2 SAMUEL 4

Ish-bosheth Murdered

1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble (he lost courage), and all the Israelites were troubled (dismayed).

·      Ishbosheth and all of Israel realized that Abner had been the source of strength and stability for Israel. With Abner dead, Israel was troubled, because it was Abner, not Ishbosheth that ruled the nation.

·      Ishbosheth was a weak leader because (1) he was appointed by man and (2) he was looking to man for his power, authority and strength.

o   Jer 17. 5Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit

2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: 3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)

·      These 2 men, Baanah and Rechab were officers under Abner in the army. Like Abner did, they now see that unless they side with David soon, they would be on the losing side. Thus, they conspire to kill Ishbosheth in hopes of winning David’s favor.

·      Once again, we see that their motives for doing this are wrong and selfish with the consequences nothing short of disastrous.

4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame (crippled). And his name was Mephibosheth.

·      We learn more about Mephibosheth when we get to chapter 9.

5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 6 And they came thither into the midst of the house (the inner part of the house), as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

·      It was the custom to secure wheat for the soldiers under their command (v. 2) along with some pay. Under the pretense of that normal routine, they came and killed the king.

·      Beeroth was part of the tribe of Benjamin, which was the tribe that Saul's family came from. This means that it was fellow Benjaminites who murdered Ishbosheth.

·      By killing Ishbosheth, they expected to find favor and make peace with David. This was not only a tragic crime; it was a tragic mistake of David’s character.

7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain (the way of Arabah) all night. 8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.

·      The murderers of Ishbosheth came to David and proclaimed that the Lord had avenged David. However, as happened earlier to the Amalekite (1: 2–15), the men were very surprised at the response of David. David did not see their deed as the Lords vengeance, but as murder of an innocent man.

9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous (innocent) person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? 12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

·      David condemned the murderers of Ishbosheth and had them executed as he had done to the man who claimed to kill Saul. David swiftly made an example of these murderous men. They were not soldiers fighting together with him; they were murderers who deserved just punishment.

·      “Thus David acted with strict justice in this case also, not only to prove to the people that he had neither commanded nor approved of the murder, but from heartfelt abhorrence of such crimes, and to keep his conscience void of offense towards God and towards man.” (Keil and Delitzsch).

·      Before we move on, I would like to pass along a couple of wonderful practical truth here in these verses. By declaring that The Living Lord had redeemed his soul out of all adversities, David understood that God was always watching over Him and was the primary cause of deliverance from all adversity.

·      He also realized that God had a purpose for each and every adversity that he faced. (1) They were used by God to develop David’s character and prepare him for what lie ahead, and (2) They were accomplishing God’s  divine purposes at the same time.

·      The word redeemed means to buy back something that was given up or sold. Beloved, the Bible is in one sense a message of redemption. Jesus Christ accomplished full and complete redemption for all those who call upon His Name. And if that is you tonight, then know this…whatever is going on in your life is by divine design and not accident, for it is our glorious delivering God Who is working in you both to will and do of His good pleasure.

2 SAMUEL 5

David anointed king over Israel

1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel (you led us out on our military campaigns): and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed (shepherd) My people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

·      Three reasons were given by the Israelites for wanting to make David king: (1) he was an Israelite brother (cf. Deut. 17: 15); (2) he was Israel’s best warrior and commander; and (3) he had been chosen by the Lord to be the king of Israel.

·      These three characteristics should mark any man who leads God's people, be they a church leader or a husband/father, leader of a team etc.

·      A leader must belong to Jesus Christ and be deeply devoted to Him.

·      A leader must demonstrate capability to lead others in times of spiritual warfare.

·      A leader must bear the fruit of one who recognizes that he has been chosen of God.

·      In a spiritual sense, please take note of the fact that David was called by God to feed God's people, and to be captain over them. God's people always need feeding.

o   Jesus said to Peter, "Lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep"(John 21:16). Peter later wrote "feed the flock of God that is among you"(1 Peter 5:2). In Jeremiah, God said, "I will give them shepherds who will feed them with the knowledge of God"(Jeremiah 23:4).

o   Beloved, may God grant to each and every one of us on the pastoral and ministry team the humility, grace, desire and ability to be faithful to the reading, teaching and feeding the people of God with God’s Word.

3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league (covenant) with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.

·      They anointed David king over Israel- 1 Chronicles 12:23-40describes the great assembly that gathered in Hebron to recognize David as king over all Israel. Chronicles describes the impressive army that came to Hebron, and numbers the ranks at over 340,000 men. It then describes the scene: All these men of war, who could keep ranks, came to Hebron with a loyal heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest of Israel were of one mind to make David king. And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them . . . for there was joy in Israel. (1 Chronicles 12:38-40).

·      The nation of Israel, after more than 7 years if civil war, is reunited under David.

·      This is the 3^rd time that David has ben anointed. 1^st by Samuel, then by the people of Judah, and now by the rest of the tribes.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

·      Samuel anointed David when he was about 15, and he did not take the throne until 30. David spent at least 15 years in preparation for the throne of Israel.

5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

·      So David reigned for a total of 40 years and 6 months.

David conquers Jerusalem

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither (even the lame and the blind can ward you off, you will never defeat us): thinking, David cannot come in hither.

·      Jerusalem. This city is mentioned in the Bible more than any other city. To this point, Jerusalem remained a small Canaanite city in the center of Israel.

·      Outwardly speaking,they were not conquered due to their “impregnable” fortification.  Spiritually speaking, they were not conquered due to unbelief in the promises and power of God.

·      The blind and the lame. The Jebusites taunted the Israelites and mocked the power of David by boasting that the blind and the lame could defend Jerusalem against him. Because of its location, Jerusalem was an easily defended city. This made the Jebusites overconfident and quick to mock David and his troops.  

7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

·      Nevertheless.Despite the difficulty, David and his men took the city. David and his men persisted through difficult circumstances to defeat an overconfident enemy.

·      On the same principle, King Jesus conquers old strongholds when he becomes king over our life. “I want to say to you in the name of the Lord Jesus that there is no habit that has gone so deep but that the power of the blood of Jesus can go deeper, and there is no entrenchment of sin that has gone so far but the power of the risen Lord, by His Holy Spirit, can go further." (Redpath)

·      This is the first occurrence of Zion in the Bible, and it refers to the Jebusite citadel on the southeastern hill, the name was also later used of the temple mount (Isa. 10: 12) and of the entire city of Jerusalem (Isa. 28: 16).

·      There are two cities in Scripture called "the city of David." One was Bethlehem, the city of his birth, and the other Jerusalem, the city that he made his headquarters as king.

8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter (the water tunnel), and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

·      Gutter, (water tunnel or shaft)- A tunnel that channeled the city’s water supply from the Gihon spring outside the city walls on the east side into the citadel. This tunnel is known today as Warren’s Shaft.

·      David promises that whoever would lead the army in the battle to gain Jerusalem would be a chief and captain in the army. We learn from 1 Chron 11.6 that the person who accomplishes this feat was none other than Joab.

9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo (the Hebrew word for Millo means the fill) and inward.

·      David captures the Jebusite city of Jerusalem to serve as the capital of his united Israel. He builds a palace in his royal city and continues to have children there.

10 And David went on, and grew great, and (beause) the Lord God of hosts was with him.

·      David came to the place of greatness because the Lord God of hosts was with him. Beloved, any greatness or great thing that happens in our life is because The Lord God ordains it and brings it to pass.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

·      Tyre was a Phoenician port city about 35 miles north of Mount Carmel.

12 And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

So David knew: David knew three things that made his reign great. Every godly leader should know these three things very well.

·      David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel: David knew that God called him and established him over Israel.

·      He had exalted His kingdom: David knew that the kingdom belonged to God - it was His kingdom.

·      For the sake of His people Israel: David knew God wanted to use him as a channel to bless His people. It was not for David's sake that he was lifted up, but for the sake of His people Israel. David Guzik

13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

·      The multiplication of Davids wives and concubines was in direct violation of Deut. 17: 17. These marriages probably (cf. 2 Sam. 3: 3) reflected David’s involvement in international treaties and alliances that were sealed by the marriage of a kings daughter to the other participants in the treaty. This cultural institution accounted for some of David’s and many of Solomon’s wives (see 1 Kings 11: 1–3). In each case of polygamy in Scripture, the law of God was violated and the consequences were negative, if not disastrous.  John MacArthur Study Bible

14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

·      J. Vernon McGee points out that from the line of Nathan came Mary the mother of Jesus. From Solomon came Joseph, Mary’s husband. The Lord Jesus received the bloodline and the legal title to the throne of David through Nathan and Solomon.

David defeats the Philistines

17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

·      Note that once David is established in the will and purposes of God for him and the people of God, the enemy comes in with an attack.

·      David at one time had fled for refuge to Philistine country when running from Saul. Now that he has returned to his own nation and has been anointed king over all Israel, the Philistines launch an attack against him.

19 And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

·      As David seeks God and looks to Him for guidance he is blessed. God honored David's dependence on Him and gave him the promise of victory.

20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.

·      David defeated the Philistines with an overwhelming force, like a breakthrough of water. The Hebrew word that is translated broken forth gives us a picture of the force of water breaking the dam and sweeping away everything in its path.

·      Oh beloved, it is good and wise to be on the right side of the power of God!

21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

·      They left their images there- The Philistines brought their idols to the battle, thinking they would help defeat the Israelites.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

·      After the first victory over the Philistines, David was wise enough to wait on the Lord before the second battle.

23 And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them (circle around them), and come upon them (attack them) over against the mulberry trees. 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

·      The Sound of Marching in the Tops of the Mulberry Trees- Most likely not merely the sound of wind blowing, but of angelic armies advancing before David's armies and ensuring their victory.

·      As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army. NIV

25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

·      God directed David differently in this battle. Even against the same enemy, not every battle is the same.

·      Listen to this challenging comment made by Adam Clarke on this section of Scripture: “"How is it that such supernatural directions and assistances are not communicated now? Because they are not asked for; and they are not asked for because they are not expected; and they are not expected because men have not faith; and they have not faith because they are under a refined spirit of atheism, and have no spiritual intercourse with their Maker."

·      David did as The Lord commanded. Dear one’s this is not only the secret of David’s success, it is the secret of success in life period. Whatsoever He says to you, do it!

·      The last words of Mary in Scripture are given to the servants at the wedding feast of Cana who were told to do something that did not make sense…fill containers with water when the need was wine. What did she say? Whatsoever He says to you, do it!