Of Saul’s sons only
Ishbosheth survived.
Another, the son of Jonathon, also
survived, but was lamed when his nurse was running and dropped him. David would later care for him.
Two men who were
captains of Ishbosheth, tried to curry favor with the heir apparent, David, by
killing Saul’s last son Ishbosheth. He had reigned over Israel for 7 years.
Having beheaded the king (pretender as he was), they
presented his head to David.
David would have none
of that. Their heads followed, or at least their hands and feet were hacked off
and they were hanged over the pool of Hebron before being buried alongside
Abner.
David finally ascended his throne (2 Samuel 5 & 1 Chronicles 14)
After patiently waiting
through his 7 year reign over Hebron of Judea, David was finally crowned as
king of all Israel.
He was 30 years old
and would go on to rule Israel for another 33 years. Such a young man, yet he
had already seen so much of life.
Finally he also had
his family together, with Michal having been reluctantly taken back from the man to whom
Saul had given her.
We know from Chronicles
that David’s heir, was actually the 4th born son of Bathsheba and, thus, his last born. His first born was Amnon, born of Ahinoam.
His last line of
resistance came from the Jebusites who had held the fortress of Zion since
Joshua’s days. It didn’t take much to uproot them.
However, when news got out that he had been anointed king, the Philistines closed in again. That may have been
instigated by Ashish of Gath, who felt that he owned David.
David withdrew into the
keep of Zion’s fortress and inquired of God, before going out to deal with the
Philistines, again.
It was an interesting moment in which God's engagement signal came with a stirring of the Mulberry trees. It speaks prophetically of how you will also feel a stirring in the trees, a shift in the wind, when God prepares to deliver you from your long-standing nemeses.
The Philistines were routed, but then withdrew for a more opportune time - just as Satan does. .
It was an interesting moment in which God's engagement signal came with a stirring of the Mulberry trees. It speaks prophetically of how you will also feel a stirring in the trees, a shift in the wind, when God prepares to deliver you from your long-standing nemeses.
The Philistines were routed, but then withdrew for a more opportune time - just as Satan does. .
Today that is a 200 foot tower, which stands above the temple mount: a far cry from the
original tower yet so symbolic of the high towers of perspective that characterized
his prayer life.
The doubling back of the
Philistines offers a powerful lesson about how our own restoration from past
battles or our breakthrough to the throne that fulfills such struggles, may be
suddenly challenged by our spiritual enemies: right at the point of
breakthrough.
Expect it and prepare
for it. The enemy will lie in wait and attack in your most vulnerable moment
and in unexpected ways, when you are on a high after a period of breakthrough.
As Paul said, “Do not
be unmindful of the ways of the enemy” and expect the alliances you made in the
hard times to demand some payback.
David consolidated his reign and brought the
ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6 & 1 Chronicles 13, 15-16)
The city would never
be called Jebus again. The priest of Melchizedek was king of Salem, the same
place, and that was the name that stood, as in Jerusalem, City of Peace.
The next priority for
the new king was to bring the ark from the house of Abinadab in Gibeah. They
set it on a new cart, led by Uzzah and Adio.
Sadly the wagon
wobbled and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, resulting in his
death. It was a hard lesson about never being familiar with God or that which is sacred to
him.
It was a setback for
David who set the ark down on the threshing floor of Obededom. The people were
afraid to do anything more for the moment.
How delightful that
the rising of a righteous king should coincide with the return of the fear of
God. Israel was entering a golden era.
Three months later,
the ark resumed its long journey to its final resting placing in the tabernacle
that David pitched in Jerusalem.
They offered
sacrifices and he danced before the Lord, with such abandon that he discarded most
of his clothing. Michal mocked him and, as a result, never bore him children.
He probably never touched her again, which was sad as she loved and
was loved by the man to whom Saul gave her, yet was forced to leave him only to see out the rest of her days in a loveless marriage.
It set the tone for
the many controversies that would accompany David’s rule.
David made plans to build a temple (2 Samuel 7 & 1 Chronicles 17)
David introduced a new
and important character, Nathan the prophet, whom he respected as the independent
mouthpiece of God.
The restoration of the three pillars of state (King, Priest
and Prophet) once prescribed by Moses, set the nation on firm foundations.
David told Nathan that
he wanted to build a temple and Nathan agreed, but God had the last say.
Because of the blood
on David’s hands and because he knew in advance that Solomon would build a more
fitting temple, the building of a temple was deferred.
However, having denied him the chance
to build Him a house, God swore to build a house for David, not a
home, but a house: a dynasty, as reflected in Psalm 26.
Having lived so long
in tents, God was content to still do so until the end of David’s reign, but he
confirmed the perpetuation of David’s throne through the Davidic covenant: a
dynasty that would culminate with David’s greatest son: Jesus.
(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com
