#447 How Lame Are You?

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lordsaid to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince[a] over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.[b]

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David's soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” 9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. 12 And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David.14 And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.[c] 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. 2 Samuel 5 ESV

Israel is finally acknowledging David as king, notice it has not been all at once, but they have come to this in measure. God's anointing should be plenty, done by His prophet who has not been wrong before them, but we are all a bit slow. They give their reasons for coming: 

First off, you are our relative, bone of our bone. You share the same heritage and upbringing as us, set apart, called out of Egypt. You are an Israelite.

Secondly, you are not just an Israelite in name, but your deeds be well known. You have already gone out before us, led the charge, led the armies. You have experience as a leader, you have been a shepherd, a servant in the courts, a champion of Israel in the face of giants, and a captain of the armies of the Lord. Here you have served in Judah as king and with restraint, not wanting to hurt your people. 

Oh yes, and all that ever really mattered at all, God has endorsed you. You have the call of God upon your life. 

So, to anyone who would read this, apply it to your pastor and yourself as a pastor or leader. First of all, are you a Christian? Have you been born again? 

Are you experienced? Do you read the scripture daily, pray for your friends and your enemies as well. Now you may want to ask yourself the first question again. Have you learned to be a servant, to follow in the steps of Jesus? 

Have you really been called or do you like the idea of position? Are you in love with the sound of your own voice? Do you just want to be served, rather than give up yourself, rather than lay down your life for the brethren? 

David goes out against the Jebusites to take the city of Jerusalem, the city of the great king, but they taunt him. They think they have the upper hand, the position, a stronghold that cannot be broken down. This place is so great in their eyes that it could be defended by the blind and the lame, David is not a threat. He sends his men up the water shaft where they are somehow able to defeat both the "lame and the blind". It is a different perspective one has, when he looks upon the wisdom of this world, that which appears bigger than you, too well defended, outside of your reach, becomes a small thing when the God of the universe is with you. Faith is not the dismissal of reason, it is the acknowledgment of the circumstance, but sides with the voice of God. As one writer puts it, worldly wisdom sees that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, but faith will sell everything it has on the promise of God's word. It will give up the dust to chase that which is without measure. David will go up because the battle does not belong to the weak or to the strong. 

Now David is provided a house by a neighboring king, he is already showing himself a diplomat, as all kings must conduct themselves well with their neighbors. Trade is good, alliances can be good, always keep a door open to communication, look for every opportunity to be a good neighbor, but conduct yourself as God's chosen.

Or take more wives and conduct yourself as the heathen do, but these men and their lives are put before us as a testimony. For the student of self, this will be all the stones he needs to thoroughly trip himself on his way. Look, the Joseph Smiths of this world will say, David was a man after God's own heart, I should like to have many wives myself. Now the true student of Scripture will come along and see that it was not always so, that in the beginning God created male and female, that two became one. He will see that it is always a point of contention throughout scripture, and that in the law to the kings this was forbade. Sometimes when God does not speak again on a matter, we are left to our own reprobate, because we would not accept His first, that we are fallen and chase after our feelings and emotions. Men continue to justify their conduct, even under the guise of religion, legalism in some areas and yet no restraint of their passions. Men are quick to say, God give me this, even if they could read where he has said not that or where he has demonstrated not good. This will be the bane of David if you keep reading on. He ask God often before battle, which is wise, but here he devises not to ask God at all, for the answer will not satisfy the want. Oh, if we could change God's mind on so many things, how much easier would life be, how much more inviting the church would be? I should no longer have to stand for anything, and God would be no longer God, only what I think. An ever changing god adapting to the whims of his creatures, we could call it Theofluid, conforming to the image of man, his desires and broken reasoning. 

Now some think me rather dry and my religion old, but it is funny to hear that some describe those, who subscribe to reform Theology, as they that do not suspect to hear from God. I believe for good reason that the Bible is God's word, and therefore as often as I open it and read it's pages, I hear from God. I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me to help read God's word, and those that God has called to lead and are proven by the same Word and Spirit to teach me. I should rather pray with understanding, and like David before these battles, go to the Lord, expecting to hear, but not my own words. It is easy to hear your own voice and many rush in thinking it is confirmed, but David did not take the life of Saul when both men and circumstances pointed that way. Here, in the last battle, God has already been with him a number of times before, but he still ask, and God gives him the victory yet another way. I see a lot in the church today who act as the world in this, there is no faith in crystal balls though, or tarot cards, preachers who "have a word" and put that above God's word. They claim that everyone has less faith then them who does not believe as they do, and they ask why I can't hear the rustling in the Mulberry trees? Well, it's pretty simple, I don't own any Mulberry trees.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerlyfor our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for usthrough wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us,who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 22 -39