DBG - April 9 - II Samuel 4-7

In this chapter Ishbosheth is assassinated.

vs. 1-8 – Without Abner’s support, Ishbosheth become the target of assassins.  Two of his lieutenants murder him in hopes of ingratiating themselves with David. 

vs. 9-12 - David has the assassins killed and honors Ishbosheth in death.

In this chapter David establishes himself as king with a new capital and decisive victories against the Philistines.

vs. 1-5 – The tribes that had initially rejected David now come to him and make him king.  Note that they acknowledge (1) that God had chosen David to be their king, (2) that he would care for them like a shepherd would his sheep, and (3) that he would be their military leader.

vs. 6-10 – Now that he is king over all Israel, David seeks a more central capital than Hebron, which was deep in Judah’s territory.  He decides upon Jerusalem (“the habitation of peace”) and leads a campaign to take it from the Jebusites.  In vs. 8 the Jebusites mock David saying that the blind and lame could keep him out of their fortified position.  Those words are turned against them as a proverb when David and his men succeed in taking their position by attacking through the water chute. The parallel passage in I Chronicles 11 says that Joab was first in the attack and solidified his place as general

vs. 11-16 – Hiram of Tyre, which was on the Phoenician coast north of Israel, partners with David and helps him build a palace.  David’s family grows now that he is settled in Jerusalem.  This list does look forward in time as it includes Solomon who will not be born for a few more years.

vs. 17-21 – The Philistines make an attack to try to dislodge David from his new, very defensible capital.  The armies meet in the Valley of Rephaim (“giants”) about three miles from Jerusalem.  God intervenes and Israel wins a great victory.  The location was then named Baalperazim (“master or possessor of breaches”) because they had broken through and destroyed their enemy. It is of note that their enemy is so thoroughly routed that they discard their idols and leave them. David wisely does not keep these as trophies of war but instead burns them.

vs. 22-25 - The Philistines invaded again. David inquires of the Lord again, and God directs him to attack from the rear after God caused a stir in the trees. This must have caused a surprise attack or perhaps frightened the enemy before the attack came. Regardless, God aided them in the victory that day when the obeyed and patiently waited for His timing.  The place of battle is Geba, which is a shortened version of Gibeah.

In this chapter moves the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem

vs. 1-11 – Now that David has a secure capital, he seeks to move the Ark of the Covenant there.  The Ark has been at Kirjathjearim since the Philistines returned it 74 years earlier.  David does not seem to have inquired on how to move it properly.  They try to move it on a cart like the Philistines did.  Uzzah (“strength”) is killed for touching the Ark when trying to steady it.  The Ark is left in the care of Obededom (“servant of Edom”), who is believed to be a Kohathite.

vs. 12-19 – David is more careful in his second attempt to move the Ark.  It is carried properly by the priests.  The way is filled with sacrifices and singing.  David is seen in the midst leaping for joy and not wearing his royal garments.  The Ark is placed in a special tent at Jerusalem.  It will not be reunited with the Tabernacle, which sat at Gibeon.

vs. 20-23 – Michal harshly criticizes David for his actions and demeanor on this day.  The root of her anger has more to do with David accomplishing something that her father could not.  David has established himself as his own king, not Saul’s heir.  Saul never cared for such spiritual matters.

In this chapter David is denied permission to build the Temple but God gives him the Davidic Covenant.

vs. 1-11 – Deuteronomy 12:10-11 says that when Israel was settled in the Promised Land and at peace there that God would choose a central place of worship.  David senses that the time has come, but God does not allow David to build the Temple. Had David built the Temple it would have seemed like a monument to him and not something built for God’s glory. 

vs. 12-17 – This is an extremely important passage.  This is the Davidic Covenant, a series of promises made by God to David regarding his kingdom and his heirs.  There are five key promises made: (1) David will have another child (Solomon) that will rule after him, (2) Solomon would build the Temple, (3) the throne would be established through Solomon, (4) God would not remove Solomon, even though he would deserve it, and (5) David’s house (posterity), throne (regal line), and kingdom (rule or kingdom) would be established forever.

vs. 18-29 – David responds to God denying him the privilege of building the Temple by going before God in a wonderful prayer of submission and gratitude. David never felt slighted by God’s refusal. Instead, he works to get things in order so that his future son may build the Temple.

David was a great man, and one of the primary reasons is because he remained humbled.  When his pride crept up he would get himself in trouble.  Lesser men may have rebelled against God’s prohibition in building the Temple, but David responds in humble praise.  It is a great example for us to follow.  God lifts up those who are humble.

Our hymn today, “The Riches of His Grace” by Charles Wesley, echoes David’s words in II Samuel 7:18 – “Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?”

What am I, O Thou glorious God!
And what my father’s house to Thee,
That Thou such mercies hast bestowed
On me, the chief of sinners, me!
I take the blessing from above,
And wonder at Thy boundless love.

Me in my blood Thy love passed by,
And stopped, my ruin to retrieve;
Wept o’er my soul Thy pitying eye,
Thy bowels yearned, and sounded Live!
Dying, I heard the welcome sound,
And pardon in Thy mercy found.

Honor, and might, and thanks, and praise,
I render to my pardoning God,
Extol the riches of Thy grace,
And spread Thy saving name abroad,
That only name to sinners giv’n,
Which lifts poor dying worms to Heav’n.

Jesus, I bless Thy gracious power,
And all within me shouts Thy name;
Thy name let every soul adore,
Thy power let every tongue proclaim;
Thy grace let every sinner know,
And find with me their heaven below.