Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
One of the most recognizable flags in all the world is the flag of Israel. The six-pointed star, which is centered in that flag and is a great symbol of hope, democracy, resilience, and the Jewish people, is called the ‘Star of David’.
A specific, historic portion of the city of Jerusalem is called ‘The City of David’. And if you visit Jerusalem today, one of the most famous tourist stops is ‘the Tomb of David’. Finally, every Christmas our world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in the “town of David” (Bethlehem) and the fact that Jesus was born into the royal line of King David. How could it be 3000 years later the name and legacy of this man David is so significant both in Israel and in our world today?
Over the past few days we’ve been tracing the story of David, beginning with the prophet Samuel being led by God to the town of Bethlehem where Samuel anointed David, the youngest son of Jesse, who was out in the fields watching over sheep. That anointing announced that one day David would become the second King of Israel, but not until King Saul had completed his reign.
Yesterday I left you in the town of Hebron where David was finally declared King since Saul had died in battle. But you’ll recall we learned Saul’s son Ish Bosheth had also been declared King, by Saul’s army commander, and thus the people of Israel had divided allegiances, at least until Ish Bosheth died a few years later.
2 Samuel 5 and its parallel in 1 Chronicles 11 give us the story of how a portion of Jerusalem became known as the “City of David” and David began his journey to becoming perhaps the most famous King in the history of the nation of Israel. After Ish-Bosheth had died, the record says: “Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD had said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel…’ When the elders of Israel came to David at Hebron, he made a compact with them before the LORD, and they anointed David king over all Israel.” (2 Samuel 5:1-3)
We don’t know the details of this compact, but I think it’s significant that it is the elders of Israel, for they represented all the Israelite people and perhaps were the next generation of leaders descended from those who had demanded a king from Samuel, remember? (1 Samuel 8:19,20) I say that because I see their focus is the same as the elders before them… they sought a military leader for their King.
But do you see David made sure this compact between them was done ‘before the LORD’? That tells me David wanted to be sure there was a significant spiritual aspect to this agreement between he and the elders of Israel. That’s the tender, God honoring heart of David which was nurtured by God when he was a little boy out with the sheep; and strengthened by God when he faced Goliath; and sustained by God when David was chased relentlessly by King Saul for so many years.
So David was finally confirmed as King over all Israel. The record says: “David was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned 40 years. In Hebron David reigned over the tribe of Judah 7 years and six months, and in Jerusalem David reigned over all Israel 33 years.” You’ll remember young David was perhaps 12 years old or so when Samuel anointed him in front of his father Jesse and his brothers! Oh my, David had been patient, would you agree?
The next several verses describe David’s conquering of the city named “Jebus” occupied by the ‘Jebusites‘, one of the peoples God had named when God promised both Moses and Joshua that He would lead His people to possess the land of Promise. (Exodus 3:8; Joshua 3:10) But the truth is, despite the fact that 400 years had passed since Moses, the Jebusites remained essentially unaffected by the influx of Israelites into this great land...until David.
Did God give David a specific direction to finally conquer that hillside town or was David aware this promise of God had remained yet unfulfilled for 4 centuries? 2 Samuel 5 & 1 Chronicles 11 give us the story that David and his men snuck into the town of Jebus through the water shaft that brought water into the city, and then conquered it and renamed it the “City of David”! The record says: “David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David…and the LORD Almighty was with David.” (2 Samuel 5:9,10)
If you have visited Jerusalem, you know there is a specific part of the modern city of Jerusalem, below the Temple Mount, where the Kidron Valley and Valley of Ben Hinnom come together, and that hillside is this ancient, yet today filled with residents, the “City of David”. To this day it is a major place of Biblical archeological excavation and tourist visits. It is surrounded by hills on three sides… the Mount of Olives to the East, Mount Moriah to the north and west. While ‘Jebus’ had also been known as Jerusalem prior to David’s arrival, it was as David made Jebus his home and began his 33-year reign over all Israel from this special place, that the city grew and became famously known as Jerusalem.
Sadly David’s new home in the “City of David” would not be peaceful for long. The next verses tell us: “When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him… but David inquired of the LORD, ‘shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me, O God?” I wonder how very different this style of military leadership was from how Saul directed the military exploits of Israel’s army. I’m fascinated by David’s determination to frequently ‘inquire of the LORD’ as he faced important decisions, especially decisions which held the lives of the people of God in his hands as King. What would it be like in your country and mine if our Kings or Presidents ‘inquired of the LORD’ before all major decisions?
In fact, as we close today, may I point out that twice in 2 Samuel 5, it is recorded that David ‘inquired of the LORD’ before responding to advancing enemies coming against him. Both times God gave David clear directions. The second time is especially interesting to me as God told David: “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you’…so David did as the LORD commanded…” (2 Samuel 5:22-25)
It was the same enemy, coming up against the same David and his people, but David did not assume he should use the same tactics as the last time, so David inquired of the LORD, and do you see a very specific military tactic God gave David? What do you suppose the ‘sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees’ sounded like and how did God make that sound? Never again in Scripture do I see God giving any King those same instructions going into battle?
It’s another important lesson for us my friends, as it was for David. Don’t assume with God! Inquire of the LORD each and EVERY time you face major decision and LISTEN for God’s response guiding you in that specific situation. Let’s pause right here, listening to whatever the sound of the balsam tree rustling was, and with this worship song from the Philippines, let’s ask God to guide us, each and all of us, in whatever we are currently facing, wherever we live in the world!
Today’s Scriptures: 2 Samuel 5 & 1 Chronicles 11.
Choose below to read or listen.
2 Samuel 5
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1 Chronicles 11
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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