2 Samuel 5-6

2 Samuel 5 – David Anointed as Israel’s King

David was king of Judah.  Now the people of Israel wanted him to be their king – King of all Israel.  They told David that he was their own flesh and blood.  He had led their army and had been their shepherd.  All the elders anointed David king.  He was 30 years old and reigned for 40 years.  He reigned over Judah for 7 years and 6 months and reigned over all Israel and Judah for 33 years.

David and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites who were living there.  David conquered Jerusalem and made his residence there.  He called it the City of David.  He became more and more powerful because the Lord God was with him.  Hiram king of Tyre built a palace for David.  David knew that the Lord was the one who established him as king and exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.  David took more concubines and wives and had more sons and daughters. 

All of these wives were taken in direct disobedience for a king.  Deut. 17:17 – “You must not take many wives or his heart will be led astray.”  David may have thought all these wives and many children were signs of God’s blessings, but he would find out that they would cause David a lot of trouble in the future.

When the Philistines heard of David being made king, they searched for him.  David inquired of the Lord if he should go and attack them and if the Lord would give him victory.  The Lord said to go and He would hand them over to David.  So David did what the Lord said and defeated the Philistines taking their abandoned idols.

When have you asked God for guidance and then obeyed Him?  What was the outcome?

2 Samuel 6 – David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

David wanted to bring the ark to Jerusalem, because he wanted to make the worship of God central in the lives of Israel.  The ark was a rectangular box that contained the 10 commandments.  It was the symbol of God’s presence with the people.  We gather to worship today in churches, but do we act like we are gathering in God’s holy presence?  True worship involves focusing on the fact that the Holy God is there.

David built a new ox cart to carry the ark.  He didn’t think to consult God or the Levite priest, even  the priests didn't consult God.  They did as the Philistines had done when they captured the ark carrying it on an ox cart.   The cart became unsteady and Uzzah reached for the ark to steady it.  He touched it, which was strictly forbidden.  “they must not touch the holy things or they will die.” – Num. 4:15.  God struck him dead because of his irreverent act.   In the book of Leviticus there were specific and detailed instructions on how to handle and move the ark of God.  Only the Levite priests were to do this. 

It was David’s fault that the Levites were not asked to move the ark.  Maybe he assumed God was so much on his side that he could get away with anything.  So it was really David’s fault that all this happened.  David learned that serving God is never enough.  Things must be done God’s way to accomplish His will.

Was God being too harsh on Uzzah?  He had the best intentions.  He was only trying to help.  I think Uzzah saw no difference between the ark and any other valuable article.  He took it for granted.  It was probably just commonplace to him.  However he should have known God’s rules about handling the ark.  Many people are like that today.  They grew up going to church and know God’s commands.  They have taken church and God for granted.  They don’t take Him seriously.

Principle:  God expects us to obey His commands.

David was angry as to what God had done.  Then he became afraid and maybe a little embarrassed in front of the crowd.  God had not done things David’s way.  God did them His way.  God’s Word is clear as to how the ark was to be carried and David should have known this.  Out of fear David had the ark stored at the house of Obed-Edom.  It remained there for 3 months.  While the ark was there, David learned the house of Obed-Edom was blessed because of the presence of the ark.

David was glad that the presence of the ark had brought blessings so he decided to bring the ark to Jerusalem.  This time he did it the proper way, God’s way with the Levites carrying it.  When they had gone 6 steps they stopped and sacrificed an oxen and a fatted sheep.  When it was set in its place, they offered more sacrifices and sang and danced with joy celebrating the ark’s return.  David’s wife Michal saw David dancing without his ephod.  When she’s saw him, she didn’t appreciate his exuberant worship and despised him in her heart.

David was not immodest.  He simply took off his royal robe.  He was dressed just like everyone else in the procession.  His dancing was appropriate.  It was a parade with everyone celebrating this joyous occasion.

When David returned home, Michal told David that he was a king acting vulgar in the sight of the slave girls.  She was angry that he took off his kingly robe and identified with his people.  David didn’t let her criticism ruin his day.  Instead he explained that he did it for God and not for her and that he would be even more undignified and be humble in his own sight.  He would celebrate before the Lord. 

The chapter ends by saying Michal would have no children.  Maybe their marriage ended and they no longer lived together as husband and wife.  We really don’t know what happened to her.

Principle:  Worshipping God is nothing to be ashamed of.

Do you worship God with enthusiasm?

Is your worship central to your identity and priority?

When you worship do you expect to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit?

David is a picture of Jesus Christ.  His reign was a picture of Jesus in the millennium.  David went through a time when he was rejected, persecuted and harassed.  In the time he was in exile he gathered men around him who became commanders and generals for when he became king of Israel.  He would come to establish his kingdom.  David identified with his people by becoming as one of them when he danced and worshiped just as Jesus identified when He came to us in human form.  David is also a picture of what happens in a Christian’s life when he gives it to God.  Christians are offered a kingdom just like David was offered a kingdom.  There are enemies that threaten us from all sides.  David was never able to totally get rid of his enemies – the Philistines, the Ammonites, the Jebusites, etc.  We as Christians are never able to totally get rid of our enemies.  Enemies like jealousy, envy, resentment, bitterness, lust, worry, etc.   All these enemies afflict us in our daily walk.  But the Holy Spirit is working in us to bring us to the place of reigning in our lives through Jesus.

Next time we will continue in the book of 2 Samuel.  See you here next time.

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1 Samuel 4-8

1 Samuel 4 – Ark Captured

Israel went to fight the Philistines, but the Philistines defeated Israel and killed about 4,000.  Israel didn’t understand why this happened.  They decided take the Ark with them at the next battle in hopes by having it there they would win the battle.   Eli’s sons went with the Ark.  When the Ark arrived in the Israelite camp the people shouted and the ground shook.  The Philistines heard their shout, which made them afraid.  This motivated them to be strong and to fight harder.  The Philistines and Israel fought, but Israel was defeated.  Israel lost 30,000 soldiers.  The Ark was captured and Eli’s 2 sons died as God had promised.

When Eli who was now 98 years old heard all this, he fell over backwards, broke his neck and died.  His daughter-in-law who was pregnant heard the news, went into labor and died.  She had a son and named him Ishabad and said “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.” – 1 Sam. 4:22

Philistines are people who worshiped the gods of Baal, Astarte, and Dagon.  They were hostile people and often fought with Israelites.  Philistine comes from the Philistines and includes modern-day Israel, Gaze, Lebanon and Syria.  This is known as the Gaza Strip where there is still conflict today.

The Ark was a wooden box that held God’s laws, the Ten Commandments.  It was a symbol of the presence of God.  The lid of the Ark was a mercy seat where sacrifices were made.  God gave it to Israel because He chose them to be His people.  The Israelites thought if they brought it with them in battle, they would defeat the enemy.  Israel didn’t turn to God for help, but wanted to fix it themselves so they brought the Ark as if it were a type of mascot or good luck charm.  They found out that they could not manipulate God to get what they wanted.

How do you try to manipulate God?

Do you manipulate Him by giving money, but not surrendering to Him?

Principle:  God is in control and you cannot manipulate Him into doing what you want.

1 Samuel 5-6 – Ark Returned

The Philistines took the Ark of God to Ashdod, then to the temple of Dagon and set the Ark beside Dagon.  Dagon was a god worshipped by the Philistines.  The next morning they found that Dagon had fallen on his face before the Ark of the Lord.  They put Dagon back in his place and the next morning they found that Dagon had fallen on his face and his head and hands had broken off.  This was a clear that lifeless idols are powerless and the Lord is a Living God.   

The Lord brought devastation upon the people and afflicted them with tumors.  He could have destroyed them, but He wanted them to recognize His judgment and power.  They decided that Ark could not stay here so they took it to Gath.  After they moved it, the Lord afflicted the people of Gath with tumors.  They sent the Ark away again.  This time it was sent to Ekron, but the people of Ekron cried out that the Ark could not stay there.  They decided to send the Ark back to its own place in Israel.

The Ark had been with the Philistines for 7 months.  For 7 months the Philistines were punished with the presence of the Ark of God.  They looked at the Ark as a prize of battle and didn’t give honor to God.  They worshipped other gods and were not willing to serve the real God.  They should have sent it home sooner.  Egypt’s plagues would have been fewer if Pharaoh had let the people go sooner.  Sinners lengthen out their own miseries by refusing to repent of their sins. 

They saw the power of Israel’s God and now must be humble and give honor to Him.  They felt guilty so they sent a guilt offering of 5 gold tumors and 5 gold rats along with the Ark.  God didn’t need gold.   He needed their hearts.  They placed the Ark on a cart along with the offerings and hitched cows to it.  The Philistines followed the cart.  They watched to see which way it went.  If it went straight toward its own territory and didn’t turn right or left, then they would know that it was the Lord who brought disaster on them.  If it did not, then they would know that it was just happened by chance.

We do the same kind of things today.  We put stipulations and meanings on things and events.  God wants Christians to be different and doesn’t want us to live our lives according to norms and attitudes of society.  He wants us to live according to His Word.  Society puts lots of pressures of all people including Christians.  We can overcome these pressures by focusing on God and stay in His Word.

It was harvest by tin Israel and as the people were working, they saw the Ark coming down the road.  They shouted and rejoiced.  God had not forgotten His people and the Ark was the evidence.  The Levites carried the Ark to a large rock.  The people offered burnt offering and sacrifices to the Lord.  The Philistines saw all this and returned to Ekron.

Christians today try to use God and His Word to get what they want.  They pick and choose parts of the Bible that suits them and their agendas.  They only go to God when they are in trouble or want something from Him.

The people received the Ark with joy, but some men opened the sacred and looked inside.  That was a very unholy thing to do.  They should have known better.  The result was that many of them died.  God holds His people accountable.  Relationship with God is on His standards and on His terms and that’s through Jesus Christ.  Finally the people understood that God is holy and they must respect Him.

Principle:  A relationship with God is based on His holy standards not ours.

1 Samuel 7 – Israel Repents

They took the Ark to Abinadab’s house and consecrated Eleazor his son to guard it.  The Ark remained there for 20 years and all the people sought after the Lord.  They went to Samuel and asked how they could serve God.   Samuel told them they must serve the real God and not their false gods.  They must trust God alone to save them from their enemies.  The people followed Samuel’s advice.  They confessed and repented.  They began to depend on God alone.

The Israel gathered at Mizpah for prayer, but when the Philistines heard they came to attack them.  The Israelites were afraid and when to Samuel and asked him to continue praying for them.  Samuel offered sacrifices and prayed on their behalf.  There was a loud thunder which was God at work.  Israel won the battle, but really it was God who won on their behalf.

Samuel wanted the people to remember what God had done for them so he made a monument using a large stone to remind them of a past event.  The monument was called Ebenezer which means stone of help.  Many churches today have chosen the name Ebenezer.

There are 3 steps to true repentance - being truly sorry, naming your sins, then turning from your sin.

Principle:  True repentance restores our fellowship with God.

1 Samuel 8 – Israel Demands King

Samuel became the leader not as a king or ruler, but as its judge.  He continued to pray for the people.  God was Israel’s true king.  Samuel was the last person who led Israel as its judge.  He tried to appoint his sons but they were dishonest.  They accepted bribes and prevented justice.  The elders of Israel were unhappy with Samuel’s sons and gathered to ask Samuel to give them a king to lead.  They wanted to be like other nations who had kings.  This displeased him because of their hearts and motives.  He wanted the people to respect God as their king.  So he prayed to the Lord as to what he should do.

The Lord told Samuel to listen to the people and that it wasn’t Samuel they were rejecting but God.   God told Samuel to warn the people.  They needed to understand how a powerful king would behave.  They need to know just how a king would use his authority and how they would suffer because of their decision in wanting a king.  It was their decision and God would permit them to have a king.

The people acted foolishly and would not listen.  They wanted a powerful king who would defeat all their enemies so they would have peace and security.  They didn’t think about the problems they would have only the benefits.  They had convinced themselves that this was an excellent idea.

When we reject God is life, we become slaves to little gods.  When we ignore God’s rule and authority, we will suffer the consequences.  We are not to be like the world.  We are to be different, because God has set us apart.  We should have different views, morals and standards.

Sensible people think carefully about any problems that may occur, but wise people learn from the words of others.  Fools refuse to listen to advice.  God gave clear instructions to Samuel.  He should appoint a king to rule Israel because that’s what the people wanted.

When have you not listened to wise advice?

What were the results?

Principle:  Rejection of God’s rule brings consequences. 

God is the one true God.  He is fully present everywhere.  He has perfect judgments.  He is holy and wants His people to be holy.  He is an all-powerful and self-sufficient God. 

Next week we will continue our study in 1 Samuel.  See you here.

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