David - Lesson 4 (2-22-16)
Overview
David on the Throne
After being anointed king over a united Israel, David faced an immediate political question: where should the capital be? Choosing Hebron would favor Judah in the south; remaining at Saul's seat would favor the northern tribes. Instead, David selected Jerusalem—a city positioned at the meeting point of north and south—and captured the stronghold of Zion from the Jebusites. The text gives the deeper reason for his rise: "David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of hosts was with him" 2 Samuel 5:10. This phrase—God with us—is the heartbeat of Immanuel, sung at Advent and confessed in the liturgical greeting "The Lord be with you / And also with you." It is not a wish but a confident declaration. In a culture marked by increasing isolation, the promise that God is present with His people in joy, sorrow, and uncertainty remains an unshakable comfort, rooted in His sovereignty over every circumstance.
A House for God—and a Greater House from God
Settled in his cedar palace while the ark of God still dwelt in a tent, David purposed to build a temple. The prophet Nathan first encouraged him, but the word of the Lord redirected the plan that very night 2 Samuel 7:4–13. David would not build a house for God; instead, God would build a house for David. The near fulfillment came through Solomon, who constructed the temple. The ultimate fulfillment came in Jesus Christ, who builds a spiritual house from living stones—those joined to Him by faith and brought in through the waters of baptism 1 Peter 2:4–6. When our good ideas are reshaped by God's better plans, that is not loss but freedom. To pray, "Thy will be done"—as Jesus Himself prayed in Gethsemane—places every plan under the lordship of Christ and frees us to trust the One whose purposes never fail.
Holding God to His Promises
David's response to this promise is a model prayer of humility and faith 2 Samuel 7:18–29. "Who am I, O Lord GOD?" he begins, acknowledging his unworthiness, adoring God's greatness, and then doing something remarkable: he asks God to keep His word. "Do as you have promised" (v. 25). When God has revealed His will in Scripture, we may pray those promises back to Him with full confidence in the answer. A human "I promise" is precious but fragile; God's promise cannot fail, for He would not be God if He could break His word. So when grief, fear, or weariness presses in, we may say plainly: "Lord, You promised to be with me, to strengthen me, to comfort me—I am holding You to it." This is not presumption; it is faith.
Kindness to Mephibosheth: A Picture of Adoption
David's character shines again in his search for any remaining heir of Saul to whom he might show kindness for Jonathan's sake 2 Samuel 9. Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, is brought from obscurity in Lo-debar and given a permanent place at the king's table—"like one of the king's sons." This is the gospel in miniature. Like Mephibosheth, we were poor, far off, and helpless. Yet the Lord Jesus Christ sought us out, restored our inheritance, and seated us at His table as adopted sons and daughters Ephesians 1:4–5. Whatever you carry today—on the joyful side of the ledger or the troubled—submit it and trust. God is good. God is sovereign. God keeps His promises. And in Christ, He has already chosen you as His own.
Transcript
Thank you for the uniqueness and the beauty of this day. 7s
We thank you for your grace that surround us, that your promises that uphold us. 12s
We pray now for your presence in your blessing upon this study of your infallible word, 18s
in Jesus name. 23s
Well, we continue on in our study with regard to the life of David. 26s
Last week we took a look at David's reaction to the passing of soul, the death of soul. 31s
And we saw David's character shine. 39s
We talked about the importance of character as one is a leader and whatever size organization it is. 42s
The importance of that character. 51s
Now we're going to see in the weeks ahead the character here of David take a sharp turn. 53s
And so we're going to see here falls here from character. 62s
But last week we took a look at Saul's and David's incredible reaction to the death of a soul. 67s
And showing his character, which was something to behold when you consider what Saul was trying to do. 75s
We also talked about how David's rise to power was not uncontested. 84s
But that after the death of Saul, one of Saul's sons and a general of Saul by the name of Abner. 92s
Abner put up Saul's son here for a position here of leadership. 100s
And so Saul's son then became the one who rained over the northern section, the northern tribe with regard to Israel. 106s
We took a look at Psalm 27, a glorious, glorious song. 119s
Written during a time in which David was standing on the brink of civil war there. 124s
You've got Saul's son in the north, he's in the south, he's standing on the brink of civil war. 131s
He has just come off of a defeat with the Philistines. 137s
And yet he writes this beautiful, beautiful song. 141s
We examine that. 144s
We examine how Abner, that general turned on Saul's son and that how he was also eventually killed by Joab. 145s
And we took a look at how does God want us to respond when people do things that are wrong to us. 156s
Certainly it's not the response of Joab that we are to follow. 164s
We also took a look at the fact that David rained over United, Israel, and Judah for 33 years, interestingly. 170s
The same amount of years that Jesus walked this face of the earth before his crucifixion. 178s
So we've taken a look at these weeks together at the David in the field. 186s
David on the run, David on the rise, and today we're going to take a look at David on the throne. 190s
Having been anointed the king. 199s
David then has to make a decision in terms of an acceptable place for the capital. 202s
So he's anointed king. 211s
The question then is where is the capital going to be? 212s
Well, if he favors Hebrew on putting the capital there, 215s
that would mean then that he would be favoring Judah over Israel. 221s
Remember Israel is the north and Judah is the south. 227s
So if he chooses Hebrew on, that means he's going to be favoring there the south, Judah. 231s
If he chooses where Saul was and Saul's son, he then that's a favoring of the north. 239s
So what does he do? 250s
He picks the place where the north and the south meet, where Israel and Judah meets, 252s
and that is Jerusalem. 258s
And he chooses that point to be the capital. 260s
Let's take a look, please, at second Samuel the fifth chapter. 266s
Genesis Exodus, Leviticus, numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and you come to Samuel. 271s
Second Samuel the fifth chapter, and we'll pick up in verse 6. 279s
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebiusites, 290s
the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, 295s
you will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back, thinking, 300s
David cannot come in here, nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, 308s
which is now the city of David. 316s
And David talks about the reason for his success. 321s
Second Samuel chapter 5, go down to verse 10, David occupied the stronghold and named it the city of David. 326s
David built the city all around the Milo inward, now verse 10, and David became greater and greater 337s
for the Lord God of hosts was with him. There's his confidence. 345s
You know, a manual, another designation of our Lord means, God with us. 356s
God with us, when we sing that advent hen, O come O come Emmanuel. That's a powerful reminder 361s
that indeed God is always with us. When we do the liturgical exchange where the Lord be with you 368s
and what would be the response. And also with you, that is an expression of confidence in God's presence. 378s
So it's not a wish that the Lord will be with you and then a return then to the person who 388s
originated that of saying, and we wish that the Lord will be with you too, 395s
no it's a statement of confidence. It's a statement of confidence of who God is, 400s
and that is God with us. We live in an increasingly isolating world, don't we? 405s
We live in a world in which oftentimes people nowadays don't know their neighbor. 413s
With all of the ways to communicate with one another nowadays, do you find that it's actually 422s
harder to communicate with people than it was when the landline connected to that cord 429s
that had various lengths, there and various houses, but wasn't it easier to communicate to people 440s
when it was just that? Because when the phone would ring, there was no caller ID, there was none of that, 446s
right? And you kind of wondered, is also might be long distance here? And so you answered the phone. 453s
Nowadays it's hard. When you add a ball the different ways that we can communicate with each other, 462s
in some ways it's harder to communicate with each other than it was of days of oil. 468s
And we can move increasingly into an isolation. An isolation also in terms with relationships with 475s
those around us. So to say that God is with us, that is a comforting word, amidst a growing 483s
isolation. Not that isolation is good. I'm not making that point at all. It's bad. 493s
But the fact that God is with us is that constant source of comfort. He is with us in the times of joy, 500s
his with us in the times of sorrow. He's with us in the time of celebration. He's with us in the 508s
times of grief that God is with us when we say that to one another. That is also highlighting the fact 513s
that God is sovereign. That God's hands are not tied with whatever situation occurs. But that whatever 521s
situation occurs has passed before his throne. And He is sovereign and lured of it all. So when we say, 530s
God is with us, that is an incredible source of peace and comfort. Enjoy. David says, 539s
God is with us. That is the reason for the success as he gives God glory. 550s
Well, as God gets settled in in his new fortress and in his new palace. As he enjoys this peace, 561s
this time of peace from enemies, which he had not known for many years. David has some time to reflect 571s
and look at what he's thinking about. The second Samuel, the seventh chapter, verse 1. 579s
Now when the king was settled in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies 591s
around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, see now, I am living in a house of cedar, 597s
but the ark of God stays in a tent. Now what's the, what's the ark of God? What's the ark of the 607s
sinbolized God's presence? It was really a a roving shrine, which was with the people. 617s
It communicated to them a reminder of God's covenant relationship with them. So David reflects on the 627s
house that he is in and then also the house, the ark that God is in. And in verse 3, Nathan said 635s
the king, go do all that you have in mind for the Lord is with you. Nathan then is encouraging 645s
David to take action in terms of building a house for the Lord. But God turns this plan on its head 659s
and Nathan returns with a revised message here to David that is born not out of his common sense 672s
or his own desires but the actual word of the Lord picking up in verse 4 of chapter 7 of 679s
second Samuel. But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, go and tell my servant David 689s
thus says the Lord, are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house 697s
since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day. They've been moving 704s
about in the tent in the Tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, 709s
did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel who might command it to 718s
why have you not built me a house of Cedar? Now therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 726s
thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture from following the sheep to be prints 735s
over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies 742s
from before you. And I will make you make for you a great name like the name of the great ones 750s
of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they may live 758s
in their own place and be disturbed no more. And evil doers shall afflict them no more as formally. 766s
From the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel, and I will give you rest from all your 775s
enemies. More over the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 783s
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring 793s
after you who shall come forth from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build 798s
the house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. David's not going 806s
to build the house to full meaning here. It's going to be offspring. Solomon is going to be the 817s
one that's going to build the house. There's a near turn fulfillment then that Solomon is going to be 825s
the one that's David's son and the successor. But ultimately the fulfillment of this 832s
comes to pass in Jesus where Jesus builds a house for God's name and brings people by faith 839s
into the house through baptism. Let's go over to first Peter, please, in the New Testament. 849s
Good way to find the first Peter. Go to the last book which is Revelation. Start working your way 857s
backwards. You're going to cross over the Johns and you're going to pop into the Peter's there. 862s
First Peter chapter two. Verse four. Come to him a living stone. 869s
The rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight. 889s
And like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood 897s
to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ for its stands in Scripture. 904s
See I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious. And whoever believes in him will not 913s
be put to shame. David has the idea that he's going to build God a house. But that's not God's idea. 922s
You ever had those times in your life when you've got this glorious idea and then you find out 935s
that's not God's plan. And God has a different plan for you and God reshapes into what he 939s
desires. It is a freeing thing when we pray to say, by your will Lord, if it's your will or if it's 950s
your will. Because then all of our plans and all of our thoughts and all of the things that make 963s
sense to us gets put underneath the Lord's ship of Jesus Christ and that's freeing. 968s
Because then when the Lord moves, how the Lord will move, we can say blessed be the name of God 977s
and to your will we submit. It's Jesus in the garden, Lord, if it be your will, let this cup pass from me. 985s
It wasn't the Father's will to let that cup pass. And there is freedom then in knowing. 993s
Then God, you will bring about your will. David has his plans. Nathan comes back with the correct 1004s
message. It's not going to be David that's going to build the house. It's going to be Solomon 1011s
that is going to build the house and it's too fold understanding. It's the offspring, 1015s
Solomon of David, David's successor, will build the house and the house then built 1022s
by Jesus to the glory of God as we then are part of that spiritual house through the waters of 1032s
baptism. Let's go back. Second Samuel chapter 7 verse 18. 1041s
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, 1057s
Who am I, O Lord God and what is my house that you have brought me thus far? 1063s
In that this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's 1069s
house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord God. 1076s
And what more can David say to you, for you know your servant, O Lord God, 1084s
because of your promise and according to your own heart, you've brought all this greatness 1089s
so that your servant may know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there's no one like you. 1094s
And there's no God beside you, according to the sides you, according to all that we have heard 1102s
with our ears. Who is like your people like Israel? Is there another nation on earth, 1107s
whose God went to redeem it as a people and to make a name for himself? 1115s
Doing great and awesome things for them by driving out before his people nations and their gods? 1121s
And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever. 1129s
And you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, as for the word that you have spoken, 1134s
concerning your servant, concerning his house, confirm it forever, do as you've promised. 1142s
Thus your name will be magnified forever in the same. The Lord of hosts is God over Israel. 1149s
And the house of your servant David will be established before you. 1156s
For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, 1160s
saying, I will build you a house. Therefore, your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 1165s
And now, O Lord God, you are God, in your words are true and you've promised this good thing to your 1175s
servant. Now, therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant so that it may continue 1181s
forever before you, before you, for you, O Lord God, have spoken. And with your blessing, 1188s
shall the house of your servant be blessed forever. 1196s
If you had to put words here to David, to describe his attitude here. 1202s
Submissive, respectful, reverent, acknowledging of his own and worthiness, praising God for what 1214s
he has done. David's prayer here, it encapsulates humbleness and faith. 1231s
It encapsulates this understanding of David's need for him and for his salvation. 1244s
And what does he ask there? In verse 25, he asked God to keep his promises. He knows verse 28 1254s
that he can trust God in his word. He asks God to bless him and his descendants as he has 1261s
promised. Where the Lord has promised, we may hold him to his word. What a glorious picture 1270s
of what God is doing in our lives through word and sacrament to make us say people of humility, 1285s
submissive, respectful, reverent who understands that all that we have comes from God, 1298s
Almighty, and that we can hold God to his promises. You think of a little child? 1310s
When I was a child, when the glorious things that I could hear from my parents would be to say 1322s
if they said I promise. So when I'd say I promise, now do all human beings fall short? Sure. 1329s
Sure, because we're all sinners. But that word promise is a glorious thing. 1341s
I could trust them. I could bank on that because they had promised me. And I could hold them 1353s
to their word. So if they said, when you get done with your chores, we're going to go for ice cream. 1363s
Do you promise? I promise. That promise then formed me doing the chores. 1375s
Right? Because I knew what the outcome was of that. When God says, I promise that's 1386s
far greater than any human promising because you know there's no falling short on that. 1393s
And so we can, in all joy, just like David does, hold God to his promises. 1399s
And so when we're going through a difficult time, we can say, God, you promised 1409s
to be with me. I'm holding you to that God because I know you cannot break your promise. 1415s
God cannot break a promise. He wouldn't be, he wouldn't be God if you could break a promise. 1424s
And it's times of grief knowing that God will comfort and God will strengthen and God will 1430s
support those are all promises of Scripture. And we can hold God to the promise. 1438s
Knowing that indeed, He will live out exactly what He has promised. 1448s
And so then when we pray in accordance to what He's already promised, we already know the answer, 1454s
don't we? Because He's revealed His will. It's called a revealed will of God. There's a hidden 1460s
will of God on matters that we don't understand. We don't see it in Scripture. But when we see, 1469s
that which He has revealed in Scripture, when we see His promises and when we pray those promises, 1474s
we know what the answer to the prayer is. Does God still call us to say, oh Lord, 1480s
strengthen me through this time, even though He has promised to strengthen us? Of course. 1487s
We pray then to God knowing what the answer is already. And what a glorious way to pray. 1497s
Right? Glorious way. That's a free way to pray. And we can hold God to His promises. 1506s
What are the implications of this for us? As we see, David's prayer here, 1515s
as we see Him adoring God as we see Him holding the two His promises, 1525s
we can submit to Him and we can trust that we are heard. We can trust that He's sovereign. 1533s
We can trust that He is in control. And we can trust that God will answer that prayer in His 1546s
perfect timing. Now we know if we say, Lord, give me strength, for example. God isn't going to say, 1553s
I'm not going to give you strength until. No. God is continually at work through Word and 1561s
sacrament to strengthen us. But on those things, it's a hidden will of God as we submit to Him. 1567s
We can trust that God's will will be done and we can say, Lord, you will be done. 1574s
You're Lord, we're not. We can submit. We can trust. We can live with the understanding, 1583s
reflected in David's prayer here that God is good. That He is for us. That His goodness is rooted 1594s
in His love for us. We can turn to our Lord in the short confidence that God is going to 1603s
accomplish what God wants to accomplish. And God will do what God is going to do. And we know 1613s
that God is good and loving and for us so we can submit to Him. We can trust in Him. We know He is good 1618s
because of what He has done in the Lord Jesus Christ and His love for us. And that He has called us His 1626s
own and the waters of baptism. And God will accomplish what God will accomplish. We don't have to 1632s
form Him. We don't have to come up with, here's the whole list of reasons, just to fill you in God. 1640s
I know you've been busy. I just want to bring you up to speed. We don't need to do any of that. 1647s
He is sovereign and knows when a hair falls on our head off of our head. 1652s
So we can submit and trust. He is good. He will accomplish. He will 1659s
fulfill. For we know that He has chosen us to be His own. Before the very foundation of the 1664s
world, Ephesians tells us, God knew that there was going to be a you and God chose you as His own. 1675s
He's claimed to you and the waters of baptism. He's given you faith. We are His chosen for all 1685s
of eternity. And we can be utterly confident in the promises that God has given us. 1693s
So what do you come here today that's on your heart? Is there something on everybody's heart? 1708s
It's not on everybody's heart. You may come here today on the more maybe joyful side of the 1716s
ledger. There's still something on the heart. Still something on the heart. Or you may come here 1725s
today on the more troubled side of the ledger. Sad is always something on the heart. 1732s
So whatever's on the heart here today, submit and trust. God is good. God will accomplish 1743s
that which God wants to accomplish. He is Lord and we can trust Him. We look to the cross. We know 1750s
of His love and grace for us. We know that He's chosen us as His own and we know that His promises are 1758s
so into the unknown of what the day will bring. We go with such profound confidence and joy. 1764s
And that's free. That's free. Well, let's go here to second Samuel chapter 9. 1778s
Verse 1. David asked, is there still anyone left in the house of Saul to whom I 1795s
amishokinus for Jonathan's sake? That's character, right? Now there was a servant of the house of 1803s
Saul whose name was Ziba. He was summoned to David. The king said to him, or use Ziba and he said 1813s
at your service. The king said, is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show 1817s
the kindness of God? Ziba said that the king, there remains a son of Jonathan. He's crippled in his feet. 1823s
The king said to him, where is he? Ziba said to the king, he's in the house of Macyer, 1831s
son of a meal at Lodabar. Then the king David sent out and brought him from the house of Macyer, 1836s
son of a meal at Lodabar. But fifth, Mathibasef, son of Jonathan, son of Saul came to David and fell 1843s
in his face in ito-beasons. David said, Mathibasef, he answered, I'm your servant. David said to him, 1851s
do not be afraid, I will show you kindness for the sake of your father, Jonathan. I will 1861s
restore to you all the land of your grandfather's soul and you yourself shall eat at my table always. 1867s
He did o-beasons and said, what is your servant that you should look upon a dead dog such as I? 1875s
Then the king summoned Saul, servant Ziba and said to him, all the belong to Saul, 1883s
and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. You and your sons and your servants 1892s
shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce so that your master's grandson may have 1898s
Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then Ziba said to the king, according to all that my Lord, 1911s
the king commands his servant, so your servant will do. The Fibasef ate at David's table, 1919s
like one of the king's sons. That is a picture, that's a picture of God's adoption of us in baptism. 1926s
Like Mifidosef, we are poor and we are far off. We are hopeless and we are helpless. 1940s
But the Lord Jesus Christ searched for us, found us graciously brought us into his household. 1954s
We too are adopted into God's family as royal sons and daughters. We share in his bounty 1964s
the riches of the heavenly home. The Lord's with us. Jesus builds a house and we're in it. 1975s
We can hold them to his word and we're adopted into his family. 1987s
Well, we've seen David in his prime here. The Lord had given David peace and prosperity, 1998s
victory over all his enemies, the respect of all the people. 2005s
But David winds up being his own worst enemy. We're going to soon see him on the run again. 2010s
We've seen him in the field on the run, on the rise, on the throne, 2022s
and next week, it's David on the edge. We'll continue next week. 2029s