DAVID ENLARGES THE TERRITORY OF ISRAEL

PROCLAMATION

“And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them; and David took Metheg-Ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.”  2 Samuel 8:1 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  In the course of time after The Lord God made His covenant with David, he went out and subdued the Philistines and took back control of Metheg-Ammah. (2 Samuel 8:1)  Then David defeated the Moabites, killing two thirds of them and making slaves of the rest of them.  David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, and captured a thousand of his chariots and twenty thousand of his foot soldiers. (2 Samuel 8:2-4)  When the Arameans came to help the king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them and put the rest of them in garrisons and used them as slaves. (2 Samuel 8:5-8)  Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer and he sent his son Joram to greet and congratulate David and brought him articles of gold, silver, and bronze.  All of these gifts and the plunder from his victories was dedicated to The Lord. (2 Samuel 8:9-12)  David also defeated the eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and he put garrisons throughout Edom and made them his slaves. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. (2 Samuel 8:13-14)  The remainder of the chapter listed the names and titles of the officials who served with King David. (2 Samuel 8:15-18)

 

APPLICATION

The Lord God was with King David and he expanded the borders of Israel to the northeast (into Syria), the southeast (into Moab), and the south (into Philistine).  The Mediterranean Sea was the western border.  The Lord God can enlarge our territory today and expand our sphere of influence.  If we are doing His will and pursuing kingdom building efforts, He can increase the effectiveness of our soul winning activities and increase the reach of our efforts to spread His Holy Word.  The Bible says the harvest, the world of lost souls, is truly great, but the laborers, those working for The Lord, are few. (Matthew 9:37 and Luke 10:2)  If we are willing to work for Him, He can use us.  Each of us has a God-given gift, talent, or ability, the question is: are we using it to glorify God?

 

GOD MAKES A PROMISE TO DAVID

PROCLAMATION

“… I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own … rest from all thine enemies.  Also The Lord telleth thee that He will make thee an house … I will set up thy seed after thee … I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build an house for My name …”  2 Samuel 7:10-13 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After the king was settled in his palace, The Lord gave him rest from all of his enemies.  David said to Nathan the prophet that he was living in a house of cedar while the ark of God is in a tent. (2 Samuel 7:1-2)  Nathan told David to do whatever he wanted to do because The Lord God was with him.  However, The Lord appeared to Nathan that night and corrected him saying that while He appreciated David’s desire to build Him a house, He would not let him do so.  That honor would go to David’s son.  However, The Lord said that He would build a house for David. (2 Samuel 7:3-16)  The remainder of the chapter is David’s prayer to The Lord in response to what Nathan had told him. (2 Samuel 7:17-29)

 

APPLICATION

There is an old saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” (Henry G. Bohn)  It is not what we intend to do, but what we actually do that counts.  However, in this text, The Lord God gives King David credit and also a reward for his desire to build a house for the ark of God. (2 Samuel 7:11)  The Lord knows our thoughts, intentions, and motives. (Hebrews 4:12)  He knows our hearts. (Luke 16:15)  For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)  So, we need to ask The Lord God to create within us a clean and righteous heart. (Psalm 51:10)  Additionally, when we ask God to forgive us of our sins, we should ask Him to forgive our sinful actions, words, and thoughts.

 

 

THE ARK OF GOD IS BROUGHT TO JERUSALEM

PROCLAMATION

“… So David went and brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with gladness … And David danced before The Lord with all his might … and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of The Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.”  2 Samuel 6:12-15 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  King David gathered together thirty thousand young men and went to the house of Abinadab in Gibeah to get the ark of God and bring it to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 6:1-3)  They placed the ark on a new cart and the sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio, went along with them to guide the cart.  Along the way, one of the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out and touched the ark.  The anger of The Lord was kindled against Uzzah and He struck him down and he died right there. (2 Samuel 6:3-7)  David was both angry with and afraid of The Lord God and was not willing to take the ark to Jerusalem.  Instead he took the ark to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.  The ark remained there for three months and The Lord blessed him and his entire household. (2 Samuel 6:8-11)  When David was told how The Lord had blessed the household of Obed-Edom, David went and got the ark and brought it to Jerusalem.  The Israelites rejoiced, shouted, and sounded the trumpets as the ark entered the city.  David was leaping and dancing before The Lord.  They placed the ark in the midst of the tabernacle, then David sacrificed the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, blessed the crowd, fed them, and then they went home.  When David got home his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, told him that she saw him dancing around shamelessly and she was displeased.  David responded to her that in the future he would become even more undignified and he would humiliate himself before The Lord God. (2 Samuel 6:19-23)

 

APPLICATION

When we get seriously into praising The Lord, it is not important what the people think.  Our focus should be on praising The Lord and not on entertaining the people.  Our praise should be sincere and individualized, and not a copy of someone else’s dance or praise.  We should not be quiet to avoid embarrassing our family or friends; if we lose friends, then so be it.  Christ said that if His followers are quiet and don’t praise Him, then the rocks will cry out. (Luke 19:40)  No rock will have to speak for me; I will praise The Lord. 

 

DAVID BECOMES KING OVER ALL OF ISRAEL

PROCLAMATION

“So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and King David made a league with them in Hebron before The Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel.”  2 Samuel 5:3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After the death of King Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, all of the tribes of Israel came to Hebron and the elders anointed David king over all of Israel. (2 Samuel 5:1-3)  Soon after he became king over Israel, David led his men and the Israelite army to attack the Jebusites who controlled Jerusalem.  They thought that their fortress was impenetrable but David captured the city, took up residence there, built it up and the area around it, and called it the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:6-9)  As time passed, David became more and more powerful because The Lord God Almighty was with him. (2 Samuel 5:10)  When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed King of Israel they went up in full force to seek after him.  David inquired of The Lord whether or not he should attack the Philistines.  The Lord told David that He would deliver the Philistines into his hands and David defeated them. (2 Samuel 5:17-21)  Soon thereafter the Philistines again came up against David.  Once again David sought The Lord and He gave him a different strategy to employ.  David did as The Lord had commanded and again he struck down the Philistines. (2 Samuel 5:22-25) 

 

APPLICATION

David was a young man when The Lord chose him and had the prophet Samuel anoint him in front of his brothers. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)  Quite some time had passed before he was anointed king over Judah. (2 Samuel 2:4)  Even more time passed before he was anointed king over all of Israel. (2 Samuel 5:3)  Whatever The Lord God has in store for us will be ours, but we will only receive it when He is ready to give it to us, and when we are ready to receive it.  We need to be patient and wait upon The Lord.  Good things will come to them that wait upon The Lord. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:9, and Isaiah 40:31)  So, “… wait, I say upon The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)  If God is for us, then no man can stand against us, block us, or stop us. (Romans 8:31)

 

 

THE KING OF ISRAEL IS MURDERED

PROCLAMATION

“For when they came into the house, he lay on his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.”  2 Samuel 4:7 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After the death of Abner, commander of Saul’s army, Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul and now king of Israel, lost his courage and became alarmed as did all of Israel. (2 Samuel 4:1)  The nurse who cared for Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was lame in both feet, was also alarmed and picked him up and fled, but in her haste she dropped him injuring his legs even more. (2 Samuel 4:4)  Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, were the leaders of raiding bands in Saul’s army and they set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth.  They found him in bed taking a noonday nap and they killed him and cut off his head and slipped away. (2 Samuel 4:5-7)  They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David saying here is the head of your enemy.  David told them what he did to the man who thought that he was bring him good news regarding the killing of Saul.  Then David told them that their reward for killing an innocent man in his own bed would be that their lives would be required of them.  David gave the order to kill them and cut of their hands and feet, and hang them by the pool in Hebron.  The head of Ish-Bosheth they took and buried in the tomb with Abner. (2 Samuel 4:8-12)

 

APPLICATION

Subordinates and coworkers may turn against you, or leave you for what they perceive to be a better opportunity.  To some people the grass always appears greener on the other side or in another yard.  This may not be true, but perception is nine tenths of reality and when they leave you will be left high and dry.  The best that we can do is to water our grass regularly.  Make sure that their responsibilities are clear to them.  Create a positive encouraging environment for people.  Give out frequent compliments, gifts, rewards, bonuses, and incentives for good work.  People tend to stay where they feel appreciated.  This also applies to our personal relationships.

 

ABNER LEAVES THE HOUSE OF SAUL TO HELP DAVID

PROCLAMATION

“So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as The Lord hath sworn to David, even so I do so to him;  To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul to set up the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan even to Beer-Sheba.”  2 Samuel 3:9-10 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  After David was made king over the southern kingdom and Ish-Bosheth was made king over the northern kingdom, there was a long and bitter war between the house of David and the house of Saul. (2 Samuel 3:1)  During this time David had six sons, one by each of his six wives. (2 Samuel 3:2-5)  Meanwhile, Ish-Bosheth and Abner, commander of Saul’s army, fell out because Abner slept with one of Saul’s concubines. (2 Samuel 3:6-11)  Abner then sent messengers to David saying that he would help him to become king over all of Israel.  David’s reply was that was fine but he must bring to him Michal the daughter of Saul who was betrothed to him for the price of one hundred Philistine foreskins. (2 Samuel 3:12-16)  Abner spoke with the elders of Israel and also the Benjamites regarding making David king over all of Israel.  Then Abner went to David and told him all that he had done on his behalf.  Then Abner left David in peace to go and make arrangements for the covenant to make David king of Israel. (2 Samuel 3:17-21)  Joab, commander of David’s army, was upset when he returned from a raid and learned that Abner had met with David and that he had sent him away in peace.  Then without telling David, Joab sent for Abner.  When Abner was brought to him, he took him to an inner chamber, as if to speak to him in private, and there he killed him to avenge the death his brother Asahel. (2 Samuel 3:22-27)  When David learned of this, he cursed Joab and his family.  David then had a public lament for Abner and wept for him. (2 Samuel 3:28-39)

 

APPLICATION

We need to be very careful how we treat and speak to our friends and supporters.  A loyal supporter can be pushed to the point that they will turn on you and then work against you.  We should treat people as we would like to be treated. (Matthew 7:12)  We should also speak to people in the same way which we would like to be spoken to. (Colossians 4:6 and Proverbs 15:1)  Our words are powerful, and they can be helpful, but our tongue can also cut people like a sword. (Proverbs 12:18)  We should think before we speak. 

 

DAVID ANOINTED KING OVER JUDAH

PROCLAMATION

“And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah …”  2 Samuel 2:4 (KJV) 

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God after the death of the prophet Samuel by Nathan the prophet and Gad the seer.  In the course of time after the death of Saul, David inquired of The Lord, asking should he go to one of the towns in Judah and The Lord told him to go to Hebron. (2 Samuel 2:1)  Then David and his men with their families went to Hebron and they settled there.  The men of Judah heard that David was in Hebron and they came up to Hebron and anointed David king of Judah. (2 Samuel 2:2-4)  When King David heard that the men of Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul, he sent messengers to them, blessing them for what they had done for Saul.  He said because of their kindness towards Saul that he would show kindness towards them. (2 Samuel 2:4-7)  Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner and commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth, the fourth and last son of Saul, and made him king over Israel and the northern tribes.  The tribe of Judah and the southern kingdom, however, remained loyal to David. (2 Samuel 2:8-11)  There was tension between the northern and southern kingdoms, and soon there was war between them. (2 Samuel 2:12-32)

 

APPLICATION

David was a young man when The Lord had chosen him and the prophet Samuel had anointed him in front of his brothers. (1 Samuel 16:11-13)  Quite some time had passed before he was anointed king over Judah. (2 Samuel 2:4)  We need to recognize that we will receive whatever it is that The Lord God has in store for us, but it will be done on His timeframe.  The blessings that The Lord has for us has our name on them and no one else can claim them.  We need to be patient and wait upon The Lord.  Good things will come to them that wait upon The Lord. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:9, and Isaiah 40:31)  So, “… wait, I say upon The Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)