed him there. This was actually quite the gathering with the elders of Israel and over 340 thousand soldiers present. They were there three days eating and drinking, and the people were bringing in food on donkeys in abundance. It states there was joy in Israel. There is a time to be joyful and celebrate, especially when the Spirit of God is moving and doing a new thing in our midst. Oh, that we would have such a move today in which thousands would be united around the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the word of God. In the early Church, they were continuing in the apostles’ teaching, hanging out together, eating, and spending time in prayer.
The elders came to David and said, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’” In leading God’s people, a few things should be present: First is the person should belong to God’s people (they are a believer). Second, there should be an evident call from God. David had been directly called by God to be king through Samuel, and possibly through other prophets. Third, a godly leader needs to demonstrate the ability to lead. David had been in preparation a long time, but now, some 20 years or so after being called, he was ready. God will use great preparation when the task is great. As one commentator put it, “In God’s plan there is almost always a hidden price of greatness. Often those who become great among God’s people experience much pain and difficulty in God’s training process.” Paul told Timothy that if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good thing, and he then goes on to list the qualifications for that position (1 Tim 3:1-7). Lastly, although less important than the other criteria, it is important that other godly individuals see this calling and ability. Rarely does the Lord call and equip someone without others seeing it. If you or I feel called by the Lord to something, and other godly individuals are not seeing it, it may not be the Lord. Israel saw God’s calling on David’s life, they saw his capability to lead, and they were now on board with God’s plan. David reigned 7 and a half years in Hebron, and he would reign for another 33- and one-half years in Jerusalem, for a total of 40 years.
Now if we recall, David had his eyes on Jerusalem, probably as far back as when he killed Goliath. Why Jerusalem we might ask? First, the Lord told them it was to be an Israelite city, and that they were to cut off all its inhabitants (Exo 23:23-24, Deut 7 :1-2, and 20:17). Second, it was strategically located in the Promised Land, and had not been claimed by any of the tribes of Israel. Third, it sits on a ridge, and is surrounded on three sides by valleys, making it easily defendable. But perhaps the greatest reason is that God put it into David’s heart, since Jerusalem is near and dear to God’s heart. It is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible: it is where Melchizedek reigned (a foreshadow of Jesus Christ, if not actually Him pre-incarnate), it is where David and Solomon prepared and built the temple, it is where Jesus was crucified and raised to life again, and it is where Jesus will rule and reign from just to name a few.
At the time of David, the city of Jerusalem was inhabited by the Jebusites, and they were so confident that it could not be taken that they told David that even the lame and the blind could repel him. David was not detoured by this, but took the stronghold of Zion, naming it the City of David. David told his men that whoever climbed up the water shaft would be his general. Joab was the man who went up the water shaft and conquered Jerusalem. If this was what is known today as Warren’s Shaft, he would have climbed over 50 feet to the top, and then opened the city gate to let in the Israelite soldiers. Joab would be David’s general until his death.
David began building up Jerusalem, and it states he became great, the Lord being with him. He was so well known and respected that the king of Tyre sent supplies and workers to build him a house. It was then that David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. Notice how David didn’t take the credit by presuming God did all this for him, but it was for Israel. David simply realized that God was blessing Israel, and he just got to be a part of it. In this way David was a servant to the people, a trait of any godly leader, whereas Saul was in it for himself. He was reigning with humility. He also took more wives and concubines, showing his imperfection and human traits. He was used by God powerfully, but he was a sinful person just like you and me.
When the Philistines found out they had made David king, they went up to look for him. Whenever the Lord is moving, you can count on opposition. The devil does not like to see the kingdom of God advancing, so he will often launch an attack of some sorts to derail or hinder God’s people. When David heard they were coming, he went down to the stronghold, and the Philistines deployed themselves in the valley of Rephaim. David asked God if he should go up against the Philistines, and the Lord told him to go up, for He would certainly deliver them into his hand. So, David went to Rephaim and fought against the Philistines, and defeated them. He named the place Baal Perazim (master of breakthroughs), because he said that the Lord had broken through his enemies like a breakthrough of water. The Lord is the master of breakthroughs for believers today as well if they will seek Him, trust Him for the answer, and obey what He says. The Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away and burned them. Rather than allowing them to be a temptation or snare for the people, they destroyed them. This was another wise move for a leader, not only for the sake of others, but for his as well. It’s never a good idea to play with or go easy on temptation.
Then the Philistines came up again to battle at Rephaim, and David asked the Lord again what he should do. It may be easy in a situation like this to assume that since we had such great success the first time, we should employ the same tactics this time, but that is not what the Lord told him to do. He told him to circle around behind the Philistines, and when he heard the sound of marching in the Mulberry trees, to advance quickly, for the Lord would go out before them to strike the Philistines. The sound of marching is an interesting phrase, and if the rabbis are correct, it was the sound of angels walking through the treetops, going forth with the Lord to fight for Israel. David did as the Lord told him, and he drove the Philistines back as far as Gezer, a city on the border of Ephraim.
So, David had been told by the Lord he would be king over Israel, and now, some 20 years later, it had finally come to pass. It was not all easy sailing for David after this: he was not running from Saul or fighting with Abner, but the Philistines came looking for him once they found out he was king. It is the same in our Christian walk: the battles may change over time, but they never go away. They never go away because the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Our answer is sticking close to the Lord through prayer and the word of God, and then trusting and obeying what He says. In the next chapter we will see David bring the ark to Jerusalem.
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