2 SAMUEL 4

 

OPENS WITH THE ASSASSINATION OF ISHBOSHETH

 

 

Verses 1-4 tells us The weakened condition of the house of Saul.

 

"When Saul's son heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost heart, and all Israel was troubled. Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of troops. The name of one was Baanah and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin. (For Beeroth also was part of Benjamin, because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been sojourners there until this day.) Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth."

 

When Ishbosheth heard that the man who put him and propped on the throne was dead, he knew that his day was almost over. He trusted in man to gain his position, so when the man was gone he knew his position would be soon gone.

 

Ishbosheth was weak because he trusted in man.

 

His name was Mephibosheth...

 

This was the son of Jonathan, David's good friend, who died with his father on the field of battle. Mephibosheth was the last male descendant of Saul with a strong legal claim to the throne of Saul. At this time he was only 12 years old - and he was lame.

 

Mephibosheth was weak because of circumstances beyond his control. He was weak because of his age, and because of injury that came from the hand of another.

 

Verses 5-7 tells us Baanah and Rechab murder Ishbosheth.

 

"Then the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who was lying on his bed at noon. And they came there, all the way into the house, as though to get wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. For when they came into the house, he was lying on his bed in his bedroom; then they struck him and killed him, beheaded him and took his head, and were all night escaping through the plain."

 

Ishbosheth did NOT gain any real loyalty among his troops; they were only loyal to him when they thought he was strong and had a chance to keep the throne of Saul. When the weakness of Ishbosheth was exposed Rechab and Baanah murdered him.

 

2 Samuel 4:2 reminds us that Rechab and Baanah were of the children of Benjamin. This was the tribe that Saul's family came from. This means that it was fellow Benjaminites who murdered Ishbosheth.

 

WHY did they behead Ishbosheth and take his head?

This was an important part of their plan, because they wanted to prove to David that they murdered his rival to the throne.

 

Verse 8 tells us Baanah and Rechab bring the head of Ishbosheth to David.

 

"And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life; and the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants."

 

When they brought Ishbosheth's severed head to David they said, "We are God's servants, defeating your enemies as instruments of God."

 

BALDWIN says it well, "Their claim, The Lord has avenged my lord the king, was presuming on God's approval of their deed, as though they had acted on the Lord's express orders."

 

David could NOT relate to this, because he did NOT think of Saul as his enemy. REMEMBER...The beautiful song David composed at the death of Saul and Jonathan shows that though Saul set himself as an enemy of David, David did NOT regard him as an enemy.

 

This tells us that these two Benjaminite who had SURELY HEARD DAVID'S SONG, did NOT believe David was sincere. They OBVIOUSLY did not consider NOR TAKE the time to REMEMBER how David had reacted to the murder of Abner either.

 

So just as David reminded The Lord and the people that he was innocent of Abner's death and that David had executed the man who robbed the body of King Saul and stole his crown and bracelets...

 

This tells us and reminds us that there will be those who do NOT take seriously and do NOT believe our words, our walk, our life, and our trust in Jesus Christ over all things...it should NOT change us. We should stand. We should continue to TELL people of our Jesus, and continue on as David did, and let Jesus deal with their belief or unbelief.

 

Verses 9-12 tells us David has Baanah and Rechab executed.

 

"But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity, when someone told me, saying, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag; the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?" So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron."

 

Rechab and Baanah thought David would be pleased to see the severed head of Ishbosheth. They underestimated David's loyalty to God and the house of Saul. David was loyal to his pledge to honor and preserve Saul's family and descendants (1 Samuel 24:20-22).

 

David was used to seeing severed heads - he carried the head of Goliath around as a trophy for some period of time. But David knew that Saul and his descendants were NOT his enemy the way that Goliath was his enemy.

 

Even though Ishbosheth was not the LORD's anointed in the same sense as Saul was, David had thoroughly learned to let God take vengeance.

 

David would not accept their evil deed, even though it seemed to serve a good purpose - unifying Israel under David's reign as king. "While it is true that God overrules all the doings of men, and compels them ultimately to serve His high purposes, it is equally true that no servant of His can ever consent to do evil that good may come. It is an arresting truth that our Lord in the days of his earthly life would not accept the testimony of demons.

 

David swiftly made an example of these murderous men. They were not soldiers fighting together with him; they were murderers who deserved just punishment.

 

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.

 

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2 SAMUEL 5

 

OPENS WITH DAVID MADE KING OVER A UNITED ISRAEL

 

Verses 1-3 tells us the elders of Israel recognize David as king over Israel.

 

"Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.' " Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel."

 

Prior to this, only ONE OF THE TWELVE tribes of Israel recognized David as king. The other tribes recognized the pretend king Ishbosheth, a son of Saul. Ishbosheth was murdered is recorded in 2 Samuel 4 - so now the tribes turn to David.

 

It IS sad that the tribes ONLY turned to David when their previous choice was taken away. On the same principle, it IS sad when Christians ONLY really recognized Jesus as king when other choices crumble. We should choose Jesus outright, not just when other options fail.

 

We are your bone and your flesh...

The elders of Israel received David's leadership because he was an Israelite himself. This was significant because for a period of time David lived as a Philistine among the Philistines. The elders of Israel put that away and embrace David as one of their own.

 

The elders of Israel received David's leadership because he already had displayed his ability to lead.

 

The elders of Israel received David's leadership because it was evident God called him to lead.

 

These three characteristics should mark anyone who leads God's people.

 

1. A leader must belong to God's people in heritage and heart

2. A leader must demonstrate capability to lead

3. A leader must have an evident call from God

 

1 Chronicles 12:23-40 describes 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.

 

1 Chronicles 12:38-40 describes they were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them … for there was joy in Israel.

 

Verses 4-5 tells us The duration of David's reign.

 

"David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah."

 

This is a good measuring point for David's life. 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.

 

God uses great preparation when the task is great.

 

Verses 6-8 tells us David captures Jerusalem.

 

"And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here." Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). Now David said on that day, "Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul), he shall be chief and captain." Therefore they say, "The blind and the lame shall not come into the house."

 

To this point Jerusalem was a small Canaanite city in the center of Israel. Some 400 years after God commanded Israel to take the whole land, this city was STILL in Canaanite hands.

 

The blind and the lame shall repel you...

 

Because of its location, Jerusalem was an easily defended city. This made the Jebusites overconfident and quick to mock David and his troops.

 

Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion...

 

Despite the difficulty, David and his men took the city. Since the water shaft is mentioned, some think that David sent his men through what is called "Warren's Shaft." Whatever exactly their tactics, David and his men persisted through difficult circumstances to defeat an overconfident enemy.

 

REDPATH says it well, "On the same principle, King Jesus conquers old strongholds when he becomes king over our life. Territory that should have been given to Him long ago is now conquered. "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."

 

Verses 9-10 tells us Jerusalem is David's NEW capital city.

 

"Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him."

 

Jerusalem became the capital city of David's kingdom. It was a good choice because:

 

1. It has no prior tribal association and was therefore good for a unified Israel

2. The geography of the city made it easy to defend against a hostile army

 

David knew greatness, but he was by no means an "overnight success." David was long prepared for the greatness he later enjoyed, and he came to the place of greatness because the LORD God of hosts was with him.

 

In God's plan there is almost always a hidden price of greatness. Often those who become great among God's people experience much pain and difficulty in God's training process.

 

Verses 11-12 tells us David's palace and greatness.

 

"Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel."

 

This shows David's influence and importance. Neighboring kings honor him with the finest craftsmen and wood to build him a palace. This relationship with Hiram king of Tyre also shows that David was more than a man of war. He knew how to build important political alliances.

 

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

 

1. David KNEW that God called him and established him over Israel.

 

2. David KNEW that the kingdom belonged to God - it was His kingdom.

 

3. 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.

 

Verses 13-16 tells us David's many wives.

 

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

 

This was in direct disobedience to Deuteronomy 17:17: "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away."

 

Certainly David (and everyone else) saw these many children as God's sign of blessing upon David and his many wives. Yet most of the trouble to come in David's life comes from his relationship with women and from his children.

 

Verses 17-19 tells us David fights against Israel's old enemies.

 

"Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand."

 

David's success brought new challenges from the outside. As God worked mightily in David's life, the devil also got to work and brought opposition against David.

 

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.

 

Verses 20-21 tells us David defeats the Philistines at Baal Perazim.

 

"So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away."

 

At the battle of Baal Perazim David defeated the Philistines with an overwhelming force, like a breakthrough of water.

 

The Philistines brought their idols to the battle, thinking they would help defeat the Israelites. Because David inquired of God and obeyed God, they carried away the Philistine idols.

 

Verses 22-25 tells us David defeats the Philistines at the Valley of Rephaim.

 

"Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, "You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines." And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer."

 

After the first victory over the Philistines, David was wise enough to wait on the LORD before the second battle. It is easy for many in the same situation to say, "I've fought this battle before. I know how to win. This will be easy." David always triumphed when he sought and obeyed God.

 

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

 

CLARKE says it well, "In his commentary on this passage, he noted the remarkable guidance of God in David's life and asked a good question. "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."

 

At the battle of Rephaim David waited for the LORD to strike the camp of the enemy first. The sign of the LORD's work was the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees.

 

When you hear the work of God happening, bestir thyself - advance quickly. Spurgeon liked to point out that it said bestir thyself - often we think we must stir others up. That often just becomes hype and emotionalism. Instead, stir yourself.

 

When we see the work of God happening around us, it is like the sound in the mulberry trees - the rustling sound should awaken us to prayer and devotion. A time of crisis or tragedy is also like the sound in the mulberry trees - the rustling sound should awaken us to confession and repentance.

 

David listened, watched, and stirred himself up first and then his people.

The family of Jesus Christ should always do the same, listen, watch, pray, and BESTIR YOURSELF!