2Samuel 5:1-5
The Blessed King
The chapter we are looking at is not a very complicated chapter but rather a
refreshing chapters. I have entitled the sermon, "THE BLESSED KING." David has
gone through some tough days in his life. Now, after years of struggle, God is
going to pour out His blessings on him. I like the blessings of God, don’ you?
We have been looking at the first four chapters for the last several studies. In
those chapters, we saw the emphasis turn away from David to problems that David
had to deal with.
It seems to me that David demonstrated wisdom and grace in how he dealt with those
problems. Some times, a firm hand was needed. At others, a tender hand. God
gave David a sense to know when to use that which was needed. However, even when
God gives wisdom, we must choose to use it. God supplied, but David followed the
Lord. As a result, we have a chapter here where God records the blessings that He
gave to David.
Our God is a marvelous God. He gives us what we need to do right, then rewards
us when we do it. That is a win-win situation!
What are the marks of David’s life being blessed?
I. \\#2Sam 5:1-5\\ God gave to David a unified kingdom.
A. \\#1\\ "Then came all the tribes of Israel unto David"
1. With the deaths of Abner and Ishbosheth, Israel reunites under the
banner of King David.
2. This was the promise that God had made to David as a young man.
3. God took a long time and led David down a road with many twists
and turns.
a. David was anointed king as a shepherd boy.
b. He was appointed a servant and soldier to the king.
c. For years. he was hunted as a fugitive.
d. Finally, David came to rule in Hebron for 7 1/2 over Judah
when he was 30 years old.
e. David is now 37 1/2 years old, and God gives to him the whole
kingdom.
f. He will rule until he is 70 years old.
g. Do the math - Even though David had years of struggle, he will
sit on the throne for more than half of his life.
4. I have speculated several times that a reason for God taking David
through those years of struggle MAY have been to keep him from
falling into the same snare of pride that befell Saul.
a. It is too easy to inflate the ego of a man, and like it or not,
too much coming too soon often has devastating effects.
b. I saw an article where American Idol has lowered the age of
the contestants this year.
c. Then I saw another article, perhaps more of an editorial,
asking the question, "Is Fifteen Too Early for Instant Fame?"
d. In all likelihood, the answer is YES.
e. Overall, childhood stars do not do well with the remainder of
their life.
B. We learn that God keeps His promises.
1. God not only keeps His promises. He keeps them just like He says.
a. God did not offer David a whole kingdom and then give a half.
b. If God does anything, He gives MORE than He has promised, but
never less.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him.
C. I know that you and I know this truth, but it needs to be repeated from
time to time to make certain we do not forget.
1. God did not promise Israel a kingdom and then give it to the church.
2. And god did not promise Israel a kingdom to give them half and the
Palestinians and Muslims the other half.
D. David is often a picture of the people’s people.
1. By studying his life, we learn that if God’s people obey God, they
are blessed.
2. We also learn that God’s blessed will suffer when they disobey God.
3. Yet, David is a Jew who has been promised a kingdom.
a. That makes David a better picture of Israel than the Christian.
b. Israel has been promised a kingdom and the path to receiving
that promise may be filled with twists and turns, but God is
going to keep His promise to His people!
II. \\#2Sam 5:6-9\\ God gave to David his own city and capital.
A. \\#2Sam 5:6-9\\ A city within Israel’s borders rejected King David.
1. The city was Jerusalem.
a. Jerusalem has been a major city in Israel ever since Joshua
brought the nation into the land.
b. Jerusalem is in Judah’s border so David has been king over it
for several years already.
v. However, the city was still controlled by the original land
owners, the Jebusites.
2. David decided to go to Jerusalem.
a. There is no indication that David went to Jerusalem as their
enemy.
b. Jerusalem is the place that David took Goliath’s armor,
suggesting he was very comfortable there.
1 Samuel 17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to
Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
c. For whatever the reason, this time, the Jebusites do not
welcome him.
(1) Perhaps they were rejecting David.
(2) Perhaps they saw this as an opportunity to seek autonomy.
3. Once this people taunted David, they sealed their own fate.
a. David MIGHT HAVE shown the Jebusites some mercy if they had
only rebelled against him.
b. However, the Jebusites were not Jewish and they were supposed
to have been removed from the land centuries ago.
B. Once taken, Mount Zion becomes David’s favorite spot.
1. Zion is one of the hills that present day Jerusalem is built upon.
2. However, J.Vernon McGee says that is not the way it was in this
time period.
a. He says the original Jerusalem was lower, near the Kidron
Valley.
b. \\#7\\ says that David took the city by going to the top of
Zion to get the height advantage.
3. After claiming the city, David used the hill as a fortress and
Jerusalem grew to enclose it.
C. Once taken, Jerusalem became the city of God’s presence.
Psalms 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalms 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
III. \\#2Sam 5:10\\ God gave David power and prestige.
A. The Bible plainly states and describes King David as being a powerful
ruler.
1. The account of David in the Bible as being "blessed" has caused
some to doubt the actuality of David.
2. Some question his existence at all while others question how much
of what the Bible says about David is true.
3. The fact that the palace of David in Jerusalem could not be found
aided that doubt.
B. However, archaeology is catching up.
1. David’s palace was located in 1997 but Dr. Eilat Mazar.
2. She described how she located it in an 1998 article from the
Jerusalem Christian Review. (Volume 9, Internet Edition, Issue 6)
"But one of the main clues in finding King David’s palace," says Mazar, "was
surprisingly from the Bible itself." 2Samuel 5:17 states that: "When the
Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in
full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went DOWN [from his
palace] to the [citadel]." (NIV, capitalization added for emphases)
"Although the Philistines were defeated by King David’s forces, the Bible is
careful to indicate that the palace was located above the "Me’tsuda" (the citadel
or stronghold). "The Bible would not have said ‘went down’ unless David indeed
did go from his palace, down the slopes of the ophel mountain, to the citadel.
Consequently, his palace must have been located north of the city, not in the
center of it," says Mazar."
http://www.leaderu.com/theology/palacedavid.html
3. It sometimes takes archaeology awhile to catch up but the Bible
always turns up correct.
4. Dr. Mazar is described in a second article as being one who loves
and respects the Bible.
http://www.aish.com/jw/j/48961251.html
IV. \\#2Sam 5:11\\ God gave to David allies and needed supplies.
A. Tyre was not always friendly to Israel. In times to come, God
will pronounce great destruction against the city.
B. However, for some reason, Hiram, King of Tyre, had great respect
for David.
1 Kings 5:1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had
heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was
ever a lover of David.
C. So much so, that Hiram sent both materials and workmen to work on
David’s palace.
1 Chronicles 14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of
cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
1. One of the articles that I quoted from early, had a picture of
a column in David’s palace which has Phoenician
characteristics.
2. Again, archaeology catches up to the Bible.
3. David’s palace has characteristics of Phoenician design.
A square column that was part of the Palace of King David includes a capital which
is characteristic of Phoenician stone masonry work. This is a further validation
of the biblical narrative, which records that King Hiram of the Phoenicians, "sent
messengers to David, along with… stone masons, and they built a palace for
David."
http://www.leaderu.com/theology/palacedavid.html
V. \\#2Sam 5:12\\ God gave to David wisdom.
A. David understood that his exaltation had come so that he could help
the people.
1. This is always why God gives authority; however, proud man
seldom understands it.
2. I had a psychology professor in college who set up an
experiment in class. He designated a certain number of people
in the class as leaders, gave us all a fake currency, and told
the leaders to make up whatever rules they desired to
establish a miniature society in the class. The experiment
lasted for days, but ultimately, the leaders established rules
which made them the served and the remainder of the class the
servants. Eventually, the professor had to stop the
experiment. He explained that he had run that experiment in
class year after year and without fail, the results were
always the same. Those in power always used their power to
benefit themselves.
B. Make no mistake. It took a touch from God for David to discern
that he was Israel’s servant, not they his.
VI. \\#2Sam 5:13-16\\ God gave to David many sons and daughters.
A. David took many concubines and wives and had many children.
1. I know some of God’s men did this but that doesn’t it right.
2. Some seem to think that this was permitted in the Old Testament
or a benefit to being God’s chosen man.
3. If it is then the Mormons were right and we should still be
practicing in it for there is nothing in the New Testament
that changed or added anything to the Old Testament teaching
of marriage.
4. One man, one woman, one life time has always been God’s
pattern.
B. We know that this sin and combination with David’s sin with
Bathsheba, will cause David and Israel much pain.
VII. \\#2Sam 5:17-25\\ God gave to David victory over his enemies.
A. One of Israel’s earliest and greatest enemies was the Philistines.
1. While the Philistines had always wanted to destroy Israel,
now they also had a personal interest in destroying David.
2. Remember, David had pretended to join the Philistine and now
he was the king of Israel!
3. People tend to take that kind of deception personally.
B. The details of David’s first two battles with the Philistines is
given.
1. Both occurred in the Valley of Rephaim which is located between
Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
2. \\#18-21\\ The first was a frontal assault battle.
3. \\#22-25\\ The second was rear assault battle.
4. In both battles, God called the play and David simply
implemented it.
5. How can you lose following a Commander like that?
C. \\#21\\ Notice that David and his burnt the images of the
Philistine gods.
1. This is what marks Israel as being godly in reign of David.
2. They did not follow gods but God!
Here we have seven blessings that God heaped upon David. Looking back over the
list, I notice that there are few of them that would apply to our lives today.
These blessings were for David. Isn’t it interesting that God tailors the
blessings He gives for the person He is giving them to?
The key is to understand that as you choose to follow God, God will bless you.
Could you use a blessing today?
<Outline
Index> <Close Window>
