Subject: David’s Victories and the Davidic Covenant
Feedback: The stuff on Mephibosheth was the most interesting part of this teaching. Consider focusing more on that next time. This teaching could probably use some more discussion questions too.
Intro
Key idea: Handling Success
- David followed God through intense trials and waited for God to lift him up.
- But can he follow God when times are good?
Here’s what we’ll see tonight:
2 Sam 5 – (briefly) David takes the throne and Jerusalem and starts to get attention from other nations
2 Sam 8, 10 – A number of military victories (we won’t read these)
We’ll focus on three key events early in David’s reign:
- 2 Sam 6
- 2 Sam 7
- 2 Sam 9
2 Sam 5
David takes the throne (v. 1-5)
1 Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood.
In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the LORD told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’ ”
3 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the LORD with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all.
5 He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all and Judah for thirty-three years.
David takes Jerusalem (v. 6-10)
6 David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Jebusites thought they were safe. 7 But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.
8 On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites.* Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.*” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”*
9 So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces* and working inward. 10 And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies was with him.
King Hiram (and King David) notice that David has arrived (v. 11-12)
11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace.
12 And David realized that the LORD had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
(comment on Hirem?)
The Philistines notice too (v. 17-23)
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold.
18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim.
19 So David asked the LORD, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The LORD replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
(David wins the battle. When the Philistines attack again he consults God and wins again!)
2 Sam 6 – Moving the ark
Failed to consult God
2 Chron 13:1-3
1 David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.
2 Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: “If you approve and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us. 3 It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”
3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart as it left the house,
4 carrying the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark.
They failed to obey the word – the Ark must be carried by Levites on their shoulders. Not on a cart like the Philistines (cf. 1 Sam 6)
5 David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God.
7 Then the LORD’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.
Then a non-Levite touched the Ark.
8 David was angry because the LORD’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.
Then David was angry at God. He quickly decided to store the ark in some guy’s house nearby.
12 Then King David was told, “The LORD has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration.
So they gingerly loaded up the ark, bracing themselves, then waited. Nothing happened. They took a step. Nothing. And another step. Nothing. And another. And another. Another. Another.
13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the LORD had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
Once they were certain they hadn’t displeased God they praise the Lord. A lot more respect for God this time around.
14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.
15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.
You see a sincerity and humility from David here, celebrating one of the biggest days of his life. His kingship is secure and the Ark is in the recently fortified Jerusalem. David threw a big parade for this event. Getting the people excited about and focused on God.
16 But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him.
There’s a good chance that things had been going bad for awhile at this point. Remember, Michal was the daughter of Saul, David’s prize for some military victories. He took many other wives after her and she never had any kids, which must have put a strain on their relationship. It’s not good when a marriage reaches the point of contempt.
17 They brought the Ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.
20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”
This was one of the happiest and most spiritually significant days of his life. The Ark was finally back in Jerusalem after languishing in some small town in Judah for his entire reign (Her dad, Saul, never cared much about honoring God). Now she cuts him down immediately (apparently in front of everyone) for acting too much like a commoner and associating with the servants.
21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD, so I celebrate before the LORD.
You can see how the family tensions have spilled over into their relationship.
22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”
23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.
This may have been the end of their relationship. Scripture doesn’t tell us whose fault this is. But it is the final blow to the family of Saul.
2 Sam 7
1 When King David was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, 2 the king summoned Nathan the prophet. “Look,” David said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!”
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”
4 But that same night the LORD said to Nathan,
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? 6 I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. 7 Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, “Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?” ’
God doesn’t need a place to live.
8 “Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! 10 And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, 11 starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“ ‘Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name.
David is going to have a son, and that son will build God a temple.
And I will secure his royal throne forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. 15 But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. 16 Your house and your kingdom will continue before me* for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.’ ”
17 So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said in this vision.
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed,
“Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And now, Sovereign LORD, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign LORD?*
20 “What more can I say to you? You know what your servant is really like, Sovereign LORD. 21 Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant.
22 “How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! 23 What other nation on earth is like your people Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way.* 24 You made Israel your very own people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God.
25 “And now, O LORD God, I am your servant; do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. 26 And may your name be honored forever so that everyone will say, ‘The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the house of your servant David continue before you forever.
27 “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’ 28 For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!”
2 Sam 9
1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
“Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
God’s kindness = chesed. Lovingkindness. The closest OT parallel to the NT concept of grace.
Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
Mephibosheth. Crippled in Saul’s family’s flight after they heard of Jonathan’s death. Originally named Mirab Baal (Son of Jonathan). But his name was changed to “son of shame.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
“In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”
Lo-debar = “place of no pasture”
5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home.
Q: How do you think Mephibosheth was feeling at this point?
6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.”
Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household.* But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table,* like one of the king’s own sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.
Q: What are some parallels that you see between David’s relationship to Mephibosheth and Jesus’ relationship to us?
Other Notes
2 Sam 8 – David’s many victories
2 Sam 10 – David defeats the Ammonites and Syria
- First he sent Joab and Abishai, but the he gets involved in v. 17. This is the first hint of David pulling back