2 Samuel
DAVID
Pr Edi Giudetti
16th April 2017
This book is the tenth of the Seventeen historical books in the Old testament.
These seventeen historical books are the first books of the Old Testament which precede the Seventeen Prophetic books of the Old testament and are separated only by the five books of Wisdom and poetry found at the heart of the Old testament.
So we see that the Old Testament has a structure to it that is worthwhile coming to know and understand. We will speak more to it in following sermons but note firstly that there is an initial structure to the Old testament which stands before us.
17 Historical Books
5 Wisdom and Poetry
17 Prophetical books
Totaling 39 books written over a period of just over 1000 years and covers history from Creation to approximately 400 years before the coming of Christ, those 400 years are known to us as the “Silent centuries”.
Last week we were introduced to a young man that would become King of a nation. He was a shepherd boy, the youngest of eight brothers, a faithful and dutiful son to his father who cared for his work as a shepherd even to the risk of his life.
He was anointed by Samuel to be King over Israel when he was but a youth. His musical ability was also held in high regard when he was called by the King to play before him. He returned to the sheep for a time, but before long he took the opportunity to deliver his nation from the hands of the Philistines by slaying the giant, Goliath of Gad with a sling and a stone.
Yet his anointed journey to the throne would be filled with great trials through the persecution of the man who was King at the time, King Saul.
But David found great friendship in Jonathan the son of Saul, a slightly older man and already battle hardened and a man of great faith and trust in the Lord his God. Through Jonathan David found a ready friend, a trusted companion and also one that confirmed to David that he (David) will indeed become King. In comfort, Jonathan said to him,
“Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.” (1 Samuel 23:17)
But the first book of Samuel tragically ends with the death of both Jonathan and his father Saul in battel; in fact two other sons of Saul died together with all the men who fought for him against the Philistines.
And as the 1st Book of Samuel ends, so the second book of Samuel begins and the narrative continues.
Three points are to be considered as we divide the three segments of this book;
THE TRIUMPHS OF DAVID
THE TROUBLES OF DAVID
THE TALLY OF DAVID
The Triumphs of David
The first four Chapters deal with David’s triumph over the house of Saul
He triumphs over the Philistines and the Jebusites in Chapter 5
In Chapters 6 & 7 He glorifies God in his ability to finally bring home the Arch of God from the house of Abinadab, where it had sat for over 20 years since its return from the Philistines.
And he finally triumphs over the nations closest to him in chapters 8,9 & 10.
So we see the first 10 chapters of 2nd Samuel as a period of great triumph for David, the newly throned King of Israel.
We also see two further anointing’s of David as King, Judah anointed him King over them where he reigned from Hebron for seven years in 2 Sam 2:4, and then all Israel anointed him King over them in 2 Sam 5:3 where he concluded his reign from The City of David, AKA Jerusalem for a further 33 years.
But what we find most evident in these chapters is THE CHARACTER OF DAVID
In 1 Samuel 13:14, Samuel rebukes Saul and tells him;
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
And that man that the Lord sought and commanded to be captain over his people was David.
Precious to see this verse written in the past tence “and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain,” This is noted in the 13 Chapter, but Samuel is not introduced to David until chapter 16!
Yet this is just so determined by the Lord.
THOUGHT 1
In that alone we can see that there is no age limit, young or old, for any to be people after Gods own heart. Any one of you who are here may indeed be a person after Gods own heart, any one that is here and now, or listening to this sermon on audio, may be a man or a woman after Gods own heart, young or old. Therefore It is not age that limits the person, but desire.
Most desire the vanity of the world, some desire God.
Most have a love of this life, some have love for God
Most place their heart on that which will perish, some have a heart for God.
THOUGHT 2
For God to seek a man after his own heart also indicates the rarity of the search at that time. It seems it was not common to find people who have nothing but a heart for God at that time. But can there be more today? Is that rare person now sitting in this congregation who desires nothing but the heart of the Lord?
Be sure and know that if that will be you, then the Lord is indeed seeking after such a one as this.
THOUGHT 3
A recognition of the Character of God as he blesses those who live according to their hearts desire for the Lord. David demonstrated his character from the beginning of 2nd Samuel, turn to the first chapter with me for a moment.
We see the first few lines where a man came out of the camp of the battle where Saul and Jonathan fell, he came not only to bring the news but to boast that he himself killed Saul, seeking a reward from David, but little did he know the character of David who was a righteous man, even in the 30th year of his life.
And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed. 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
O and listen will you to the heart of David as he laments the passing of the anointed of God, not a shred of ambition is found in his voice, not a consideration of triumph or revenge is understood at any time over the death of the man who sought his life, making it so difficult in his most tender years growing into manhood, listen to his heart as he laments from verse 19-27
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places:
How are the mighty fallen!
20 Tell it not in Gath,
Publish it not in the streets of Askelon;
Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew,
Neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings:
For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away,
The shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22 From the blood of the slain,
From the fat of the mighty,
The bow of Jonathan turned not back,
And the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,
And in their death they were not divided:
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights,
Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:
Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
Thy love to me was wonderful,
Passing the love of women.
27 How are the mighty fallen,
And the weapons of war perished!
Neither is this the only time David’s character and heart for God is shown.
Between chapters 1 and 4 there continued to be conflict between the two houses of David and Saul, and in chapter 4 we discover two men who stole themselves into the house of a son of Saul and killed him upon the bed. Like the Amalekite in chapter 1, they too think to bring David good news as they present to him the head of Ishbosheth;
Take our reading from 2 Sam 4:8-11
8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: 11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
Yet again one would expect, as these men did and as the Amalekite did, that David would rejoice that all his enemies are dead, yet David did not rejoice in the manner of their deaths for this was murder for reward and not death in battle.
In chapter 3 David lamented the death of Abner, the general of his enemy, because his own General Joab, murdered him in like manner, listen to his words as he laments the death of Abner the general of Saul’s armies; 2 Sam 3:31-34
31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said,
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34 Thy hands were not bound,
Nor thy feet put into fetters:
As a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou.
And all the people wept again over him.
David recognised the wicked motivation of all these men, David’s way was not the way of the wicked, he knows the Lord and the ways of the Lord and was grieved by that which grieved the Lord! This is how we know we know the Lord. When what God sees as good, we see as good, When what God calls sin, we call sin, when what grieves God grieves us. That is when we know that our hearts are turned to the Lord.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
At every turn in these ten chapters we see David inquiring of the Lord, we see David’s heart demonstrated in his desire to follow after the Lord who had brought him through great trials. The more David sought the Lord, the more he was being changed to be as the Lord. The Character of David was being conformed to the character of God.
Recall that it was David’s throne that the Bible tells us Jesus is to sit upon. Jesus was not ever called The Son of Abraham or the Son of Jacob, nor was he mentioned as the son of any other king but the son of David.
David had a place before God because he had a heart for God. BUT KNOW THIS, God is not a respecter of persons, as he deals with David so too he deals with us, both in blessing for good and cursing for evil.
Ten chapters that show the triumphs of David, let not the relationship between these triumphs and David’s constant seeking of the heart of God, be missed!
The Troubles of David
But the silver lined cloud of David also had a dark side. The first ten chapters of 2nd Samuel had his triumphs, the last fourteen chapters show his consequent troubles.
Chapters 11 & 12 We witness the beginning of his troubles, the grave sin of David against God with Uriah the Hittite in the matter of Bathsheba.
Chapter 13 Narrates the sin of his son Amnon in the rape of his half-sister Tamar, together with the revenge of Absalom the brother of Tamar against the life of Amnon his half brother.
The building up of rebellion in the heart of Absalom occupies chapters 14-15
The rebellion of Absalom against his father David by war, from chapter 16-19 where we also see the death of Absalom and David’s great lamentation for his son.
The rebellion of Sheba the son of Bichri of the tribe of Benjamin in chapter 20
The three years of famine of chapter 21 for the Sin of Saul against the Gibeonites to be avenged
And finally the curse of God among the people of Israel in the close of David’s years, for the numbering of Israel contrary to God’s law in chapter 24.
Well we see quite a turn of events
Triumphs of David in the first half
Troubles of David in the last
But that which takes our attention, and that one event which cannot escape our notice, is that which seems to indicate itself to be the precursor of all that comes after.
Friends, many a time it has been stated that the choices we make in life we are all free to make, but the freedom of those choices lead to consequences we cannot control. Though we are free to choose our doings, but we are not free to choose the consequences of those doings.
Turn with me to 2 Samuel chapter 11:1-15 please.
11 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
6 And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered. 8 And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house. 10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house? 11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 12 And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow. 13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house. 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
So Uriah died in the battle just as David had commanded, and he took the wife of Uriah to be his wife. These things he did in privacy, none knew the extent of the sin but David himself, yet incredibly even he put it away from his mind. This is the danger that can come when a heart removed from the Lord will put way even their own conscience in the vain hope it the error is done away with by our neglect of it.
Enter Nathan the Prophet 2 Sam 12:1-14
12 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? 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.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
Brethren, never think for a moment that your private sin has no public consequence, particularly those of you who lead, fathers in particular!
When you follow the events of the following chapters and witness all that had come to pass concerning the Trouble of David, you cannot help but see the rolling revelation of consequence that came upon David from this event as SPOKEN OF BY THE LORD THROUGH NATHAN THE PROPHET.
REPENTANCE
Certain it is that David repented and sought after the Lord, certain it is that his heart was broken for his sin as the man that wrote many of the Psalms can testify.
Rivers of water run down mine eyes because they keep not thy law (Ps 119:137)
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. (Ps 42:7)
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: And my sin is ever before me. (Ps 51:1-2)
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOU AND I?
This is the heart of those who seek after the Lord, broken for their sin, their sin ever before them, their transgression acknowledged NOT HIDDEN!
Why hide that which God so clearly sees? To what end? Can you escape the judgement of God who knows the heart of every man and woman? Shall you escape if you ignore your sin? Be sure your sin will find you out
How did Nathan bring to David such in-depth knowledge of his transgression against God if it was not God that revealed it?
WHY? WHY? WHY do you try to ignore your sin as if it cannot be known?
That which is done in secret he will reveal openly, that which David did in private his son Abslalom did in front of all the people; exactly that which God said would come to pass, did. Then know of a certainty that your sin, no matter how private, will BE brought to your remembrance before a holy God that cannot be mocked.
O PLEASE, if you acknowledge your sin before the Lord there is forgiveness, thou shalt not die, and it will be forgotten; But if you would keep it hidden and not seek after the Lord for forgiveness for them, in the hope YOU will forget, know the Lord will bring it to your remembrance again… IN HIS FURY. Trying to hide sin from God is like TRYING TO HIDE dust from light; no matter how much you don’t see, the light will.
David was a man after God’s own heart, not because he was perfect in his deeds and actions, but because he sought God and turned to him in sorrow when he was rebuked.
BUT TODAY SO MANY ARE SO FILLED WITH SIN AND PRIDE that they actually think that if they pretend all is good ALL ACTUALLY IS GOOD;
if they pretend they have not sinned, then THEY HAVE NOT ACTUALLY SINNED;
if they pretend nothing is their fault, NOTHING IS ACTAULLY THEIR FAULT.
They won’t believe God will forgive their sin, BUT THEY DO BELIEVE THEIR SIN DOES NOT EXISTS IF THEY SIMPLY IGNORE ITS EXISTANCE!!!
But those who acknowledge their offence, these are free. If they seek the Lord, they WILL find him, WHEN THEY SEARCH FOR HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS.
David’s transgression had a cost and the price was paid through the troubles of David. God put away his sin when he acknowledged it, he did not die, but the consequences lingered.
Your sin has a cost, the price of which was paid by God through his Son Jesus Christ. God will put away your sin when you repent and give your life to Christ, you will not be damned, YET he that gave his life for you still bears the marks.
Jesus died that you might live, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR SIN THAT YOU CANNOT HIDE, but lay it at the feet of Christ. The sacrifice of God is a broken and contrite heart!
Tally of David
Chapter 22 is the Song of David, entering to the seventh verse of chapter 23 are the last words of David the King.
Prior to his last words, David gathered together all that was required to build the house of God, the house will be known historically as the Temple of Solomon, named after the son of David who performed the construction.
Yet the architect was God, the material gatherer was David, the builder Solomon.
The Last words of David are effectively his last will and testament. He tells of his origin, the mean state from which he came as “the son of Jesse” (v1)
Though he rose to the height of a King in Gods government, yet he recalls from where he was brought. So too should we remember with humility the rock from which we are carved, only God can chip away that which is not of him.
He tells of his purpose, he was “the anointed of the God of Jacob”, he was in the service of God for the work of God to the people of God.
No matter where you come from, the Lord has a purpose for you. One you will discover when you turn to him with all your heart.
He tells of the righteousness of God, “he that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God”. Where justice is, judgement is. His word helps us to know right from wrong and where we need turn when we do wrong.
Finally he tells of the end for the wicked “But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away” The Bible says “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death”
Finally all David’s works together with his mighty men was totalled and completed
Summary
David was a man after Gods own heart, not because he was a perfect man, but because he sought God’s righteousness and not his own.
If you will not seek after Gods heart, there is little chance you can know your own.