Today’s Readings: 2nd Samuel 5-9
For the past several months I have been following the 52 Week Bible Reading Plan (Copyright 1995-2009 Michael Coley which you can obtain at http://www.Bible-Reading.com). Today is Tuesday of the 18th week of 2010 so, if you have been keeping up with that schedule, our reading today is in 2nd Samuel 5-9.
For a man to become king of a great nation at the age of 30 was no extraordinary event, but it is clear from today’s reading that even greater things are yet to come because the God of Hosts was with THIS king! If WE will follow God’s leading, great things will come to us. David forges a covenant relationship with the people that he has been given charge to lead. We would do well to follow his example as we attempt to lead.
After ruling for seven years in Hebron, David secretly enters Jerusalem, a heavily fortified city under the control of the Jebusites, through its water system (1st Chronicles 11:6), opens the gates of the city and takes control of it. From Jerusalem, he will rule over the kingdom for the next thirty-three years. “And David knew that the Lord established him king over Israel, and that He exalted his kingdom for the sake of the people of Israel” (5:12). The accounting of this process will occupy the remainder of 2nd Samuel.
The Lord is with David in battles against the Philistines, against Moab, against Zobah, and gave him victory wherever he went (8:6). David recognizes the Lord’s assistance and compares it to a “bursting flood” (5:20). The Lord will assist us in our battles if we will seek his wise counsel. While the ark of God is being transported from Baale-judah to Jerusalem, it almost falls from the cart on which it is being carried. When Uzzah puts his hands on it to steady it, he is struck dead. God expects us to do His work in His way! When He commands that the ark be carried by the Levites using poles placed through rings on the side of the ark (see Exodus 25:14-15; Numbers 4:15; 7:9; Deuteronomy 10:8; 31:9, 25, cf. Joshua 3:15), that is how he expects it to be done! May we never forget that. The consequences are eternal.
It is sad that David’s wife Michal does not share in his spiritual joy described here as the ark is set in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it (6:16-19). In fact, her sarcastic comments make clear her contempt toward David’s divinely appointed role as king. It is sad to see husband and wife who do not share common spiritual goals and ideals!
It was admirable for David to want to build God a house but God had other plans. It was God’s plan that David’s son, Solomon, build him a house. God reveals parts of that plan to David as He details the “Davidic Covenant” and the messianic promises. The lesson in this for me is that what I THINK God wants of me is not always what God truly has in store for me. May I always have the courage that David had to pray, “And now O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you.”
Truly God HAS blessed the house of THIS servant in that I was able to baptize my son Ryan into Christ and see him begin his journey of faith two weeks ago!
Thanks for reading with me, dear friend and have a blessed day!
–Randy Sexton