2 Samuel 5
-Finally, after many years of trusting the LORD and eluding
his enemies, David is anointed the rightful and ordained king over all of
Israel. All the tribes came to David in Hebron after the death of Ish-bosheth
(see 2 Samuel 4) and acknowledged him as their sovereign who had shepherded his
people Israel as a great ruler. Even when King Saul had positional authority,
the people recognized the actual man of God who was to be their eventual
leader. “So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David
made a covenant with them before the LORD at Hebron; then they anointed David
king over Israel.” This happened when David was 30 years old. It had been a
long and arduous, but faithful, journey. His time had now come, the LORD had
lifted him up and exalted him to what he had been called. He would eventually
reign for 40 golden years, 7 ½ years in Hebron as the leader of Judah and 33
years in Jerusalem as the king of all Israel and Judah united (2 Samuel 5:1-5).
-Now, David took decisive action with his men by going up to
Jerusalem. They went against the Jebusites, who controlled this mountainous
stronghold that would eventually house the Temple of the Living God. The
conventional thinking at the time was that the city was so well fortified that
even the lame and the blind could protect it. A more accurate rendering of the
text might explain the wording “let him reach the lame and the blind, who are
hated by David’s soul, through the water tunnel.” This could actually in the
Masoretic Text take a Qere option
that would make it passive to mean, “…the blind and the lame, who are hateful
to (or towards) David (see http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1322).”
Whatever one’s understanding and
interpretation of this passage, David used a cunning tactic to invade this
coveted real estate and capture it. The stronghold of Zion was taken. The blind
and the lame were excluded from coming into the house, which is more than
likely referencing the future Temple of God, which was to be built during the
reign of David’s son, Solomon. David now lived in this stronghold and at that
time it became known as the “city of David” by the king’s own choosing. In
fact, David strengthened it by some building projects from the Milo (citadel)
inward. “David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with
him.” At that time, alliances began to form as well. Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers
to David with cedar trees along with carpenters and stonemasons. These built a
house for the king to live there in Jerusalem. David now realized his good
fortune from the LORD in establishing him as king over Israel. God had exalted
him and his kingdom for the sake of His people, Israel. Also notated in the
text was the fact that King David took more wives and concubines from Jerusalem
at this juncture. More sons and daughters are born, which are listed in the
text (2 Samuel 5:6-16).
-But all was not pleasurable and peaceful in the beginning
of David’s reign after the conquering of Jerusalem. The Philistines, upon
hearing that David had been anointed king over all Israel, went up to seek out
their notorious enemy. When the king caught wind of this, he went down,
presumably with his trusted fighting men, to the stronghold. This was somewhere
in the vicinity of the valley of Rephaim because this is where the Philistines
came and spread themselves out. The valley of Rephaim is pretty much due west
of Jerusalem toward what was still known as Canaan. It was about mid-way
between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Coastline in some pretty mountainous
regions of the hill country. There, David inquired of his LORD once again as to
whether or not he should go up against his foe. God told him to, “Go up, for I
will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” Therefore, David and his
men went and came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there. David proclaimed, “The
LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters.”
This is why it is named Baal-perazim (the master of breakthrough). The
Philistines abandoned their idols there at Baal-perazim with David and his men
carrying them away. But the trouble wasn’t over just yet. The Philistines remobilized
and came back up once again in the valley of Rephaim. David again inquired of
his LORD, and the LORD provided him specific advice on how to handle the
battle. Israel was to go directly up, circle around behind them, and come at them
in front of the balsam (or baka-shrubs) trees. When they heard marching in the
tops of the balsam trees, they were to “act promptly, for then the LORD will
have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” David followed
through exactly with what the LORD commanded him, and the Philistines were
struck down from Geba as far as Gezer (2 Samuel 5:17-25).
-*Application* God is indeed the Master of the breakthrough.
He will come to our aid at the critical times of our lives when we yield
whole-hearted devotion to His plans. This is a lesson for us in persistence,
faithfulness, endurance, steadfastness, patience, and devotion among many other
things. David gives us hope when we see all the testing and hardships that he
had to go through in order to be exalted as the king over a united Israel. Keep
trusting God, keep inquiring of Him at every juncture, and enjoy the
breakthrough when He ensures the victory!
Verse to Memorize:
2 Samuel 5:3
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