Day #122

Sermon - Audio
1 Chronicles 11-12 & 2 Samuel 5:1-10 - Audio
1 Chronicles 11-12 & 2 Samuel 5:1-10 - Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

2 Sam 5:1-10,

5.1-2 Now that Saul has no heir left to the throne, the 10 remaining tribes of Israel come to David practically begging him to become their king as well. Notice that David is not asserting his authority, but it is the 10 tribes who come with their rationale for him to be their king. They give 3 reasons: 1_ they claim common descent 2) he had been leading Israel even while Saul was King 3) The LORD's anointing. They have put their hope in him as their leader.

Note: This is the first time shepherding is associated with kingship. David, the young shepherd boy, has now become shepherd of Israel. Shepherd is a very tender image. It becomes not only a metaphor for leadership, but an image for the coming messiah Micah 4.2,4 (notice the similarity to our passage today): But You, Bethlehem Ephratha, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler (“prince” same word as in 2 Samuel 5.2) over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Jesus fulfills this prophesy (as a King from the line of David) and is called the good shepherd in John 10.11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

5.3 This is the 3^rd time David is anointed (first by Samuel in Jesse's house, then by Judah, no all Israel confirms God's anointing of David). The number 3 (like the number 7) indicates completeness. The created order has 3 parts: heaven, earth, and under-the-earth. Their were three major feasts on the religious calendar. The sanctuary was divided into 3 parts. And finally, Jesus is in the grave for three days.

5.4-5 This acts as the introduction to David's kingship—essentially marking the beginning of a new chapter in Israel's history. The entirety of Davids reign is summarized in two verses. We will get the details of his reign in the following chapters. Like Saul, David is thirty years old when he becomes King. Thirty carries the same “completeness” as the number three does. David has come of age.

5.5-10 David chooses Jerusalem for political reasons. Not only does it stand on the boundary line of the “northern” and “southern” tribes, but before now it is neutral. Neither belonging to Israel or to Judah (similar to Washing DC not belonging to any single state), it makes the perfect capital for David. It serves as a marginally well defended city (as attributed to by the boasting of its native inhabitants). Although it has 2 deep valleys on either of its sides though it is easily assaulted from the North. Neither is Jerusalem a “high point” (the Mount of Olives to its East). Additionally: at this time its spring was outside the city wall and made it risky to fetch when the city was under siege. Jerusalem as the City of David is still far more dependent on God for its protection than natural obstacles to attack.

1 Chronicles 11-12

11.1-9 Essentially a verbatim copy of the account in 2 Samuel.

11.12-25 Describes the two sets of three outstanding warriors of David (6 total). The odd story about “the three” going to Jerusalem to fetch David a glass of water probably simply describes the men's complete willingness to risk their lives for him, even for his smallest wish (it sounds like David is merely talking to himself and had no intention of sending men to fulfill the task).

11.26-12.22 Most of David's “mighty men” are nothing more than names. Remember the significance of the number thirty (three). Notice that the first men listed are from Saul's tribe (Benjamin). All are welcome and even honored under one throne, even the Manassites had shrewdly left their decision till Saul’s doom was practically certain, but they were still welcome. These lists come much later in 2 Samuel (23:8–39), and are brought forward here to show how from the outset ‘all Israel’ in its great variety unites around a king of the right kind. (New Bible Commentary)

12.22-40 This goes into more detail of the even that was already described in 11.3. David is anointed at Hebron before he formally sets up his capital in Jerusalem (which doesn't happen till chapter 14). Unity is once again stressed, starkly compared the the fractured condition of Israel during the time of the Judges.