Oct 9 2011 - E100.35a – 2 Samuel 5, David becomes king
Saul and Jonathan are both dead, killed in a battle with the Philistines. Now all Israel gather to acknowledge David as their king for he is the one of whom the Lord said, "You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler" (2 Samuel 5:2). He is to be a shepherd-king, one who will devote himself to the care and welfare of the people of God – reflecting the character of the Lord who is their king (see Psalm 23) and anticipating the Great Shepherd to come.
David's first act is to capture Jerusalem from the Jebusites. It becomes "the City of David", the capital city for the kingdom of Israel. There, with the help of Hiram, king of Tyre, David built a palace for himself.
David acknowledges "that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel" (5:12). Nevertheless, his palace and his collection of wives and concubines (5:13) suggest that he also is becoming "a king like the nations."
How easily we become compromised, particularly when the Lord blesses us. We deceive ourselves by saying that we are only making use of the opportunities the Lord has given us while, in fact, we are pleasing ourselves and following the patterns of behaviour common to the world around us.
Lord, you are my shepherd-king. Lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake. Help me to keep a watch over my own heart and to follow the Lord Jesus rather than the patterns of this self-seeking world.
Peter Misselbrook