Summary #18

Weekly Summary
Psalm 102 - 132 (Other Passages Between)

So we left David settling in as the new King of Israel. The text this week brings a look at the songs that David wrote during this time as well as the people who are assembling around David in this new administration. The writer of Chronicles gives us a roster of David's "Mighty Men" (can't you just see the T-shirt?), many of whom had been with David since well before he became King. These were quite the warriors -- exploits like killing 300 men on your own, or taking down a 7 1/2 foot tall Egyptian with his own spear almost sound like comic book heroes! But they gather around David, proclaiming that they follow him wholeheartedly because God is with him.

Having made that commitment, these men surround David on his first foray as king: the taking of Jerusalem, which will come to be known as "David's City". When threatened, the Jebusites that were in the city boasted that the city was so well fortified that is could be successfully defended by the lame and blind. Apparently, the lame and blind were off that day, because Jerusalem did indeed fall to David and his men. One man, Joab, really distinquished himself that day, and became the head of David's army.

Out on the periphery, the Philistines hear about David's business in Judah. As his former employers, they wonder whether they should come down and pay him a bit of visit. As they approach, David asks God whether he should fight against them, and God tells him that he should, and he will prevail. They fight, and David wins. Not decisively enough, thoug... the Philistines attach again, and David prays again. This time God tells him not to attack them directly, but to go around back and wait until they are across from the balsam trees. As they wait, they hear marching in the tops of the trees, and then attack, and again defeat the Philistines.

Reinstating the ark of the covenant becomes the top thing on David's mind at that point, and he instructs that it be taken back on a new cart. Now, this is not the way to transport the Ark -- it needs to be carried by the Levites, according to God's command. But onto the new cart it goes, and when the oxen stumble, Uzzah decides that another proscription against touching the ark is not as important as steadying it, and he puts out his hand to save the ark. He dies immediately, and the ark is left at a close town and everyone backs way off. But instead of raining down misery, like God did on the Philistine towns where it had been left before, this place receives God's bountiful blessings, and David decides to try again. This time he follows instructions, and the Levites bear the ark to Jerusalem, where David has prepared a tent for it. David leads the procession, giving himself completely over to the worship of God, even to the point of taking off clothes that were hindering his dancing. This does NOT please Michal, his first wife, who derides him for not acting like a king. David, however, reminds her that before the Lord, he does not have to preserve his dignity, he merely has to worship. This little snit costs Michal dearly: she bears no children to the day of her death.

Through all of these events, David continues to lead the Israelites in worship, through writing and singing his Psalms of praise, of devotion, of wonder. He continually reminds Israel that the Lord is in control, he is just, he is faithful, and he is kind. It looks like Israel is on a true path of faithfulness, living in the covenant that God established. Stay tuned this week for more exploits of the Mighty Men, and to see what David does next as ruler of Israel.