Read 2
Samuel 4-6 & Luke
18:18-43
To discover:
As you read note how David’s kingdom is consolidated.
To ponder:
Abner was clearly the force in
Saul’s house. Now dead, Ish-Bosheth and “all Israel”
are fearful. Mephibosheth (4v4) is mentioned because he will feature soon, but
the focus is on Ish-Bosheth’s two raiding band leaders who kill him and bring
his head to David. Again, David shows himself unwilling to ascend the throne by
evil means and so acts justly, by killing the murderers as the law required –
although his gruesome means of warning others was his own idea (4v12).
“All
Israel” then
come to David, affirming now they are his “flesh and blood,” and acknowledging
his previous leadership and divine appointment as “shepherd of my people Israel.”
Knowing all this makes their previous reluctance all the more serious. David
then enters a “compact” with the elders “before the LORD,” probably outlining
the nature of their allegiance and his rule. The elders then formally anoint
him king, and we read of the fullness of his reign. There is a call here to all
humanity to covenant with Christ the “good shepherd, confident that his rule is
just and gentle, and that he forever lives as king.
David
immediately gains his capital – Jerusalem,
renamed the “city of David,” which
he builds up. Previously this had been impregnable, leading the inhabitants to
taunt David that even the “bind and lame can ward you off.” It is therefore a
sign that God is with David that he takes it, and it is for this same reason that
we read he becomes increasingly powerful. His developing greatness is seen in
the king of Tyre giving gifts for
him to build his palace with. And David’s response (5v12) suggests he
understands God’s promise to make Abraham’s descendents a great nation is being
fulfilled. The kingdom established through Judah
is receiving the “obedience of the nations” (Gen 49v10). This looks to the nations
bringing their wealth into the church as their citizens give their allegiance
to Christ (Is 60), and ultimately to their “glory” coming into the new Jerusalem
(Rev 21v26).
5v13-16
also imply David’s developing greatness. However, there is concern in the
detail too, as God warned in the law that Israel’s
king should neither accumulate “large amounts of silver and gold” nor take many
wives, as they could lead him astray (Deut 17v17).
David
is nevertheless the supreme commander, not entering the fray without “enquiring
of the LORD,” and so with God’s instructions defeats the notorious Philistines,
who abandon their idols because the LORD breaks out against them. This displays
God’s supremacy over whatever gods nations claim give them power.
The
icing on this cake is the ark, the throne of Israel’s
invisible God and symbol of his presence and authority. However, although David
and Israel
celebrate its coming towards Jerusalem,
they don’t follow God’s instructions on moving it. His requirement that Levites
carry it on poles had not simply been about respect for him, but protecting the
people against his holiness. So when the oxen stumble and Uzzah touches the ark
to steady it, he is immediately struck down by God’s anger at sin. This should
shock as it did then, breeding the same fear of God in us that it did in David.
This fear led him to keep the ark elsewhere for a time, where its keeper’s
household was “blessed.” Only when David heard this, did he determine to bring
it to Jerusalem! But this time he
did it correctly (6v13), with numerous sacrifices (6v14-19). The event reminds
us that acceptance by God does not mean we can be flippant with his
instructions or his holiness.
Michal’s
disgust at David dancing before the LORD portrays the attitude that prioritizes
reputation before others over sincere devotion to God, and the implication is
that she may have been barren from that point because of it. David’s response,
portrays the Christ-like readiness to honour God no matter how humiliating, and
how this often commends him to those society may despise.
Praying it home:
Thank God for establishing Christ
the “good shepherd” as our king. Pray that you would be generous in giving your
material possessions to the upbuilding of the church.
Thinking further: David as
Priest and King
This is a notable element in
David’s action. He wears an ephod, makes offerings, and has the ark put in a
tabernacle he establishes. He can fulfil this priestly role because he is king
over a priestly nation. Indeed, Psalm 110 shows he explicitly saw himself like
Melchizedek (Gen 14v18-20) who was priest of God Most High and also King of
Salem (Jerusalem), and who gave
bread and wine to Abraham before blessing him, and blessing God for conquering
his enemies. David’s actions in 2 Samuel 5-6 are remarkably similar and suggest
he sees his coronation as the fulfilment of God’s covenant with Abraham, and
himself as the one to whom Abraham’s descendents must give their allegiance as
Abraham did to Melchizedek. It all patterns the coming of Christ who would not
just rule over God’s people but offer himself as a sacrifice to bring peace
with God, conquering sin, death and the devil, and bringing blessing to God’s
people in fulfilment of this same covenant. It is here we see why the roles of
priest and king need combining in the one person. It is through Jesus’ priestly
work that he fulfils the kingly role of delivering God’s people.
If you receive this post by
email, visit bible2014.blogspot.co.uk
and make a comment.
0 comments:
Post a Comment