CSSA 1-3-01 - THE KINGDOM IS ESTABLISHED

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51. THE KINGDOM IS ESTABLISHED

"And Yahweh preserved David whithersoever he went."

Aim

To show how God established David as king over Israel.

After the people of Israel had lived in the Promised Land for many years, they desire d a king. God was really their king, but they wanted a king who could proudly lead them into battle just like the nations around them. Saul became their first king, but he failed to be obedient to God. So God anointed David, a man after His own heart, to rule over His people.

2 Samuel 8 and 9

DAVID IS KING: 2 Samuel 7:1-17

David was now king in Jerusalem. It was about 20 years since God had first sent the prophet Samuel to anoint him to be king (1 Samuel 16:12-13). Although he had only been a shepherd boy then, God was training him to rule His people. During the long years that followed, he had faced many troubles. However, he always remembered that God was with him, guiding him to this very time when he should at last be king in Jerusalem. In our lessons last year we learned how God made David a wonderful promise, concerning his "seed", the Lord Jesus Christ. He was to be the great son of David, who would sit on David's throne forever. When that great king comes, he will rule not only over Israel, but over the whole world (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

DAVID OVERTHROWS HIS ENEMIES: 2 Samuel 8

At the time when God made His promise about David's "seed", David was feeling so thankful for God's blessings that he wanted to build a house of worship for Him. God was certainly pleased to see that David was so grateful, but He said: "Thou shah not build a house for My Name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood" (1 Chronicles 28:3). God's Temple was to be built in a time of peace. Meanwhile it was David's work to overthrow the enemies who surrounded his kingdom on every hand. We learn in 2 Samuel 8-12 of the seven campaigns that David fought, to the north, south, east and west, until the enemies of Israel were defeated (see map). When he went out to battle, God helped him win victories over the nations. "And Yahweh pre served David whithersoever he went" (2 Samuel 8:6, 14). David never gave up the idea of a house of worship for God. From his victorious campaigns he gathered much treasure which later would be used by his son when building the glorious Temple that he himself had so desired to build (2 Samuel 8:10-11).

DAVID REMEMBERS HIS FRIENDS: 2 Samuel 9:1-4

David was very busy, but no matter how much he had to do, he never forgot his friends. He sent his servants to see if there were any of Jonathan's family still alive. "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul," said David, "that / may shew the kindness of God unto him?" In the days when he had fled from Saul, Jonathan had been his best friend. They had both loved God and were full of faith and courage. Although Jonathan was Saul's eldest son, he was glad when he knew that God had chosen David to be the next king. The two men had made a covenant of friend ship together and David had promised to care for Jonathan's family when he became king. So now David sent for Ziba, a servant in Saul's house, who told him that Jonathan had one son still living, named Mephibosheth.

DAVID CARES FOR MEPHIBOSHETH: 2 Samuel 9:5-13

Mephibosheth was lame. When Jonathan his father was killed in battle, his nurse had picked up his little son and fled with him for safety. In her panic she had fallen with him and he was badly hurt. Since then he had been lame in both his feet and could not walk properly.

When the king called for him Mephibosheth came in and bowed before him. He knew that a lame man was of no value to the king and he was a little afraid of facing David. David, however, was glad of the op portunity to help his friend's son. He gave back all the land that had belonged to Saul, his grandfather, and invited him to eat at the king's table. Mephibosheth, of course, could not look after his family's land; so his servant Ziba was appointed to see to it. David brought Mephibosheth to live in Jerusalem and told his servants, "Mephibosheth shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons " (v 11). In this way David kept his promise to Jonathan and honoured his son.

Mephibosheth was very grateful for the privileges given to him by the king and remained loyal to David, for this was the only way he could show his thanks.

LESSON FOR US

God had chosen David to be king when he was just a shepherd boy. He knew that the things David would learn while minding the sheep would teach him how to rule His people wisely. A shepherd must be able to guide his sheep into safe places and make sure they do not stray and hurt themselves. He must defend them against their enemies. He must be kind to each one, so that they will learn to love and trust him.

David was just like this with the people of Israel. He went out to battle with them and helped them to victory. We are told that he "executed judgment and justice unto all his people " (8:15) € which means that he was a fair and wise ruler, guiding them like a shepherd. He was never too busy to be kind to those in need, and so they loved and trusted him.

We must grow to be like that towards each other € not just to our special friends, for that is easy, but to all those about us, both young and old who love the Truth. In this way, by the little kind and thoughtful things we do, we help and encourage each other in our walk towards the Kingdom.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: 2 Samuel 12:7-25

We like to read the stories of David and follow his life as he grew from a shepherd boy to a brave young man, whose faith in God helped him to slay the giant, Goliath. As he fled from Saul we admire his cour age and come to love him as we see the lovely friendship grow up be tween him and Jonathan. At last he becomes a mighty soldier and a great king, faithful to God and grateful for all he had been given. The story, however, does not end there. Between the things we have spoken of in this lesson and the glorious reign of his son, Solomon, there were years of trouble, pain and sorrow. All this came upon David because he sinned against God.

The men of Israel were at war, fighting against the Ammonites. David should have been leading them into battle, but he decided to stay at home in his palace. Instead of being busy defending his people, as a good shepherd and king, he was idle, and his thoughts were not with them at all. As he strolled at night upon his rooftop, he saw a beautiful woman, named Bathsheba, and desired her for his wife. David knew that she was the wife of another man, but he still took her to be his wife. One sin led to another and so, to try and cover up his first sin, he arranged to have her husband, a just and faithful man named Uriah, killed in battle.

In all this, God was not in David's thoughts, but God knew all that David had done; nothing was hidden from His eyes. So He sent His prophet Nathan to speak to David. Nathan reminded David of all that God had done in bringing him to the throne of Israel. ''Wherefore hast thon despised the commandment of Yahweh, to do evil in His sight? " Nathan asked him. "Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon" (12:9).

David had returned evil for all the love God had shown him. "Now therefore, " the prophet continued, "the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me € (12:10).

What could David say? He knew he had done wrong and God was going to punish him severely.

"/ have sinned against Yahweh, " said David.

"Yahweh also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die, " was Nathan's reply (v 13).

What wonderful mercy God showed to David! He should have been put to death, but God saw the change in his heart and forgave him. Never again did he forget God's love towards him. Yet he was never allowed to forget the tragedy of this story for the rest of his life. Trouble arose amongst his own sons, who brought him shame and sorrow. All these trials taught David to be very humble before God and this pleased God.

How deceitful sin is! It is so easy to do what we want to do and try to cover up our sins. Never let us forget that God, who sees and knows all things, even the very thoughts of our heart, is a just God and will punish us if we sin against Him. We must humble ourselves as David did, admit that we have done wrong and trust in God at all times.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. How many years had passed since Samuel anointed David?