David - Intro

THE LIFE OF DAVID

David, a man used so greatly by God, a man servicing God's purpose with all his being, in spite of his weaknesses and failures, a man after God's own heart.

By the grace of God, and his empowerment, David loyally served God's purpose in his own generation and by study of how he used his life for the Lord, we can better understand how we may better serve in our generation.

We are living in a time of near instant everything. Emails and instant messages along with texts in place of talking fly around the world at almost light speed. Every hour must be filled with some necessary task and monthly calendars are filled before the month begins.

But God's word tells us that this state of things will not last forever. The last chapter in the Bible is the 22nd chapter of Revelation. We see in that conclusion of all things that in the end there will only exist three things, God, Heaven & Earth united in the New Jerusalem, and the servants of the Lord, who will be in eternal service and worship. Scripture promises only these things at the end of all things.

All that lasts in the universe apart from God and His new creation will be those who have disciplined themselves to serve the Lord, in mortal life and therefore in eternity. Because of this promise we should be willing to think about who these servants of God are and how they serve.

Until very modern days in which biographies are printed for us in book form, the single greatest source of information about how lives were lived was from the Bible and its teachings.

The Bible brings us almost 3,000 characters in it's 66 sacred books. Most of these people are mentioned and not mentioned again. Some are mentioned only slightly more than others. A few are brought to us in more than just a few words to indicate how important their lives are in God's eyes for our teaching. 

Of the many people brought out by scripture, one man was chosen by God to be set forth with more importance in the Bible than any other, except Jesus himself. That man was David.

In the King James Bible David is mentioned 1085 times. He appears in 141 chapters. The power of these statistics should awaken us quickly to just how important God considers David to be for His children to study and understand.

God himself, through the lips of Paul in Acts 13, provided His own testimony to the life of David:

“And when He had removed him (King Saul) He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”

What does someone look like who is “after God's own heart”? Such a man is a servant in harmony with God, waiting to obey all that God reveals. That man will look like David, who was the Lord's servant all his days. David was God's man, willing to serve Him, and willing to assure that all praise and glory flowed only to God. His heart was after God and for God.

1st Kings 15:5:

“Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite”.

David is the Lord's primary example in the entire Old Testament of the faithful life devoted in service to the Lord, seeking first His righteousness, and when coming short of that goal, surrendering in full confession and true repentance.

While imperfect in some things, David sought the righteousness of God, and dedicated his life to the Lord's will and service. This is how he came to be “a man after god's own heart”.

What made David, God's servant, such an example for us?

David's life was on God's mind.

He was not the oldest of the brothers of his family. He was not the largest, nor the strongest. When God's prophet Samuel arrived to anoint a king, Samuel said to Jesse”

“... Are here all thy children? And he said there remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, send and fetch him: for we will not sit down until he come hither”. (1 Samuel 16:11)

God's choice of David, over all of his older brothers, is a picture of the special type of grace in which the older will serve the younger, seen in Abel, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

David's life was disciplined.

God uses hard working and disciplined people. When Samuel sent for him, he was exactly where he was supposed to be, watching the flock. Even after he became famous for killing Goliath, David often returned back home to tend the flock. Sheep are helpless, dirty, and fairly dumb, needing a watcher who would be steadfast in his purpose to protect them. He was trained in this solitude and by the quiet reality of this life. God saw this integrity and loyalty and chose David, a man who was trustworthy and could be counted upon.

David's life was empowered by the Lord.

Just as He does for every believer, the Spirit of God came upon David.

(1st Samuel 16:13)

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.”

All power rests in and comes from above.

David's life was an example of godliness to others.

One of Saul's servants told the king, “Behold I have seen a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him”. (1st Samuel 16:18)

Others were watching the life of David, just as there are some that watch our lives. What are they seeing?

David's life displayed true humility.

He never sought the spotlight. He had a job to do and he simply did it. He was consistent, faithful, dependable, and humble, never minding who got the credit.

After he was anointed all he did was to return to his duties in the fields tending the sheep. He did whatever was necessary. He tended sheep. He answered the call of Saul and came to play the harp. He carried food to the battlefield for his brothers. He became a soldier to fight for Israel and he served as an advisor to Saul in his cabinet. He sought no personal praise. He did whatever he was called to do.

David's life ministered to others.

He played his harp for Saul when the dark moods overcame the king and Saul would become refreshed and well (1st Samuel 16:23).

God wishes us to comfort others. He wants us to be the salt of life, adding flavor and to be a light to others, pointing others to Christ. Even after he became king, David was still willing to help others who needed help and comfort.

David honored God with his work and habits.

When one lamb seemed to be lost to a lion from the flock, David took it from the lion's mouth and killed the lion. He did the same with a bear. (1st Samuel 17:34-25). He risked his own life for one lost sheep. Such attention to even one lamb was remarkable, and Jesus even said in Luke 16:10 that one who is faithful in what is least will be faithful in much.

David's habits were disciplined and consistent, habits seen by and used by God in those He chooses.

David honored God with his life.

When David brought the food to his brothers at the battlefield, he saw how intimidated the army was by Goliath. He said to those close to him:

“... For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1st Samuel 17:26)

David's older brother was angry at these words. He felt David only wanted to see the battle. But David was not deterred and he knew that the Lord's honor was at stake and he was willing to risk his own life to uphold it.

David honored God's name with his mouth.

Today to even speak publicly of God in our world is frowned upon. His truth is minimized, His word is neglected, His people are ignored. All efforts are on removing Him from every public place and every public discourse. Who is standing for the Lord today?

David stood for the Lord in his day. He said to Goliath:

“... in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied... this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”.

David was loyal to the Lord's name. The Lord was loyal to David, giving him the victory.

David dedicated his treasures and trophies to the Lord.

David took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem. We saw later that he had dedicated the sword of Goliath to the Lord as it was wrapped in a cloth behind the altar of the Lord when David needed it while he fled from Saul.

1st Chronicles 18 teaches that he took the spoils of war, gold & silver from the defeated nations to Jerusalem to be dedicated to God. God gave much to David and David gave much back to God.

1st Chronicles 29:3 teaches:

“... because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.”

David was God's example of how someone who is “after God's heart” lives.

We, like David, should seek to be a servant  in harmony with the Lord. Just as He did in the life of David, God wants to use our lives to honor him, to praise Him, and to do His will while we are here and can serve him.

David was “GOD-HEARTED”. He had a heart to serve God's purpose for his life.

Is that our desire? Is our heart for God? Does He have our whole heart?

There is no limit to what God will do with a life and heart that gives back to him, serves him, and wishes only to uphold His purpose, not our own.

David: Life & Character of David

David's Relations: I Samuel 16:1-13, 17:13, I Chronicles 2:13-17

Father: Jesse

Brothers: 1) Eliab, 2) Abinadab, 3) Shammah (Shimea), 4) Nethanel, 5) Raddai, 6) Ozem

David: youngest son of Jesse. (number 7)

Sisters: 1) Zeruiah, 2) Abigail

Nephews: Of Zeruiah: 1) Abishai, 2) foab, 3) Asahel

Of Abigail: 1) Amasa

Of Shimea: Johadab, a crafty man - II Samuel 13

Hometown: Bethlehem - I Samuel 16: 1

David's physical appearance: Ruddy, beautiful eyes and handsome

David's youth and childhood:

His childhood responsibilities, skills and experiences

I Samuel 16:11, 19-23, 17:15, 17-18,

Shepherd, musician (lyre) and armorbearer for the king, errand-boy for his father

David's Family:

Born in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years, six months - II Samuel 3:2-5

Michal, daughter of Saul - I Samuel 18:27, II Samuel 3.:13-16
No children to the day of her death - II Samuel 6:23

Abigail, the Carmelitess (widow of Nabal) - I Samuel 25:39-44, II Samuel 2:2
2) Daniel - I Chronicles 3: 1

Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess - II Samuel 2:2
1) Amnon - I Chronicles 3: l

Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur - I Chronicles 3:2
3) Absalom
Daughter: Tamar - II Samuel 13:1

Haggith - I Chronicles 3 :2
4) Adonijah

Abital - I Chronicles·3:3
5) Shephatiah

Eglah - I Chronicles 3:3
6) Ithream

Born in Jerusalem - I Chronicles 3:5-9, 14:3-7; II Sam 5: 13:..14

Bathsheba (Bathshua), the daughter of Ammiel (wife of Uriah the Hittite)

Sons: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon

Others sons: lbhar, Elishama, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet; (besides the sons of the concubines)

David's rule:

II Samuel 5:4-5 He was 30 yrs old, Reigned 40yrs (7.5 yrs at Hebron, 33yrs at Jerusalem

David: Key Events in his Life

I. YOUNG DAVID

A. Samuel anoints David - 1 Sam 16:1-13

B. David serves Saul as harp player - 16: 14-23

C. David and Goliath - 1 Sam 17

D. Saul becomes jealous of David - 1 Sam 18

E. Saul tries to kill David - 1 Sam 19
Psalm 59 When Saul had sent men to watch David's house in order to kill.

F. Jonathan warns David of Saul's anger - 1 Sam 20

II. DAVID ON THE RUN

A. David flees to Nob to Ahimelech the priest - 1 Sam 21: 1-9

B. David flees to Gath
Psalm 34 When he feigned insanity before Abimelech who drove him away and he left.
Psalm 56 When the Philistines seized him in Gath

C. David escapes to the cave of Adullan - 1 Sam 22: 1-2
Psalm 142 A prayer when he was in the cave

D. David in Moab - 1 Sam 22:3-5

E. Saul kills the priests of Nob - 1 Sam 22:6-23
Psalm 52 When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him
"David has gone to the house of Ahimelech"

F. David save Keilah from the Philistines - 1 Sam 23: 1-6

G. Saul pursues David in the desert - 1 Sam 23:7-29
Psalm 63 When David was in the desert of Judah
Psalm 54 When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said
"Is not David hiding among us"

H. David spares Saul's life in the cave - 1 Sam 24
Psalm 57 When he fled from Saul into the cave

I. David encounters Nabal "The Fool" and Abigal - 1 Sam 25

J. David again spares Saul's life in the camp - 1 Sam 26

K. David finds refuge among the Philistines (1 Chron 12: 1-22) - 1 Sam 27

L. Philistines gather against Saul and he consults mediums and spirits - 1 Sam 28

M. Philistines do not allow David to fight with them against Saul - 1 Sam 29

N. David destroys the Amalekites after they had raided his refuge in Philistia (I Chron 12:21) - 1 Sam 30

0. Saul takes his life, Jonathan dies (I Chron 10: 1-14) - 1 Sam 31

P. David hears of Saul's death - 2 Sam 1:1-16

Q. David mourns for Saul and Jonathan - 2 Sam 1:17-27

Ill. King David

A. David becomes King of Judah - 2 Sam 2:1-7

B. War between houses of Saul and David - 2 Sam 2:8-32

C. David has children - 2 Sam 3:1-5

D. Abner goes over to David - 2 Sam 3:6-21

E. Joab murders Abner - 2 Sam 3:22-39

F. lsh-Bosheth, King of lsrael murdered - 2 Sam 4

G. David becomes King over Israel (1 Chron 11:1-3) - 2 Sam 5:1-5
Over 340,000 Israelite armed men gather around David (I Chron 12:23-40)

H. David conquers Jerusalem (I Chron 11 :4-9) - 2 Sam 5:6-16
David builds a home and has more children (I Chron 14: 1-7)

I. David overcomes a Philistine attack (I Chron 14:8-17) - 2 Sam 5: 17-25

J. David brings the Ark to Jerusalem (I Chron 13:1-14) - 2 Sam 6
Details on the preparations & celebration for the Ark (I Chron 15-16)
Psalm 105: 1-15 These Psalms are expansions of that initially
Psalm 96: 1-13 written by David for thanksgiving to be sung
Psalm 106:1,47-48 to the Lord by Asaph and his brethren

K. David wishes to build God's Temple &-God's promise to David (1 Chron 17: 1 -15) - 2 Sam 7:1-17

L. David's prayer (1 Chron 17: 16-27) - 2 Sam 7:18-29

M. David defeats the Philistines, Moab, Zobah, the Arameans, Edom, Ammon and Amalek (I Chron 18) - 2 Sam 8:1-14
Psalm 60 When David fought Aram Naharahn and Aram Zaboah and when Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the vally of salt

N. David's cabinet - 2 Sam 8:15-18

O. David shows kindness to Mephibosheth - 2 Sam 9

P. David defeats the Ammonites and the Arameans (1 Chron 19) - 2 Sam 10

Q. David takes Bathsheba and sends her husband to his death - 2 Sam 11

R. Nathan, the priest, rebukes David - 2 Sam 12:1-14

S. David repents - 2 Sam 12:15-25
Psalm 51 When the prophet Nathan, came to David after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba

T. David defeats the Ammonites (I Chron 20:1-3) - 2 Sam 12:26-31

U. David's family affected by incest: Airman & Tamar - 2 Sam 13:1-22

V. Absalom kills Amnon - 2 Sam 13:23-33

W. Absalom flees - 2 Sam 13:34-39

X. Joab brings Absalom back - 2 Sam 14: 1-24

Y. Absalom reconciled to David - 2 Sam 14:25-33

IV. David the Ousted King

A. Absalom's conspiracy - 2 Sam 15:1-12

B. David flees from Absalom - 2 Sam 15:13-37
Psalm 3 When David fled from his son Absalom

C. Ziba's deception - 2 Sam 16:1-4

D. Shimei's cursing - 2 Sam 16:5-14.

E. David's spies in Absalom's house - 2 Sam 16:5-14.

F. Joab kills Absalom contrary to David's orders - 2 Sam 18:1-18

G. David mourns Absalom's death - 2 Sam 18:19-19:8

V. David the Comeback King

A. David returns to Jerusalem - 2 Sam 19:9-43

B. The Sheba rebellion - 2 Sam 20:1-25

C. The Gibeonites avenged - 2 Sam 21:1-14

D. Wars against the Philistines (I Chron 20:4-8) - 2 Sam 21:15-22

E. David's song of praise to God - 2 Sam 22
Psalm 18 When the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul

F. David's last words - 2 Sam 23:1-7

G. David's Hall of Fame: His Mighty Men (I Chron 11 : 10-4 7) - 2 Sam 23:8-39

H. David counts the fighting men (I Chron 21:1-8) - 2 Sam 24:1-10

I. Israel becomes plagued because of David's sin (I Chron 21 :9-17) - 2 Sam 24:11-17

J. David's altar (I Chron 21:18-22:1) - 2 Sam 24: 18-25

K. Adonijah sets himself up as King (1 Kings 1:1-27) - 2 Sam

L. David makes Solomon King (I Chron 23:1, 29:22-25) - 2 Sam 1:28-53
David gathers material for the Temple (I Chron 22:2-5)

M. David's charge to Solomon (I Chron 22:6-16) - 2 Sam 2:1-9
David's charge to Israel's leaders (I Chron 22:17-19)
David makes arrangements for the Temple Services (I Chron 23-26)
(Division of Priest, Musicians, Gatekeepers, Treasury
Officers, Judges)
Appointment of military and civil officials (I Chron 27)
David's describes his desire for the Temple (I Chron 28: 1-8)
David's charge to Solomon & plans for the Temple (I Chron 28:9-21)
David's charge to the people and their response (I Chron 29: 1-9)
David prays publicly and leads worship (I Chron 29: 10-22)

N. David dies after a forty year reign (I Chron 29:26-28) - 2 Sam 2:10-11
Record of the acts of King David(I Chron 29:29-30)

David: Chronology of David’s Life

Time
Event
Basis

0
Born
Childhood: Shepherd boy, anointed king, chores, plays lyre for king Saul

Age 30
6 years, 6 months
Reigns as King of Judah, at Hebron 30yrs old
II Samuel 5:4-5
Has children in Hebron including: Amnon, Chileab, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah and Ithream
II Samuel 3:2-5

Age 37
33 years
Reigns as King of all Israel
II Samuel 5 :4-5

5 to 10 years
Jerusalem was conquered, then David built his house, then brought the ark to Jerusalem, waged war against the Philistines, Moab, Zobah and the Edomites. He was waging war against the Ammonites when: he sinned with Bathsheba. This means it is likely that he was king 5 to 10 years before he sinned with Bathsheba.

David intends to build Temple, God prevents him and gives him a promise. His son, Solomon, would build it.
I Samuel 22:9, 2Sa 7:12, 1 Ch 17:11

Probably between the age 42 to 47
Sins with Bathsheba

yr(s) later 44-49
Solomon Born (Solomon must be born no less than 18 to 20 months after David's sin with Bathsheba because the first baby dies) (Yet Solomon is old enough to have a son by the time David is at the age of 69)
II Sam 11:26-27, 12:18,24-25

Probably age 45 to 50
Amnon rapes Tamar (Amnon and Tamar must be older than 13 years old by now. If David was 45, this would make Amnon, Absalom and Tamar no older than 15, which is possible but unlikely. If David was 50, they would be no older than 20, which is certainly possible, more likely they were 13 to 18 years old)
11 Sam 12:10

2 yrs later age 47 to 52
Absalom kills Amnon
11 Samuel 13 :23

3 years age 50 to 55
Absalom exiled in Gesher
II Samuel 13:38

2 years age 52 to 57
Absalom lives in Jerusalem in isolation from David
II Samuel 14:28

4years age 56 to 61
Absalom usurps the kingdom of David, David flees Jerusalem (Age 66 seems awfully old to be on the run like that.)
II Samuel 15:7

Let's say one year
Absalom killed by Joab, David restored to power

3 years Age 57-60 or 62-65
Famine in Israel because of the blood guilt of Saul in slaying the Gibeonites.
II Samuel 21:1

at least 10 months probable like 5 years
There were two wars with the Philistines after this before the end David's reign, then David rested and thanked God when he was delivered from his enemies, Then he conducted a census that lasted almost 10 months, then the plague. Finally David's preparations for transition of power to Solomon and for the Temple.
II Samuel 24:8 (At this point I subtracted 5 years from the upper end of the distribution from each entry)

Age 69 (1 year before David dies)
Solomon has a son: Rehoboam. (Solomon must be older than 13 years old in order to have a son) (probably 21 to 26 see below)
1 Ki 14:21

Age 70
David Dies, Solomon becomes king David calls Solomon "young and inexperienced."'
Solomon can't be older than 30 years old because of David's 6.5 year reign in Hebron and the two years after the sin with Bathsheba. In addition, the sin with Bathsheba probably didn't happen as soon as he became King in Jerusalem since Jerusalem needed to be conquered first, then built his house, then brought the ark to Jerusalem, waged war against the Philistines, Moab, Zobah and the Edomites. He was waging war against the Ammonites when he sinned.with Bathsheba. This means it is likely that he was king 5 to 15 years before he sinned with Bathsheba. This would make Solomon 21 to 26 when he became King.
1 Kings 2:10-12
1 Chron 22:5, 29:1

4th year of reign
Solomon began to build the Temple, ( 480 yrs after Exodus)
1 Kings 6:1

11th year of reign
Finished building the Temple. It took 7 years to build the Temple
1 Kings 6:37-38

24th year of reign
Finished building his palace. It took 13 years to build the Temple
1 Kings 7: 1

It took twenty years total for Solomon to build the Temple and then his own house
1 Kings 9: 10

40 years old
Solomon reigned 40 years in .Jerusalem.
1 Kings 11:42
2 Ch 9:30

41 years old
Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king
1 Kings 14:21

David: The Promise of David

The promise to David is the third of the great promises made by God upon which all further revelations are based. This promise is essential if one it to understand the Bible and especially if one is to appreciate what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ.

Background to David's life

David was a divinely nominated King of Israel and described in the scriptures as "a man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). Although he was not perfect he had an amazing faith in God and desired to see God glorified above all else.

David, by conquest had extended the Kingdom of Israel to it's greatest extent and God had given King David "rest from his enemies" and had made his house to prosper. In light of this David wanted to build a temple for the worship of God.

In response to this God told him, through the prophet Nathan that He would not allow him to build the temple but his son, Solomon would. How-ever God promised David that He would actually build David a house and this promise, along with its details forms another foundation promise of the gospel. The most significant part of this promise is that the seed of David would sit upon his throne, as king, ruling over an everlasting Kingdom. This is ip. fact the further unfolding of a previous promise God gave to Abraham:

"In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:" Genesis 15-18

The promised seed ( descendant) therefore is connected with the land of Israel.

Why is this important?

If you study what the Bible says about Jesus, you will note that there are lots of references to King David and the promises made to him. Jesus is to fulfill these promises and therefore to understand them is to appreciate what Gods purpose through Jesus Christs is. Consider the following:

"For unto us a ·child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne or David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:6-7

"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:" Acts 13:22-23

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Revelation 22:16

What was promised to David?

The promise to David is recorded in 2 Samuel 7. It's different aspects have been defined below:

• Israel, God's chosen people, would eventually settle and would be safe (this is yet to be fulfilled!)-2 Samuel 7:10

• The promised seed (see Promises to Abraham and the Promise in Eden) would be a decendant of David-2 Samuel 7: 12

• This seed ( or decendant) would build a house for God -2 Samuel 7: 13

• God, as well as David would be the seed's Father-he would be the "Son of God" -2 Samuel 7:14

• God's mercy would remain with David's seed-2-Samuel 7:14-15

• David's throne an Kingdom is to be established FOREVER-2 Samuel 7: 13-16

• The throne and the seed would be done "before" David (e.g. in front of him) - 2 Samuel 7:26
  

What does this mean?

This covenant has not yet been fulfilled. Jesus was the seed (decendant) of David who was to come. Here are two references in the gospels to prove this:

"He (Jesus) shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end". Luke 1:32-33

"The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham". Matthew 1:1

So Christ then was the descendant ( or seed) of David but also he was the son of God as was promised to David:

"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God". Luke 1:35

The promise stated that David would see his.descendant (Christ) sitting on his throne, the throne of David in Jerusalem and that his Kingdom would continue forever. This is to happen in the future when Jesus Christ returns to the earth to establish that kingdom.

"And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again ... And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said ·on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David". Acts 13:32-34

David himself realized that this covenant would be fulfilled through one greater than himself and he spake of this in one of his Psalms which the apostle Paul later picks up on:

"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out ofmy lips. Once·have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven". Psalm 89:34-37

"THE LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not tum from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne." Psalm 13 2: 11

"THE LORD (God) said unto my Lord (Davids seed), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool". Psalm· 110: 1

"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said-unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ". Acts 2:29-36

Clearly then, the Bible teaches that David must be resurrected, that Jesus Christ must come back to the earth to sit upon Davids and set up a Kingdom which will last forever. This will be a re-

establishment of the Kingdom of God ( over which David ruled). God told the last king, King Zedekiah, this:

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown ... I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it (The Kingdom of Israel): and it shall be no more, until he (Jesus Christ) come whose right it is; and I will give it him". Ezekiel 21 :26-27

So this Kingdom then is to be re-established in the future. The one who is to come of whom God will give the Kingdom is Jesus Christ, the descendant of David and son of God.

"Behold, the days come, saith THE LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness· to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. For thus saith THE LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel". Jeremiah 33: 14-17

In Hebrews 11 we have a list of faithful followers of God. David is mentioned in verse 32. We also read in that chapter the following:

"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Hebrews 11: 39-40

So then these promises are in the future and we can be associated with them by belief in them, being baptized and following a faithful life. Peter tells us that by having a knowledge of these things that there have been:

" ... given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". 2 Peter 1:4

David: The Honesty of God’s Word

We are granted a revealing and clear view of the imperfections of our heroes from the Bible:

We know:

Adam & Eve broke the single commandment (Gen 3}.

Noah allowed the fruit of the vine to overcome his life at times and he was drunken (Gen 9) ..

Abraham was a times a liar(Gen 12) and he disbelieved God's promise of a son to come (Gen 17) and Sarah laughed at God's promise (Gen 18).

Isaac, like his father, was at times a liar (Gen 26).

Jacob lived with false god idols in his own home (Gen 35).

Peter, overcome by fear, denied he even knew the Lord (John 18).

David yielded to the temptation of the flesh, taking another man's wife, and arranging her husband's death to have her as his own, breaking at least four of the Lord's Holy Commandments (6-7-8-10).

Scripture grants us these, and other, views of imperfections and sin in order that we may understand that while some are heroes and chosen by God, they are also human.

Just as we do still today, these special Bible examples struggled with the carnal side of their own lives. While each of us is well aware of this struggle, scripture confirms it for us in Galatians 5: 1 7 :

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would".

Of all the examples given in scripture, David's life provides the strongest example of how a man who seeks to live a godly life must resolve the conflict of the warfare of the flesh against the Spirit that rages within.

David came to accept the ancient warning that God gave to Cain: " ... if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door ... " (Gen 4:7).

David provides us the spiritual road map that leads us to the title of our study guide, The Restoration of a Sinner.

David's life teaches us that when our relationship with our Heavenly Father is damaged by our yielding to our sin nature, restoration is found only when we confess the sin in prayer, remove the sin from our life, sincerely and truly repenting of it, and seek the Lord's forgiveness.

David taught us that repentance is not a single moment that occurs at our new birth, but repentance IS the godly life, never ending while we are here.

While the precious blood of Jesus, shed to bring us under Grace, is sufficient for all sin, it is effective atonement only for the sins of those who are born again into new and eternal life through faith in Christ alone.

These are His elect.

While we remain here, sin will never leave us. The issue of the Christian walk is not that we no longer have sin in our lives, but that it no longer will possess dominion over our lives.

Romans 6: 13-14 teaches us:

" ... yield yourselves unto God ... for sin shall not have dominion over you ...”.

David yielded himself unto God and he taught us by his life and by his writings in the Psalms how sinners may be restored unto God.

David: 2nd Samuel 2:8 - 3:1

2:8-17

Abner makes Ishbosheth king over Israel

Abner was the son ofNer, captain of Saul's troops. Here was established a rival kingdom, which likely would have not existed except for Abner's effort.

Ishbosheth ( also known as Eshbaal in 1st Chronicles 8&9) was known for his less than stellar intellect and the Hebrews changed his name to reflect a word derived from "shame" as he was labeled with a name of Baal, a false god.

Abner was the cousin of Saul and was held in high respect and was in opposition to David. He took Ishbosheth across the Jordan river to Mahanaim and appointed him king of the northern nation of Israel. This place was considered.a hallowed place in much earlier days known to have divine presence (Gen 32:2). Here Abner made the son of Saul, Ishbosheth, the next king.

2:9-10

David neither could nor would force matters. He was content to wait upon God's time and he avoided any confrontation with the new king, until, after two years hostile intent was apparent.

2:12

Abner takes troops to Gibeon, coming nearer to Judah, a move that seemed to indicate hostile intent. David sent an army of observation, under the command of Joab, to watch the movements of Abner's army.

2:14

Abner suggests to Joab a contest in which 12 men were chosen from each side to compete only with each other to settle the unfortunate contention. The fight, which was to limit the discord, instead heated up the ill will and expanded to general combat, in which Abner and his men were defeated and fled.

2:19-32

Asahel, the brother of Joab, pursued Abner and the fleeing troops in order to gain personal victory over Abner and capture Abner's armor, after killing Abner. Abner knew that Asahel was no match for him physically and used his lance backward to pierce Asahel, who fell and died. Joab continued to purnue Abner until sunset and Abner had gathered helpful troops from the tribe of Benjamin. Abner sought to end the bloodshed in talking to Joab, hopirtg to avoid a general civil war with Judah.

Joab seemed to accept the need to avoid further battle and led his men.away. On Judah's side, the loss had been 19 men + Asahel, while the losses to Abner's troops was 360 men.

3:1

Now there began long war between the house of David and the house of Saul. There were successes on both sides at various times but now David knew that even though he had been divinely appointed by God to rule over both Judah AND Israel, he was beginning to understand that he would have to take the throne by force.

NOTE: While our assigned study verses in 2nd Samuel 2 do not include verses 1-7, it is important that we not skim over a very important item that is found there. We are told that David inquired of the Lord. This was not a one time event. David was consistently being led by God in his efforts and scripture is clear that David took his direction from the Lord to guide his decisions. He did this by means of the Urim & Thummim, the holy stones through which God answered the questions of His chosen people. These holy stones were sewn into the ephod of the priest keeping them close to his heart.

We see this type of questioning by David and answering by God in this chapter as well as 1st Samuel 23:6, 23:9, 30:7, & 30:8. While we do not have details as to how these holy stones worked, we know that they did open dialog to and from God on matters of great importance. These oracle stones were. shown to us in Exodus 28:30 and were commanded to be sewn inside the ephod Aaron wore, to rest against his heart. The names of these stones when translated means "light" & "perfection".

David: 2nd Samuel 5

5:1-2

The tribes accept David as king over Israel

Several years had passed and after the long war, and Abner had abandoned his support for Ishbosheth, joining David. Joab took revenge on Abner by killing him for the death of Asahel. Ishbosheth was himself murdered by two of his own captains.

All the tribes sent representatives to David and now accepted him as king of the combined nations of Judah & Israel. The prophecy declared by Samuel in 1st Samuel 16: 11-13 was fulfilled.

5:3

An agreement was made formal in Hebron to make David's kingship official.

5:4-5

David was now 30 years old and he had endured over ten years of persecution and warfare to gain the position promised to him by God through Samuel.

5:6

The Jebusites held Jerusalem, God's Holy City, and called it by the name of Jebus. These were one of the peoples that God had commanded the early Hebrews to remove from the promised land of Canaan (Exodus 23) and they had failed to obey.

These people had heavily fortified the city with thick and tall walls and battle placements to repel any effort to take the city. They were so confident that their walls would save them they placed the blind and lame on the walls to mock the forces of David. But the Lord had plans greater than the walls of the Jebusites.

5:7

The city was to become known as Zion, and this common term is now first seen in scripture as described as having been taken by David. Thereafter, this area will be known as the City of David. Its high point became later the temple mount, where the rock of Abraham's testing was located.

5:8

There was an underground spring flowing under the walls into the city, which was considered secure to water the people in case of siege. The waterway was named the spring of Gihon and it flows still today.

David's men went through the underground tunnel of this waterway and took the city from inside rather than directly attack it from outside.

5:9-12

David renamed that part of the city to be called "City of David" to remind all of who had conquered it. David himself dwelt in that place and Hiram, the king of Tyre sent materials and craftsmen to build David a beautiful home of the finest cedar. David understood his victory and all that had happened to him was the will of the Lord and he exalted the Lord for what had been given him.

Here he was humble and grateful, unlike the arrogance of Saul.

5:13-24

David took wives and concubines from Jerusalem. It is important that we not overlook the fact that this conduct was directly against the word of God as given in Deuteronomy 1 7: 1 7: "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself that his heart turn not away ... ".

The Philistines, who had been content to let Judah & Israel kill each other, now realized that a unified nation.under David was a threat. They decided to bring their army to Jerusalem and attack the new young combined nation and they were soundly defeated by the forces of David in the valley of Rephraim (meaning the valley of giants) which was ironic since David began by fighting a giant.

The Philistines left their own idol god images that they had brought into battle and these were burned by David's army as commanded in Deuteronomy 7:5: " ... burn their graven images with fire ... ".

The next year the Philistines regrouped and attacked again and once more were defeated under God's direction to David.

David: David’s Second Giant

2nd Samuel 5:13

“And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron...”

When we meet David in this chapter, he is at the top of his career. He is a successful king, a powerful ruler, an undefeated general, a wealthy businessman, surrounded on every side by God's blessings.

There is a sort of sequel to David's first giant story, in which he killed Goliath. Less than thirty years after his Lord led victory over the Philistine giant, David himself fell to a far more personal giant, the giant of lust.

This giant came creeping into David's inner chambers and into his innermost heart. In his midlife (he was now likely in his early 40's), he heard the siren call of the flesh and he gave into this call, stepping from temptation to yielding.

David the giant killer was overtaken by this second giant because he willingly ignored the word of God, placing his own desires above obedience, that which he had not done before.

How did David allow this to occur?

1. He ignored his own conscience by incomplete obedience. (1st Sam 5:13)

2. He relaxed his grip on personal purity. (2 Sam 11:1) He sent his troops onward from Jerusalem, and allowed his idleness to lead him to sin.

3. He fixed his heart on physical desires. (2 Sam 11:2) He saw a beautiful woman and determined to have her as his own.

4. He knew the decision was wrong and knew she was the wife of another man (2 Sam 11:3) He deluded himself that he could have her because of his pride in his position. He was king.

5. He plunged his life into lustful sin (2 SAM 11:4) He sent messengers to take her and then he took her to himself.

Death, deceit, murder, immorality, spiritual indifference, & poverty of the soul all resulted from this moment of pleasure.

David's sin here in the taking of the wives & concubines as well as his later sinful taking of Bathsheba were ALL in direct disobedience of the word of God.

Six hundred years after Abraham, God told Moses to write down His law on these matters and His commands could not have been more clear.

We see these commands in Duet 17.

17:15   “Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose...”

God chose David, and had Samuel anoint him.

We are not to follow anyone God has not chosen.

17:16   “But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt...”

Once we are delivered from our bondage, we are not to return.

17:17   “Neither shall he multiply wives to himself...”

God's plan was one man & one woman joined together. More than one wife has the potential to lead the heart to turn away from the Lord.  David chose to dwell in a common custom rather than dwell in the Lord's command.

17:18   “And it shall be when he sitteth upon the throne, he shall write him a copy of this law in a book...” & in verse 19 “...keep  all the words of this law and these statutes to do them.”

We should remember that the Lord told Samuel to tell Saul that partial obedience was disobedience.

The Lord has taught us through His word that temptation is forever here, as James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

As Jesus showed in the wilderness, victory over temptation is only found by obedience to the word of God, & defeat is found in yielding to our own lusts. 

David: The Lord’s Covenant with David

2nd Samuel 7

David had an idea that he should arrange to build a house for the Lord. He thought that he had himself a fine house in which to live and the Lord's house was still evident only in tent form. It seemed a fine idea to David to construct a temple for the Lord. As in other matters, David consulted with the prophet Nathan to get guidance as to the merit of the idea. Nathan quickly gives his endorsement for the temple saying, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you".

While David's heart was properly guided to further serve the Lord, he shows here his gratitude and concern for God's glory. However, Nathan had spoken too quickly and did not consult the LoFd directly before approving the idea.

That night the Lord revealed H.is opinion of the plan to Nathan saying that He had always dwelt in the tent tabernacle and had never commanded any different dwelling. Now the Lord grants a further and far more extensive answer to His prophet by reversing the question by informing that He will build a "house" for David, instead of David building a house for the Lord.

This "house" for king David will be known as the "DAVIDIC COVENANT" and would stand forever between the Lord and David, and more importantly, the descendants of David. This is a binding contract from God, described in 2nd Samuel 7 & also in Psalm 89. God promises that an heir of David will sit upon David's throne forever, ruling over the kingdom defined by the land grant of the covenant given earlier to Abraham.

This new covenant had promises to be fulfilled within the lifetime of David, and far more importantly promises to be fulfilled far beyond the mortal life of David.

Promises made true in David's lifetime:

An heir would succeed him and would build the Lord's temple. (7: 12-13)

Continued success over his enemies. (Ps 89:21-23)

A great name among the people of the earth. (7:9)

An expanded kingdom. (Ps 89:25)

David to be elevated to the highest rank of all kings. (Ps 89:27)

Eternal promises to be fulfilled after David's lifetime:

There will always be a descendant of David. (7: 16)

The throne of David to last forever. (7: 13)

NOTE: The covenant WILL last forever but it was not promised to be among a line of heirs not to be interrupted.

There was no interruption of heirs that ruled from David in 101 0BC until the captivity came in 586BC. With that fall of the southern kingdom, the throne of David has stood unoccupied until today.

Further, God placed a curse on the line of David in Jeremiah 22:30. Because of the sinfulness of the kings that l.ed to the captivity the Lord pronounced the curse on Coniah (Jeconiah/Jehoachin) :

"Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling anymore in Judah."

This man is listed in the family line of Matthew's 42 generations (Matt 1: 12).

Because of this curse, we have a second and revised line of the family from David to Jesus given in Luke 3, showing the line that was to hold the covenant was now considered to fall from David's son, Nathan, rather than from Solomon, as shown in Matthew. This event is known as the Curse of Jeconiah.

While Joseph was the legal father of Jesus, His true father was the Holy Spirit and therefore Jesus, while being the last & forever heir, escaped the curse by being virgin born.

The portion of the covenant that was not fulfilled in David's lifetime was the "throne" portion. Here becomes the majesty and power of the sovereignty of God.

While Jesus shares the throne of the Father above, that throne is NOT David's throne.

God has promised that David's throne will be restored after long centuries at the second coming. (Luke 1:31-33 &Acts 15:14-17 &Amos 9:11-12).

While the Jews have been scattered over the centuries, the line of David will indeed rule from his throne.

The covenant blessing is for eternity. (Ps 89:34-36)

This is overwhelmingly confirmed in scripture:

Isa 9:6-7 / Jer 23:5-6 / Ezek 37:24-25 / Daniel 7:13 / Hos 3:4-5 / Zech 14:4-9

The line of David, seen in the family after the curse was avoided, has not ended.

Jesus came, as an heir of David, and after Him, there was to be no more. The line, after His resurrection, ascension, and next coming to earth, will be shown to have fulfilled the covenant AND will be so shown by Jesus ruling forever from the throne of David. His kingdom will be eternal, and will prove the secure promise made by the Lord in 2nd Samuel 7:13: " ... I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever ... "

Consider:

Isaiah 55:3 "Incline your ear,, and come unto me: hear and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David".

Rev 3 :7 "And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth,; and shutteth, and no man openeth."

Rev 22: 16 "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star".

David: Grace in the Old Testament

Many critics of tp.e Lord's word make the claim that the OT is all "law" and that the NT is all "grace". Some also say that the God of the OT is harsh and brutal while the God of the NT is tender and forgiving. Some say that those saved in the OT were only saved by the law while those saved since Jesus came were saved by grace through faith.

Of course, these is a much more clearly stated gracious framework in the NT than in the OT. But those who study out the nature of God understand that God never changes. We are assured that He only changes the manner in which He chooses to deal with His creation. Our .. scripture proof of this truth is seen in Hebrews 1:1-2:

"God, who in sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by which also He made the worlds."

In both Testaments, people are saved by grace through faith.

The word "grace" appears 20 times in the OT, usually in the form of the word translated as "favor". The strongest understanding we have of this word is the undeserved kindness or favor of God toward man.

A few examples will bring-light to our path as we consider this matter.

GEN 6:8 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord"

GEN 15:6 "And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord; and he (the Lord) counted it to him for righteousness" (This verse is so important that it is quoted in the NT three times)

PS 45 :2 "Thou art fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee forever" (The speech of the Messiah is full of grace and kindness)

PS 84:11 "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withold from them that walk uprightly" (The Lord gives believers grace along the way and the ending reward is glory)

ESTHER 2:17 " ... she obtained grace and favor in his sight. .. " (Here we see both the Hebrew words used, "hen" meaning grace and "hesed" meaning favor)

NUMBERS 6:25 "The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee" (Aaron understood grace was evident in his day)

So many people hold a very strong misunderstanding of the way of the Lord toward His own. They think they must "DO" something to merit the favor of God. They ignore that all that was necessary to be done was completed on that dusty hillside just outside Jerusalem 2000 years ago. There is nothing we can do to make God loves us less, and nothing we can do to make God love us more.

He provides His love toward us to be seen by the grace he allows us after He gifts us the blessing of faith by drawing us to Himself.

THE GRACE OF GOD IS SEEN IN EVERY BOOK OF THE OT

Genesis
Shows God's grace to a wicked world as He enters into a relationship with a sinful family line (Abraham) and promises to bless the world through him.

Exodus

Shows God's grace to His enslaved people in bringing them outof bondage in Egypt.

Leviticus

Shows God's grace by providing His people with a sacrificial system to atone for sins.

Numbers

Shows God's grace by patiently sustaining His grumbling people in the wilderness and bringing them to the border of the promised land, not because of them but in spite of them.

Deuteronomy

Shows God's grace in giving the people the new land and telling them it is "not because of your righteousness. (Deut 9)

Joshua

Shows God's grace in giving Israel victory after victory in the land with neither superior numbers or at times obedience.

Judges

Shows God's grace in taking sinful & weak Israelites as leaders

and using them again & again to purge the land of invaders

and idolatry.

Ruth

Shows God's grace in including a foreign and poor and desolate woman in the direct lineage of Jesus Christ.

1st & 2nd Samuel

Shows God's grace in establishing the throne forever.

1st & 2nd Kings

Shows God's grace by delaying the justice and judgment for kingly sin "for the sake of David".

Ist & 2nd Chronicles

Shows God's grace by continually assuring the returning exiles of God's own promises to David and his sons to be true.

Ezra
Shows God's grace to Israel in working .through the most powerful pagan ruler of the time (Cyrus) to bring His people back home to a rebuilt temple.

Nehemiah
Shows God's grace in providing for the rebuilding of the walls of the city that represents the heart of God's promise to His chosen.

Esther
Shows God's grace in protecting His people from a Persian plot to destroy them.

Job
Shows God's grace by deliverance of those who may suffer and by giving wisdom to those who suffer that their redeemer lives.

Psalms
Shows God's grace by reminding us of His constant covenant love for us, and the refuge He is for us.

Proverbs
Shows God's grace by opening to us a world of wisdom in leading a life of happy godliness.

Ecclesiastes
Shows God's grace by reminding us that the good things of this life can never be the ultimate goal of this life, rather it is God's mercy that satisfies sinners.

Song of Songs
Shows God's grace and love for His bride by giving us a faith echo of it in the ,pleasures of faithful human intimacy.

Isaiah
Shows God's grace by reassuring us of His presence with us and His restoration of contrite sinners.

Jeremiah
Shows God's grace in promising a new and better covenant which will be written inside the heart of believers.

Lamentations
Shows God's grace in his faithfulness in the middle of sadness.

Ezekiel
Shows God's grace with divine heart surgery that replaces hearts of stone with hearts of flesh.

Daniel
Shows God's grace in the repeated preservation of His servants.

Hosea
Shows God's grace in a real life story of His never ending love toward His whoring wife, Israel.

Joel
Shows God's grace in the promise to pour out His spirit on all flesh.

Amos
Shows God's grace in the Lord's promise of restoration despite massive corruption.

Obadiah
Shows God's grace by promising judgment on Edom, the oppressor of Israel, and restoration of Israel to the land.

Jonah
Shows God's grace toward both immoral Nineveh (a gentile city) and His moral but disobedient prophet, both who need and receive the forgiveness and grace of God.

Micah
Shows God's grace in the prophecy of God's repeated pardon of iniquity and transgressions.

Nahum
Shows God's grace in assuring Israel of "good news & peace" promising no more torment from the Assyrians.

Habakkuk
Shows God's grace that requires nothing other than trusting faith to overcome opposition and freedom for the faithful to rejoice in God; even in desolation.

Zephaniah
Shows God's grace in the prophecy of the glorious future to be granted to Israel & Judah if repentance arrives.

Haggai
Shows God's grace in that the future glory promised will be far more glorious than all glory known before.

Zechariah
Shows God's grace in that the future glory promised will be far more glorious than all glory known before.

Malachi
Shows God's grace by declaring the Lord's complete love for His people, unconditionally.

David: David’s Grace

In this chapter is the story of a great king and a poor lame man. The great king is David, the king of Israel & Judah.

Sixteen years earlier, before he became a great king, David made a covenant with Jonathan, King Saul's son and David's most cherished friend. Now the time had come for David to fulfill the covenant promise made to Jonathan.

1 Samuel 20: 16-17

"So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul"

Now David is determined to fulfill his covenant promise to Jonathan so he sought out the only survivor of his friend, his son named Mephibosheth. David sent for the man and Mephibosheth came to David filled with fear and trembling, thinking that he may be killed because he was King Saul's grandson.

But when he arrived he was surprised to find that King David showed him kindness and mercy as he was made to be as one of the King's sons.

How this story illustrates the gospel of Christ. Behind the noble kindness of David toward Mephibosheth, the wonder of the grace of God toward us shines through. A poor crippled son was brought by the call of the king to sit at the king's table and to reside from this point onward in the house of the king.

When a slave of sin and Satan is called by the Lord, he is made an heir of God, a joint heir with Christ, and he resides forever in the house of the Lord.

David's kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake, is a beautiful picture of God's lovingkindness and tender mercy to sinners for Christ's sake.

There are five things about this man, Mephibosheth, that speak to the grace of God to us in Christ.

( 1 )Mephibosheth was in a very miserable condition when the king sought him. When King Saul died, this man was a child of five years old. When his nurse fled in fear with him in her arms, he fell and both feet were crippled for life in the fall. He was lame for life.

He was unworthy of David's attention, regard, or favor. But David showed him kindness and mercy. We too are unworthy of the attention of the Lord, but he is forever gracious to us.

He was poor, destitute, and helpless. Even his name meant man of shame. We also are shameful beings before coming to God. Isaiah 64:6 teaches us that " ... we are all as an unclean thing ... are as filthy rags ... ".

Like the OT lepers we are suffering an incurable disease of sin and like the OT harlot, we are defiled by that sin until we come to the Lord.

(2)Mephibosheth was damaged by a fall, exactly as we were damaged by the fall of our first parents in the garden, to be spiritually lame until we are gifted faith to believe. Until God calls us we are helpless cripples in our souls. (John 6:44)

When he was called, he was in a far country, away from the king. He was far from the place of blessing, peace, and fellowship. He was in a place named Lodebar, meaning place of no bread.

We are also far way when called, residing in sin, living in a place of no bread of life, much like Mephibosheth.

The king sought him, he did not seek the king. David made a sovereign choice, a personal call, and an irresistible election. God always seeks the lost, finds them, calls them and they come.

Abraham was in Ur.

Moses was in Midian.

Zacheus was up a tree.

Saul (Paul) was on the desert road.

(3) Mephibosheth came to the king in submission and was reconciled by the king's mercy. David broke the poor man's fear by calling him by name and told him to fear not (verse 7). He was received in his deformed state, just as God received sinners just as they are (Just as I am ... ).

(4) He was granted fellowship and communion with the king and was received on the account of another. David received him on account of the covenant made with Jonathan and accepted him in love. The Lord receives us on the righteous account of Jesus Christ for the same reason, love.

It pleases God to look to the once and forever sufficient sacrifice of Jesus to allow each of us to enter the door to His kingdom.

David received Mephibosheth, restoring him, and made him as one of the king's sons. We are restored to a status free of our sin and become sons of God because of Christ. God's Men;y At Christ's Expense = GRACE

Mephibosheth got more in David than he lost in Saul. We•get more in Jesus than we lost in Adam. His feet were still lame but were covered by the table of the king.

(5) Mephibosheth was granted perpetual fellowship and communion with his king. He dwelt from then on with David, in David's house, at David's table. As sons of God, we walk with the Lord, dwell with Him forever, rest under His protection, and are forever covered in His mercy.

All of this was done because of a covenant made far before Mephibosheth was born. He was spared because of the king's love for Jonathan and because of the covenant made with Jonathan.

All we have in Christ and all that we have experienced in divine grace has come to us because of a covenant between the Father & the Son, at the foundation of the world; long before we were born. Mephibosheth did not know anything about this covenant but it saved him. We knew nothing about the covenant of grace arranged for us long ago, but it saved us.

Just as David fulfilled his covenant with Jonathan in Mephibosheth so the Lord will fulfill His covenant that was made in Jesus Christ for us.

David: Repentance

Scriptural repentance requires three things to occur:

1. Sorrow for sin (II Cor 7:9) "Now I rejoice not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance ... ".

2. Confession of sin (Ps 51 :3) "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me".

3. Avoiding the repeated occurrence (John 8:11) " ... go and sin no more".

Repentance is a recognition that sin is against divine law. Therefore true repentance toward God is followed by faith toward Christ.

When we are saved, that is justified by the work of Christ, repentance toward God of all earlier sin is supposed and should be evident in our heart (Rom 5: 1)

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ".

Sorrow for sin, that is being of a contrite heart, will always be evident before repentance.

When we become Sons of God, He will not allow us to remain in continued sin. His Holy Spirit will bring to light the things within us that rest in darkness, convicting us of those things and guiding us to repent in full confession and then pleading forgiveness.

Scripture is clear on this matter.

God's majesty brought Job to repent of his own self righteousness. (Job 42:1-6)

God's glory, seen by the prophet Isaiah caused him to cry out "Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips". (Isaiah 6:1-5)

God's power, as seen by Peter in Jesus caused him to cry "Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord". (Luke 5:8)

On the day of Pentecost, the sermon of the apostle under the new power of the Holy Spirit made those hearing it to be "pricked in their hearts". (Acts 2:37)

David's sin was revealed by the word of the Lord, from the lips of His prophet, Nathan. Even though David was slow to confess, he did indeed do so, in full, and begged the forgiveness of God, which was granted .

David had sought out and welcomed sin into his life and even though he was sure it was covered up, it was NOT!

This lesson provides help to all who seek the Lord for all time. Sin w:ill always be, with us as long as we are here. We must not let it have dominion over our lives.

Confess, Repent, Avoid, and rest in the Lord only.

This path will allow us to be men after His own heart ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

David: David Sins & Repents

We have already examined the issue of David's 2nd giant, which overcame him, which was his yielding to the sin of lust.

We looked at the issue of David's violation of the Lord's commands from Deuteronomy concerning his taking both multiple wives and m9re concubines into his house. Those actions were clearly expressions of his arrogance as to his being king and able to do as he pleased.

The issue that was more serious than these sins was the taking of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his -most loyal soldiers: While we are well aware of the story, it makes goods_e,nse to remember the progress of this episode.

David remained in Jerusalem while his troops were at war. While in his self imposed idleness, he saw Bathsheba from his royal home balcony as she bathed on her roof. David"'allowed the sin of the eye to become the sin of the flesh as her sent for her, had her brought to him while her husband was away at the war, and became immorally intimate with her.

He brought Uriah home from the war to have him spend time with his wife to have Uriah be seen to be the father of the child David had conceived. After failing to convince Uriah to spend time with his wife, even after plying him with wine, David sends Uriah back to the war carrying David's order to place him at the battle front of intense fighting to assure his death.

After Uriah was killed, brought back to be buried, and was mourned by his widow, David married Bathsheba. There is NO scriptural lesson of any mourning by David for this brave warrior he had sent to death intentionally.

David was sure he had well covered up the episode and his sin.

But verse 27 of chapter 11 teaches us the truth of the result of David's sin. " ... But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord".

While David thought he was finished with this issue, God was not. David's cover up of his transgression compounded his sin. Sin bred more sin, and David did NOT confess nor repent at this time.

David's sin was not to be without consequence. God sent Nathan the prophet to warn David by parable of how serious was his sin. The child that was born of this immoral act was taken by the Lord's command that it would die. Uriah was 'killed, as were many .others by David's command to Joab to attack. Joab reminded the king of this matter as well as called Uriah "your servant" to David.

While David may not have intended these consequences, they were -all a result of his sin and commands to cover up his sin.

So from this example given us what are the lessons we may learn from it so that we ourselves, living in a modern world with perhaps °far greater access to such temptations, can avoid this type.of sinful failing?

1. Sin can be a gradual slope:

One small sin can lead us into many more much larger sins. Satan plants the hook and then plays us on his line until he pulls us in to himself.

We must flee the sin of the eye, and not allow it to take us down the slippery slope of the sin of the flesh. While we are "in the world" we are not to be "of the world".

2. Lust stalks us every day:

Almost every commercial, ad, and most other forms of advertising appeal to the flesh. Stop watching !

3. Be careful what we allow our children to watch:

They are being formed for life. TV & movies are consistently making sex without marriage "normal" and convincing our youth that deviant sex is acceptable. Be careful what they watch ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

4. Be a friend of God & enemy of the world:

James 4:7-10 gives us three instructions to follow if we wish to avoid yielding:

(1) Submit to God-unconditional surrender to the Lord to lead our life is the only path to victory over this area of sinful living.

(2) Draw near to God-Full confession & full repentance bring a clean spirit. Then we must use his word as our shield just as Jesus did in the wilderness.

(3) Humble ourselves -We cannot submit outwardly and not submit inwardly by humility toward the Lord. The heart must be broken & contrite toward the Lord (PS 51: 17).

David no longer walked in the light of God, but had cursed himself into darkness which is the result of sin without repentance. He was no longer fearlessly righteous. His palace was now a wasteland as was his heart.

His bliss of living under the Lord's hand was gone. The nourishment of the blessing of the Lord, so abundant before, was now withdrawn.

David had hidden his sin, and now was struggling with the desolation he himself had purchased and his new possession owned him completely.

Later his next son, Solomon, would write the truth of these times in Proverbs 28:13:

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy".

So David did as he should. He once more turned his heart to God, he placed himself humbly before the Lord, confessed his sins in full, repented of those sins completely, and begged the forgiveness of God. Here once more we see again why the Lord said that David was a man after His own heart. While imperfect, David became convinced of his sins, and asked the Lord to both cleanse him and to restore him injoy in the sight of the Lord.

We are blessed to have the exact words David spoke in these moments.

Let's look together at David's words: Psalms 51 & 32. These teach us of the full repentance & confession of David and more importantly of the blessedness of forgiveness that comes as a result.

The title of our study book best describes David now:

THE RESTORATION OF A SINNER

David: Amnon & Tamar

2ND SAMUEL 13

We studied last week the terrible desolation of king David after he had sinned against the Lord and had tried for a year to cover his sins of lust and commanded murder. We looked deeply into the area of repentance and saw that David, after Nathan the prophet revealed to him his sin status, did indeed confess completely and repent deeply and was forgiven.

Our question now is that even though David found the forgiveness he sought, were there still consequences to be borne by him of the actions he had done which had displeased the.Lord?

We begin by looking at 2nd Samuel 12: 11: "Thus saith the Lord, Behold I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house ...

We are assμred that the Lord intends always that His will be done and His word not return to Him void. God knew that David had a soft heart toward his children, even to the point of not showing fatherly discipline. In this area, David followed too closely the poor example of Eli, the high priest of Israel, whose example was written in 1 Samuel 3: 13: " ... his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not...".

David had yielded to the sin of lust and had then shed blood afterward still in sinful effort, and now in this chapter we will see that these very sins shall be repeated within his own family. The word of the Lord was fulfilled.

It is important that God had told David that if he had asked for certain things, they would have been given. If what the Lord had already bestowed was insufficient, He was willing to give more. Now in these last three chapters we see:

• Sin in chapter 11

• Sorrow in chapter 12

• Suffering in chapter 13

In our study today we meet four characters:

• Amnon - the first born son of David, born of Ahinoam of Jezereel, David's first wife. He is the main heir to David's throne.

• Tamar - daughter of David by Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur. Tamar was a quite beautiful young woman.

• Absalom - the blood brother of Tamar, and likely a teenager when David's affair with Bathsheba happened.

• Jonadab - a nephew of David, and a creepy conspiring character.

Amnon was filled with lust for his half sister Tamar, and we are told in verse two that he was vexed and wished his lust for her could be satisfied. We are told that Tamar was a virgin, and Amnon was seeking a way to have her physically.

Do we see already that the sin of Amnon is EXACTLY the same sin. that. took David into his own sinful darkness?

We will see that he was not in love with her, but was only in lust for her.

Love gives - Lust takes.

Amnon reveals his heat for his half sister to Jonadab, his cousin, who we are told is a subtle man. Joandab quickly hatches a solution. He tells Amnon to pretend illness, and when David comes to check on him to ask that David send Tamar to make break for him in his own chamber to help him recover his strength.

One would think that David, with his own many wives and concubines might have seen that it was not the stomach of Amnon that was growling. But he seemed not to have any suspicion.

David sends Tamar to cook the bread for Amnon, and she obeyed the king (somewhat like the obedience of Bathsheba earlier).

When the bread was ready Amnon pulls his half sister into himself and tells her to " ... come lie with me ..." .

We notice that Tamar was filled with fear and emotion toward this advance and she tells him three times not to do this thing:

" ... Nay my brother DO NOT force me: NO SUCH THING ought to be done in Israel: DO NOT thou this folly."

Amnon did not listen and he forced himself on Tamar, raping her. Verse 15 then shows his disdain for her after the act as he commands her to get up and leave, and his hatred for her now is greater than the love he thought he had for her. Tamar tells him that the sending her away after the act is worse than the act itself. But Amnon would not listen to her.

So she left in sorrow & disgrace, tearing her royal clothing, putting ashes on her head, and. weeping loudly. She had been violated in the worst possible way.

Now her brother, Absalom, counsels her to remain quiet and not to report the crime.

The crime should have had very serious consequences:

Leviticus 18

6: "None of you shall approach to any that is kin to him to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord".

9: "The nakedness of thy sister ... thou shall not uncover".

29: "For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations ... shall be cut off from among the people".

David knew the law. But Absalom and Amnon knew David and both knew Amnon could get away with this act ( an abomination to the Lord) .

Verse 22 teaches that Absalom never said a word to Amnon at this time but he cut himself off from Amnon from the moment his sister was disgraced.·

For two years, the matter festered inside Absalom in secret. But now he prepares a meeting after the sheep are shorn, and asks David to allow all the sons to attend.

At the meeting, Absalom's revenge is seen. He commands that when Amnon is under the influence of much wine, the men are to kill him which they did. He paid for his sin with. his life.

Absalom flees to his grandparent's home and was gone for three years.

How many ways did the righteous retribution promised by God upon the house of David appear?

FIRST-David's murder of Uriah was not a spur of the moment death of passion. David plotted and schemed the best way to have Uriah killed and over time carried out the murderous plot.

Absalom killing of Amnon was years in the planning while hatred & revenge burned in Absalom's heart. His plan was well thought out and well executed. The death was plotted and prepared.

SECOND-The killing of Uriah was a means to an end. With Uriah dead, David could take Bathsheba as his own wife. Absalom's killing of Amnon was also a means to an end, two ends. He sought and got revenge for the rape of his sister and he removed his older brother from the line of inheritance of the throne of David.

THIRD-David did not kill Uriah with his own hand but commanded it done. Absalom also did not kill Amnon by his own hand, but commanded it done.

FOURTH -Just as David sought to have Uriah take wine to become more relaxed to lying with his wife to cover the crime David had done, Absalom determined to use wine to have Amnon relaxed to make the crime easier to commit.

We see that the consequences of sin remain long after the sin is forgiven.

We see that immorality and murder are considered abominations to God and by His hand these acts are revealed and revisited as not forgotten until His will has shown to be complete when He promises judgment.

We see that David has lost two sons from sin in his house and we will soon see he will lose another as well.

We see that the inaction of David toward his sons brought exactly the result that God had promised.

Amnon's sin was great and needed to be addressed. But David ignored his duty and allowed the sin to remain unpunished. As we see Paul teach so very well:

"The wages of sin is death ... ".

David: Absalom

2ND SAMUEL 15:1-16 2ND SAMUEL 18:9-18

We must begin this part of our study with the warning promises that God had given to David, the man after His own heart, when he had repented and gained the Lord's forgiveness, which included not suffering death himself.

2nd Samuel 12: 11-12

"I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun".

As we look into our study we should consider that there is a trail of sorrow and sadness during these times in David's life. It began with the agony he suffered as his sin with Bathsheba was revealed, and he lost the son to death that was the product of that adulterous union.

Soon David's own daughter, Tamar, was raped by his son Amnon. Amnon was then murdered by another son, Absalom. Absalom flees for three years to his mother's royal family. David is then manipulated by Joab to bring Absalom back. Now Absalom uses his return to David's good graces to begin a plan to take the throne himself and begins rebellion to do exactly that. This matter causes a split in the nation itself and will end in death and more tears along this sad trail of sin andconsequences.

As we start, let's be sure we recall that Nathan had told David in 2nd Samuel 12: 13 that the Lord had taken his sin away. So now the consequences of his sins are finding David and causing sorrow in his life.

Absalom wished to return to Jerusalem and he wrangled a way to do so by forcing Joab to approach David to allow his return. His method was to set fire to Joab's crops and Joab decided it would be best to have David bring Absalom back under David's control.

David agrees and restores Absalom to a full relationship but still has done nothing to exact justice for Absalom's murder of Amnon. We see next that Absalom had a far greater plan in mind than simply a homecoming.

Now Absalom uses his return to set himself lip near the city gate with the appearance of royalty, with chariots, many men to serve him, and many horses.

Here we see again the violation of the original command of God who had said in Deuteronomy 17: 16 " ... he shall not multiply horses unto himself...". (Remember that in accord with this law, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey).

Absalom begins to hold himself up as a judge of disputes with no authority. He makes those arriving into the city with issues to be judged think that he is their advocate and would help them as they may need to settle arguments. Remember this was the APPEARANCE of authority and wisdom, not the reality. Scripture however reports in 2nd Samuel 15 :2-6 that " ... in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel".

He did not gain these hearts by good service or virtuous conduct, but by shallow lies designed to make himself look good.

Of course, it is absolutely hypocritical that Absalom makes a show of wishing to dispense justice, since none was dispensed to him for his crimes.

We should recall that Absalom makes a great presentation as a leader among the people. 2 nd Samuel 14:25 tells us that in all Israel there was none so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot to even the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. He carried a head of long and beautiful hair that was admired by all who saw him.

Now Absalom tells David he had made a vow while away from home to serve the Lord in Hebron, and David agrees for him to go. But the vow story is a cover for him to acquire soldiers to himself and he now sends spies to all the parts of Israel telling all that he will take the throne. Two hundred men went with Absalom, knowing nothing of the plan. The object was to make it appear that support for David was less and that Absalom's star was rising.

He now sends for Ahithopel, the Gilonite, David's long time trusted advisor, who was a well known statesman and Absalom convinces him to join him. Notice how God works through even those who had been loyal to David to bring to bear the judgment that was previously promised. God's word will not return to him void.

This man was the grandfather of Bathsheba who may have had a grudge of long standing against David, which made his change of heart easier.

Now as Absalom builds his popularity among Israel, by deception, David begins to see that Absalom is in rebellion. Wishing to not have warfare and blood shed in Jerusalem, David inexplicably decides to flee the city. David left 10 of his concubines to keep the house as he left, assuming these women would be safe, thinking Absalom wanted to kill him not his women.

But Absalom had a tent raised upon the top of David's house, and in that tent in view of all who wished to look, he had immoral intimate relations with these 10 women. God's promise that David's wives would be given over was fulfilled .. God's purpose was that these 10 would be publicly insulted and taken by force by Absalom. We see that God directs ALL things, even using certain evil instances to assure His will is done.

Open war is seen between David's army and the followers of Absalom. David instructs his army to arrange itself into three sections and to bring the fight to Absalom but he warns his commanders to deal carefully with Absalom himself. Clearly David was saying that he did not wish Absalom killed.

During the battle, Absalom was caught up by his long hair being entangled in a tree within the woods of the battlefield. One of Joab's soldiers saw Absalom entangled but did not kill him. Joab disobeyed David's order and took three spears and took the life of Absalom, quickly ending the rebellion. The body was placed into a pit in the woods and covered with rocks. Just as Saul had done before, Absalom had erected a monument to himself, a stone pillar, setting himself up over all others. The lesson is clear that neither monument served either man well.

Now the consequences of sin are seen to be expanded to David. One son taken in infancy by God, one son murdered, one daughter raped, one son now killed in rebellion.

While David was God's anointed one, his transgressions against the law as well as his being unwilling to confess until God revealed that his sin was fully known placed him under God's displeasure. Complete confession, sincere repentance, and humility brought him back into God's favor. But we are surely learning, along with David, that the wages of sin is death!

David: Joab

2ND SAMUEL 3:20-30 & 19:1-13 & 20:1-10 1ST KINGS 2:28-34

Joab was the nephew of David. He and his brothers, Abishai & Asahel served as military officers in the army of the king. We are not given scripture proof that Joab was a highly religious man, and he was likely a part of what we learned in Acts 7:38 was "the church in the wilderness".

He became a skillful military leader and counsel to David. He was the man who correctly warned David not to number the people as he understood nothing good would come from it ( 1 Chron 21: 1-3 ). To number the people meant that David was placing his trust in men and not in God. Many victories had been given by the Lord against

overwhelming numbers so the number of men was not a military factor as long as God was on their side.

Joab was an able field leader, and after he led the successful assault on the fortress at Mt. Zion, he was made commander of the army. He went on to lead victory in battles in Syria, Ammon, and Edom.

Joab was also known for his political cunning, which he used to reconcile David to his son, Absalom. In spite of his many attributes, he was not a man who sought God, and rather relied upon his own resources and himself.

Joab was also a man to seek revenge which he did after Asahel was killed by Abner, even though Abner warned Asahel not to pursue him. Joab's emotions seemed to stew in bitterness and resentment, finally resulting in murderous thoughts.

When David made peace with Abner, Joab was far more than angry at David, confronting David and then sending messengers to falsely tell Abner that David wanted him back in Hebron. Joab waited on Abner and killed him a few miles from Hebron. Joab had used the name of David to lure Abner back and he killed Abner with his own hand. This act was deceit & conspiracy.

Joab had also strongly disobeyed David when he killed Absalom after David had given direct orders not to do so. In the Lord's eyes, these actions were rebellion and willful stubborn disobedience.

Joab had also rebuked David for public mourning the death of Absalom. In one sense Joab was correct in that David did not seem to understand how such open weeping and mourning would negatively affect the troops who saw it. But on the other hand Joab missed the agony of David's grief over losing his son. So Joab gave some good counsel, but it was at times in a heartless and callous manner.

Joab was a "mixture" of good and not so good.

David came to the point where he could no longer trust Joab. But removing his nephew from his commander position was not easy. Joab had used his skill and political contacts to assure his own power base which was strong considering he was in full charge of the military portion of all of the nation. But eventually, David did remove him. This change did not sit well with Joab, especially when he learned his cousin, Amasa was his replacement (2nd Samuel 17:25 & 19:13).

When another rebellion erupted, and needed to be put down; Joab used the confusion and turmoil as an opportunity to return to power and he used treachery and deceit to kill Amasa and return to the commander's position himself (2nd Samuel 20:8-13 & 1 Kings 2:5). No one in the army offered to bring Joab to justice, reflecting how powerful he was inside the military itself.

Joab's power grab was short lived. As his death grew near, David advised his son Solomon, whom he chose to succeed him as king, not to waste any time dealing with Joab. His advice was strong and direct" ... let not his hoary head go down to the grave in peace ... " (1st Kings 2:5-6).

Joab knew Solomon would deal with him quickly and he was correct. Thinking he would be safe within the holy tabernacle, he fled there, thinking no one would execute him if he held on to the horns of God's sacred altar. He was wrong.

Without God's spirit in him, Joab had been convinced that his own talents and gifts were all he needed. He spent his life leaning upon himself, not the Lord. He selfishly felt that wealth and power were all he needed. Again, he was wrong. He chased things that do not matter, worldly things, and did not seek first the righteousness of the Lord.

It may be that Joab felt Solomon would grant him mercy at the holy altar, but what he overlooked was that Solomon had been advised by David to end the life of Joab AND that Solomon had God's own word on this matter:

"But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die ... " (Ex 21: 14).

Josephus writes in the Antiquities of the Jews that Solomon ordered Benaiah, the son of Jehoida, to slay Joab and remove his head, which was done and Joab was given the respect of being buried in his own land away from the city.

Review the good and the not-so-good events of the life of Joab:

GOOD:

When David fought against the Jubusites over the city of Jerusalem, Joab was the first to go forward into the battle, showing heroism.

David demonstrated his trust in Joab by placing him in command of wars while David stayed in Jerusalem.

When Hanun, the son Nahash, the Ammonite, deliberately provoked David, it was Joab David sent to deal with him. In this victorious battle Joab showed his military skill and won the acclaim ·of his soldiers.

Joab played the leading role in the defeat of the Edomites.

Despite his personal ambition, he showed strong loyalty to David by telling David to come and take command himself to allow all credit to go to the king.

Joab took the role of counselor to the king on political matters.

Joab took the lead in putting down several revolts inside the kingdom.

He found a way to bring Absalom back into David's house.

He showed courage by rebuking David when David displayed too much public grief over the loss of Absalom at the expense of not expressing thanks for the victory of his own troops.

NOT-SO-GOOD:

Joab killed Abner who had come to reconcile with David.

He killed Amasa who David had chosen to replace him.

He killed Absalom after David ordered him not to be.killed.

Joab sealed his own fate by taking the side of Adonijah against Solomon. David told Solomon to remove Joab (from life) and Solomon carried out this request with the order to kill Joab in the tabernacle: "... fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father". 1st Kings 2:31

David: Mephibosheth & Ziba

2 SAMUEL 16:1-4 & 19:24-30

We return to the time when David was fleeing Jerusalem concerned that the rebellion led by Absalom would bring war to the holy city.

David and his followers have just passed the top of the Mount of Olives where he is met by Ziba, the man whom David had commanded to oversee the estate of Saul, granted by David to Saul's only surviving heir, Mephibosheth. David had made this grant to fulfill the oath he had made to Jonathan and had further taken Mephibosheth into his own house, treating him as a son.

Ziba now openly acts in deceit and treachery by bringing provisions to David for the journey ahead. When David asked where his employer Mephibosheth was, Ziba lies and tells David he has remained behind in Jerusalem, hoping to regain the throne for himself. On the basis of this account, all of which is untrue, David now grants all the estate of Saul, which had been given to Mephibosheth, over to Ziba.

Later, when Mephibosheth appears, some time had passed as he was lame since childhood, and moved with difficulty. When he tells David the truth, which is the opposite of Ziba's tale, David advises he has come to a decision and that the two men will share the estate. David has given both men the benefit of any doubt, and tried to arrange an accommodation that will reconcile the situation.

But now Mephibosheth tells David to allow Ziba to keep the entire estate and that he himself is content to remain in David’s court, in exactly the position David had graciously given him previously.

Mephibosheth displays humility, gratitude, and forgiveness, not seeking revenge against Ziba. These are the attributes that the gospel of Jesus Christ commands in those who follow him. Mephibosheth was fully aware that he was due a death sentence from David, but was saved from death by the grace David granted. Here the lesson is David shown as a type of Jesus, bringing one crippled and deserving death close to himself, preparing a seat at his table, and meeting his every need, asking nothing in return except faith.

Mephibosheth understood that he was undeserving of the new life given him and that it had been granted solely by grace and he showed that he was content simply to live within the life granted, unconcerned about worldly possessions.

MAY EACH OF US SEEK TO BECOME MORE LIKE MEPHIBOSHETH.

David: Obedience & Blessing

Many of the scriptures in Samuel have corresponding scripture in Chronicles. As we begin to examine 2nd Samuel we should look at these corresponding verses as well.

Just before the 6th chapter of Samuel we are granted a revealing view of the times just before these events in 1st Chronicles 13 & 14. Here we see the concluding events of the war with the Philistines and we see the important lesson that David and the Lord are in close communion and are of one accord.

1st Chronicles 14:15:

" ... God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines". (Notice that it is God who does the smiting)

1st Chronicles 14: 16-1 7:

"David did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations".

How very quickly will we see that David forgot this fact!

Now as we look into chapter 6 we see that David has decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem to reside in the Holy city which the Lord had delivered into David's hand. For 75 years the Ark had resided in a different city, Baale-Judah (also known as Kiriath-jearim). We remember that in a previous war, the Philistines had captured the Ark; and it had brought a plague upon their people and they therefore returned it to the Jews on an ox cart without a driver. The return of the Ark was not handled properly by the Jews who found it and the Lord killed 70 of them for their mishandling. Chronicles tells us the Ark was not used in the time of Saul and now David wished to bring it to a permanent home.

Now David had gathered together 30,000 men and had made the decision to move the Ark without seeking the approval or guidance of the Lord.

The Ark was put upon a new cart and headed it toward the city, with much fanfare of music going before it. The sons of Abinadab, Uzzah & Ahio drove the cart, These two were Levites and had been living in close contact with the Ark for many years as it had rested in their father's house.

As the Ark traveled the oxen shook the cart and it appeared the Ark may fall, and Uzzah rested his hand upon the Ark to steady it.

As soon as Uzzah touched the Ark, he was killed by the Lord.

David was angry with the Lord for this action and also felt fear (true fear meaning afraid), not reverential fear we should all feel. He then asked", .. how can the Ark of the Lord come to me"? Now David places the Ark in the home of Obedom for three months. With the Ark now safely within the house of Obedom, the Lord began to bless Obedom greatly and all his household.

Why did the Lord take the life of Uzzah?

God had given very specific instructions as to how the Ark (where he resided on earth) was to be handled and moved. In Numbers 4: 15 God had instructed Moses that only the Levites may move the Ark and only the sons of the Family of Koath could carry it. The Ark was to be covered by the Levites and the Ark was to have the gold plated rods inserted in the rings at each corner and the Koathites were to lift it by those staves to carry it. They were not to touch the Ark itself.

David had taken men with him to move the Ark, when he should have asked the Levites to arrange to bring it to him. Such mishandling was a direct violation of the Law and the Law had stated death to be the result if the Ark was not handled as instructed.

Not following God's instructions precisely would be seen by God.as having a poor attitude toward God's most holy thing, or not revering God's words as spoken, or at the very worst, rebellion.

By blessing the household of Obedom during these three months, God was showing David that those who do His will properly are surely to be blessed and the blessing to Obedom was abundant.

David got the message. He put away his anger, called on the proper Levites and Koathites, and moved the Ark to Jerusalem with gladness. 1st Chronicles 15 teaches that David said that the last move did not go so well because we did not seek Him according to His ordinances, so this time we will do it right. Before the Ark had moved six paces, David made a sacrifice of ox and a fatling to show respect & reverence to the Lord.

When nobody dies at the hand of the Lord, a blessing has come. (Was it-obedience that brought the blessing?)

Now David and his people play music, sing, and dance before the procession bringing the Ark to the city. The Ark is successfully placed in the new tent tabernacle and David arranges love gifts of food for all the people. 1st Chronicles 16 teaches that David put Asaph in charge of the choir and there was much public praise. (Asaph will go onward to compose 12 of the Psalms).

David was seen to be dancing at the head of the procession by one of his wives, Michal (the daughter of Saul) and was brashly scolded by her for making a spectacle of himself in front of all Israel. David answers back by saying that he will be humble in his own eyes, and that he will be distinguished by the maids of Israel. (If you have no respect for my joy, there are others who will). And the last verse of chapter 6 teaches that Michal had no children until the day of her death.

David's behavior in this event was generally terrible. He l91ew the Law and he had access to those who knew it better than he did. He had been in close communion with God through the wars, and yet did not seek the Lord's counsel with his decision to move the Holy Ark. Then when the Lord reacted to his disobedience, he became angry and basically conducted himself as a petulant child.

David should have humbled himself under the hand of God Almighty (1 Peter 5:.6) and confessed his failure and corrected his fault (Prov 28: 13 ). Had he done so, all -Israel would had seen the anointed leader-humble before God and seeking God directly for guidance. Instead his pride was hurt, his temper flamed, and he missed a blessing.

Jesus gave us His own perfect version of this type of issue in John 14 :21: " ... he that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he is it that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,. and will manifest myself to him".

OBEDIENCE BRINGS LOVING BLESSING

What can we say are the lessons about blessing from these holy verses?

1. The· Lord's blessing of a man is a very real and evident thing.

"All these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt harken to the voice of the Lord thy God ... blessing shall be thy basket, and thy store, blessing of God is bestowed ... ". (Duet 28:2,5,6)

2. The Lord's blessing is so obvious that others take notice.

Remember Isaac when Abimelech and two of his chief men came to him and said" ... We certainly saw that the Lord was with thee ... ". (Gen 26:28)

3. Men perceive WHY the blessing of God has been bestowed.

We saw that the Lord blessed Obedom BECAUSE of the Ark. We see the same lesson in Acts 4: 13 when Peter & John were known to be unlearned men but now men marveled at them because they had been with Jesus.

4. Men are so impressed they mention it to others.

Some men were so impressed with the blessing of Obedom, they went to David and told him of it. "Godliness with contentment is great gain". (1st Timothy 6:6)

5. There is great effect of the blessing of the Lord.

David saw the smile of God on Obedom and it became clear that the Ark was not a burden but a blessing which he had missed by his negligence and his behavior. The effect was that David rekindled his humble side and went to get the Ark in the correct way he should had done it in the first effort.

The restoration of David's sinful soul is seen so clearly in 1st Chronicles 15 as David admitted his mistake and commanded that the move be made according to the Lord's commands. David now gave the Lord His proper respect and place in the affairs of the kingdom (which was God granted). Now the Ark was moved WITH JOY!

It is believed that Psalm 24 was written by David as he rejoiced at the Ark coming to Jerusalem and verse 7 shows the complete & perfect repentance by David:

"Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the king of glory shall come in".

David was restored, and once again blessed when and only when he returned to obedience.

David’s Psalm Song of Thanksgiving

2nd Samuel 22

The shadows of life are growing long for David. He is older and is even no longer fit for battle as we see in chapter 21. Age is creeping up on him.

He has achieved true greatness in a life lived ( almost always) for the Lord. He is a mighty king ruling a great kingdom. God has given him victory over all his enemies. Now as David reflects on all that the Lord has done for him, he takes up his pen and writes his feelings on these matters. This chapter is almost ·word for word the same as Psalm 18.

Some scholars conclude this was the last work written by David. This special work g1ves us insight into what God did in David's life and what He will do in the life of his children still today. What does David tell us in this great song of his?

DAVID SINGS OF THE GOD WHO SAVES (2-20)

He sings of a personal relationship. He uses the words "my" & "me" 10 times in the first two verses. This relation is not abstract but is strongly personal.

He sings of a powerful relationship. He knows the Lord as his savior and his sanctuary. God is the place David runs to in time of trouble. David says He is our stability, our shield, our safety, our security, and savior.

He sings of a profound relationship. David goes into great detail to explain how the Lord moved in power to defend him and to sustain him. He tells us of God using His miracle power time and again to deliver him and in verse 20 David finally reveals his special place in God's heart:" ... he delivered me because he delighted in me ... ".

DAVID SINGS OF THE GOD WHO SUSTAINS (21-30)

God has saved David and knew him in a sustaining relation. He has sustained David through:

• Times of temptation (21-28)

• Times of testing (29)

• Times of trials (30)

Do we remember this is exactly the same. thing the Lord does for every one of His children, meaning us?

DAVID SINGS OF A GOD WHO STRENGTHENS (31-49)

• David's life had been filled with war & conflict. How had God strengthened him?

• God had protected him (31-34)

• God had prepared him (35-37)

• God had promoted him from an obscure shepherd to king (38-49)
  

DAVID SINGS OF AGOD WHO SECURES (50-51)

David begins these verses with "therefore" meaning becl;!-use of what has been said before. David sees his security through the years is because of the clear hand work of the Lord that kept him and blessed him.

Security in the Lord is a past, present and permanent thing. We have the same assurances in our own lives. The .Lord placed us here with a plan for our life, guided us into and through His plan for us and keeps us secure if we follow Him and His divine method of security for those who ar.e. His.

What is the lesson from these reflections of this king on his own ruler?

WE SHOULD ALL BE SINGING THIS SAME SONG!