#467 Second Summary of Samuel

If the 2nd book of Samuel has taught me anything, it is still better to wait upon the Lord's time. David came into his anointing without harming Saul, and God even intervened at times to insure that Saul's blood was not on his hands. We may not like those who rule over us when we find out how much like us they are, but God has allowed the rule of law, and David respects that God has anointed someone after the people's heart. He looked the part, taught his family to play the part, and though he started out a bit nervous, he grew to love the part, more than God. While Saul would hunt David, David would not lift a finger to hurt Saul; he was even embarrassed about cutting his cloak. It is easy to laugh at leaders, at my bosses, but when was the last time I prayed for them, mourned over their sin, pled with God over their poor decisions, not merely for the decision I want them to make, but that they honor God, that they delight the ruler of the Universe? It often slips my mind while I am laughing at them and shaking my head. Fortunately I can find nothing in common with my leaders, they're sinners, make wrong decisions, are arrogant, say stupid things, and my wife is telling me that I may have more in common with them then I realize. 

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.…Matthew 6:13-15

David started out strong and even after Saul's death he was not anxious for his seat. He went from shepherd, to harp psychologist, to giant slayer, to armor bearer, to military leader, to hunted outcast, to king of Judah then king of Israel. He learned the business, the courts, the field and he was God's anointed all along for the throne. I watch men rush over the most important steps so many times, they forget about mercy, or they confuse it with politics, it is far more important to them to be liked. Words can come so easy and so they become a substitute for experience, "I did that, that was me." We accept praise when it is someone else's due, but throw off blame that suits our position, that we should have addressed, or born for our team. It is in the minds of many, the higher up they go the more power they have to redirect the light away from them. No one knew anything, they were in the dark, not by choice of course, if they would have known then things would be different. Sadly, David picked up some of these traits, which are actually quite common to our nature. He used lying before when he lived with the Philistines, he tried to cover up his sin with Bathsheba, but when confronted by God, he took his punishment like a man, he begged forgiveness, mourned his stupidity, learned that obedience is not only better than sacrifice, it is a whole lot less painful. 

But riddle me this, Batman, when someone lies, we call them a liar. When someone marries a bunch of people, they are not faithful to one, we call them a polygamist, an adulterer looking for a loop hole. When someone sleeps with another man's wife, we call him an adulterer for certain, not a chance at a loop hole. When someone comes up with a plan to pass the child of his own loins off on the one he has defrauded, he is a deceiver. When someone sends that man to the front of the battle and tells his captain to withdraw from him, we call him a murderer. Why does God call such a man as this, a man after His own heart? I'm probably the only one who has a problem with this, but let's see, is this consistent with the rest of Scripture?

The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Did David show any signs of faith? Well, as a young boy, he heard the voice of Goliath ridiculing the armies of the living God, and he was offended for the sake of God. When told he wasn't qualified to fight such a mountain of a warrior, David reads off a resume of times that the Lord has not only delivered the lion but also the bear into his hands. The same God that was with him then will be with him now, and so he is not afraid. He knows God and believes Him to be a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. 

David's pedigree is not royal, he is the youngest son, he is a shepherd, but he is willing to do any job that is set before him, great or small. He comes from humble beginnings, not the son of a king, he is humble and not entitled. 

He is passionate about God, spends time contemplating God, reading God's word, he is in awe of the Creator. His delight is in the law of the Lord he says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 

In Acts 13:22 it gives us a simple answer:

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

When God ask David to do something, David had the faith to do it, which he proved by acting on it. When God was for him, he knew that nothing was impossible. Faith without works is a dead faith, not a saving faith. Works without faith is also dead, it is beyond arrogant, it denies the necessity of grace and the state of the human condition. If David's sins disqualify him from receiving God's mercy, then it is no longer by grace we are saved through faith. It's no longer a gift of God, but what I am saying then is that I am either not a sinner, not as much of a sinner, or I am a sinner like David, who knows an awesome Savior. David is not an excuse for me to sin, as Paul writes, shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? No, he says, God forbid, and David also knows something characteristic of being a man after God's own heart, and that is, whom the Lord loveth He chaseneth. If I am still skeptical of God's choice in David, is it possible that I am thinking more highly of myself than I ought to think? Remember, Christ doesn't come to call the righteous unto repentance. He says it's the sick that need a physician. I guess the question is, are you sick?

I will make for you a great name. (2 Sam. 7:9) 2 Sam. 5:10 God made David greater and greater. Phil. 2:10 At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly. (2 Sam. 7:10) John 14:1–3 Jesus is preparing a place for his people. Rev. 21:1–14 The bride of Christ will dwell in the new heaven and new earth where they will be disturbed and afflicted no more. I will give you rest from all your enemies. (2 Sam. 7:11) 2 Sam. 7:1 The Lord gave David rest from all his enemies. 1 Kings 5:4 The Lord gave Solomon rest from all his enemies. 1 Cor. 15:23–28 Jesus will reign until all of his enemies are under his feet. The Lord will make you a house. (2 Sam. 7:11) 1 Kings 11:43 David’s descendants became a dynasty that sat on the throne until Judah’s deportation to Babylon. Heb. 3:6 God is making a house, the church, for Jesus, the son of David. I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. (2 Sam. 7:12) 1 Kings 1:46 Solomon, David’s son, became king after David. Acts 2:29–36 In his resurrection, God raised up Jesus, a physical descendant of David, to sit on the throne established by David. He shall build a house for my name. (2 Sam. 7:13) 1 Kings 8:15–20 David’s son, Solomon built the temple, a house for God’s presence among his people. John 2:19–22 Jesus raised up the temple, his body, when he was resurrected. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. (2 Sam.7:14) Ps. 2:6–7 David and his sons who sat on the throne had a special father-son relationship with God. Rom. 1:3–4 Jesus was uniquely the Son of David and the Son of God. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men. (2 Sam. 7:14) 1 Kings 11:9–14 Because of Solomon’s sin, the kingdom was divided and the Lord raised up adversaries against him. Isa. 53:5 Jesus was punished for the iniquities of God’s people, not his own. My steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul. (2 Sam. 7:15) 2 Kings 8:19 God preserved a faithful remnant in Judah in keeping with his promise to David.

Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. (2 Sam. 7:16) Luke 1:33 The angel told Mary that her baby would reign over a kingdom that will not end. 1 Pet. 2:4–5 Believers are being built up into a spiritual house in Zion. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Sam. 7:16) Rev. 4:1–11; 22:16 Jesus reigns on the throne in heaven forever and ever

David was the shepherd of God’s people and prince over them. (2 Sam. 5:2) Matt. 2:6; John 10:14, 16 Jesus was a ruler who shepherded God’s people. David sat on the throne as king in Jerusalem, the earthly city of God. (2 Sam. 5:6–7) Rev. 21:1–7 Jesus will sit on his throne as king of the new Jerusalem, the heavenly city of God. Sinners who touched the presence of God in the ark died. (2 Sam. 6:6–7) Matt. 9:20–22; 1 John 1:1 Sinners who touched the presence of God in the flesh lived. God raised David up from shepherding to sit on the throne of Israel. (2 Sam. 7:8) Acts 2:24–25 God raised Jesus up from death to sit on the throne in heaven. David’s son sat on his throne. (1 Kings 1:47) Luke 22:30; Rev. 3:21 Jesus will invite believers to sit with him on his throne