MOURNING FOR SAUL AND JONATHAN
2 Samuel covers David’s reign and the book starts with him receiving the shocking news of king Saul’s death on Mount Gilboa. Surprisingly, David continued to show loyalty to Saul, as the Lord’s anointed, and he dealt harshly with a young Amalekite who claimed to have put the dying king out of his misery on the battlefield. Yet, we also see David’s sensitive and forgiving nature as he lamented not only for Jonathan but also Saul (v23) who had, relentlessly, tried to kill him. David, to his credit, had never tried to supplant Saul’s kingship, even though he knew that his own anointing had already taken place, and was willing to await God’s timing for accession to the throne. Interesting that David described the Saul years as economically successful (v24). The highlight from his lament, though, were his heartfelt words about Jonathan v26) “you were very dear to me, your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.” Such tenderness from such a successful and battle-hardened warrior.

KING OF THE JUDAH TRIBE
David always prospered whenever he enquired of the Lord and, this time, he wished to know whether he should go up from Ziglag to one of the towns of Judah (2v1). I think it is true to say that his current home, among the Philistines, had been the choice of David and not really God’s, in the first place (1 Samuel 27). David responded to the Lord’s direction by moving to Hebron with his family and men and it was only a matter of time before the people of Judah recognised him as king over their tribe (v4). Meanwhile, Abner (2v8), the commander of Saul’s army, through loyalty to Saul, actually crowned Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, king over the rest of Israel. It would be seven and a half years before David became king over the whole of Israel and we see David’s position gradually getting stronger and stronger (3v1). Abner in a skirmish at the pool of Gibeon was cornered into killing Asahel, the brother of Joab, David’s rough-tough army leader (2v21-23). Joab, soon after, was to exact revenge for this by killing Abner in cold blood (3v27). It seems sad that his life should end this way because Abner had just come into line with God’s purpose to unite the kingdom under David (3v9,10). David by mourning deeply for Abner pleased the Israelites (3v36) who saw that he had not engineered the death of Abner, their worthy army leader. It was not long before the elders of Israel anointed David (ch5v3) at Hebron and he was still only 30 years old.

JERUSALEM MADE CAPITAL
David decided to make Jerusalem his capital city, but it was still occupied by the Jebusites (5v6) and only a daring attack through the water shaft (v8) brought success. David called Jerusalem the “city of David” (v9) and we are told that he became more and more powerful because (v10) the “the Lord God Almighty was with him”. David knew that it was God who was exalting his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel (v12). The tide was turning and Israel was getting the better of the Philistines, see the valley of Rephaim (v22). Victories were there because David was still enquiring of the Lord (v19) and could say that (v20) “as waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.”

ALWAYS DO THINGS GOD’S WAY
Like us all, David slipped up sometimes as well and, without checking with the Lord (ch 6), he decided to bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. God desired his glory and presence to be central in Israel but David did not seek God or read his word about how the ark should be respected and transported. There was a tremendous atmosphere of praise but Uzzah reached out to steady the ark (v6) because the oxen stumbled. In our enthusiasm for God we must never lose sight of how holy God is and we should do things his way and not ours. David, understandably angry, decided to abort the ceremony and leave the ark in the house of Obed-Edom, the Gittite. We are told that during the next 3 months God blessed Obed (6v11), just as he blesses us if we live in his presence.

DAVID’S HEART OF WORSHIP
David knew it was still right to bring the ark into Jerusalem but, this time, nothing was spared with the organisation; there were sacrifices, shouts and trumpets and David leapt and danced with all his might (v14). His wife Michal despised him for his vulgar behaviour but David, caring nothing except what the Lord thought of him replied (v21) that, in his celebration, he was willing to become even more undignified than this (v22). We should never despise an uninhibited worshipper as Michal found out when she remained childless until the day of her death (v23).

DAVID’S KINGLY THRONE WOULD LAST FOR EVER
There came a time, once again (7v1), when Israel had been given rest from all their enemies around them. David, appreciating his own palace, had in mind (v2) to build a permanent house for the Lord in Jerusalem. Nathan the prophet, however, came with a message from the Lord that it would be one of his offspring who would build a house for His Name (v13). Looking even further ahead, David’s house and throne would actually be established for ever (v16). Solomon would build the temple but Jesus, Himself, coming from David’s line, would establish His throne for ever (v13). David was full of praise to God for rescuing Israel and establishing them as His very own for ever (v24). He was humbled that his own house would also be blessed for ever (v29).

ISRAEL AT REST FROM THEIR ENEMIES
In chapter 8, we see the boundaries of Israel extended further than ever before. The Philistines were subdued and Moab, also, subject to them; Arameans in the north brought tribute, as did Edom and Amalekites to the south. David’s judgements were just (v15), the priests were brought back to their rightful place, and competent administrators and advisers (v16-18) made national life secure. “The Lord gave David victory wherever he went” (v14). Chapter 10 recounts how David tried to show kindness to the Ammonites but they, foolishly, sent his soldiers back with half beards and garments cut off at the buttocks! The end result was that another nation became subject to Israel. Many historians look at this time as the golden age of Israel with its boundaries extended up to the Euphrates river, as God had promised. David’s kindness to Saul’s family found new levels when he lifted up Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibosheth, to eat at his own table. This is a picture of the grace of the Lord who welcomes us and lifts us up when we deserve nothing.

OH DEAR
If only life could have continued in the same way, but in chapter 11 we read of David’s adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. Her husband Uriah was a brave and loyal man; in fact, one of David’s 37 mighty men (23v39) who hated leaving the Rabbah siege battle lines. To achieve David’s purposes, Uriah was ordered to fight where the strongest defenders were and close enough to be vulnerable to the archers. Uriah was dead but we read in verse 27 that “the thing David had done displeased the Lord”. It was for Nathan to bring the Lords rebuke (ch12); the Lord had given David so much, and would have given him more (v8), but he had despised the Lord and done evil in his eyes (v9).

CONSEQUENCES FOR SIN
We know Psalm 51 and David’s sincere, repentant heart (v13) but life for David took a turn a wrong turn and never again did he have the success of before. There were consequences for his sin, (v10), “the sword shall never depart from your house” and (v11) “out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you”. Furthermore, as Bathsheba’s first child was dying in infancy (v19) David cried out to God, knowing the death was no more than he deserved. Bathsheba was to have another child, soon after (v24), a son, who David named Solomon. Nathan brought news that God had given him the special name Jedidiah which means “loved by the Lord” (v25).

“In the course of time” (13v1) we start to see the calamities coming from David’s family. Firstly, his son Amnon fell in love with his half sister Tamar and worked the situation to rape her. Absalom, her brother, did nothing at the time but hate was in his heart and, two years later, he isolated Amnon and ordered his men to strike him down dead (v28). Absalom fled to Geshur for 3 years, and David, we are told, mourned for his son every day (v37). David had a tender heart and he longed to see his son but felt he could not and it was Joab who engineered the situation to bring him back to Jerusalem. After 2 more years, Absolom finally got to see the king who, we are told, kissed his son (14v33). Just as Judas betrayed the one who loved him, Absalom was to use his good looks (v25), sense of style (15v1) and charm (v5) to “steal the hearts of the men of Israel” (v6). On one occasion, Absalom asked permission from David to worship the Lord in Hebron but this was really a cover to proclaim his kingship (v10). The rebellion gained strength and even David’s respected counsellor, Ahithophel, switched allegiance (v12). David, realising that he was weak, thought that his best plan of action was to run (v14) so he left 10 concubines in charge of the palace and left with his officials, entourage and bodyguards, the Kerethites and Pelethites. David still had some loyal following and the people in the countryside wept as he passed by (v23). Zadok and the Levites began to carry the ark of the covenant but David asked them to return to the city, knowing that only if he found favour in the Lord’s eyes would he be back (v25). It appears that David had lost confidence in his kingly authority, thinking that maybe he had lost the Lord’s favour (v25), and if God used this rebellion as divine judgement then he could not really complain (v26).

DAVID’S PRAYER ANSWERED
David and his people climbed the Mount of Olives, weeping as they went (v30). You always know when David was going the right way because he sought guidance or prayed to the Lord and this time he prayed that Ahithophel’s counsel be turned into foolishness (v31). Soon after, Hushai the Arkite, another counsellor, came pledging his support and David used this opportunity to send him, as a secret agent, into Absalom’s court. This was crucial in what was about to happen. Ahithophel advised Absalom to choose 12,000 men to chase David to finish him off while he was weary and weak (17v1,2). This was absolutely the right thing to do because we know from chapter 16v14 that David and his people were exhausted and the king’s confidence had gone. Absalom made the mistake of taking a second counsel from Hushai who, as we know, was secretly on David’s side. Hushai, using the truth that David and his men were experienced fighters, convinced Absalom to wait until he had mustered a larger army (v11). God used this advice to bring disaster on Absalom (v14). The wise Ahithophel knew that all was lost now so he put his house in order and hanged himself (v23). Meanwhile, supporters brought provisions to strengthen David and his troops (v27,28) and David had time to re-organise his fighting force (ch 18) which inflicted a great victory over Absalom. Against his orders, Joab struck down Absalom who was caught by his long hair in the thick branches of a large oak tree (v9). David was distraught with grief (v33) and wept “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only had I died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son.”

DAVID LOSING HIS GOOD JUDGEMENT
David was losing a sense of kingly responsibility, over concerned about a son who would willingly have killed him. Joab had to report to David that this attitude humiliated the troops fighting for him and if he did not give them credit he would hardly hold his army together. David partly redeemed the situation but managed in the process to sow a seed of dissent among the old tribes of Israel who felt that he was favouring his home tribe Judah. This led to another revolt by a “troublemaker” called Sheba, with those men of Israel supporting him (20v1). Was David right to appoint Absalom’s army general, Amasa, in preference to Joab? A rough diamond, but a leader who had loyally supported him. Joab was having none of it anyway and, using his own underhand methods, disposed of Amasa with a dagger (v10) even though Amasa, interestingly, was actually a relative of Joab. In chapter 21 we realise that David was getting older and when (ch21v150 David led a skirmish against the Philistines he became exhausted and his life was only saved by Abishai who came to his rescue. David was made to promise not to join the warriors again in battle.

DAVID NEVER COMPLETELY LOST HIS WAY
2 Samuel draws to a close. The death of David is recounted at the beginning of the next book of the Bible, 1 Kings. In chapter 22 we have David’s magnificent song of praise which highlighted the secrets of his glory years, when he took refuge in the Lord (v3). In his distress, calling to Him (v7), keeping His ways (v22), being faithful (v26) and humble (v28), knowing the strength of God (v30) as well as his kindness (v51). Praise was never far from David’s lips (v50) and in his last words he told how the Spirit of The Lord spoke through him (23v2). The listing of David’s mighty men in chapter 23 reads like a boys own book of heroes and the 37 warriors achieved magnificent feats. Are there any mighty men in God’s kingdom here today?
David’s kingship comes to a limp end when he wrongly calls for a census of fighting men (ch24) and brings trouble on the country. This was another poor judgement from David and what a contrast to the dynamic leader of the early years. To David’s credit he still knew the most important thing of all (v10) that the only answer to a bad conscience is heartfelt confession of his sins. He knew (v24) that he would not sacrifice to the Lord his God burnt offerings that cost him nothing. So, 2 Samuel ends with David building an altar to the Lord and sacrificing burnt and fellowship offerings (v25). The man with the kings anointing, the warrior and worshipper, never completely lost his way or his relationship with God, always remaining “a man after God’s heart”. I cannot remember any time that David consciously disobeyed the Lord (like Saul). The times he got into trouble were when he did not enquire of Him in the first place. When he did fall he was always humble, accepted any just consequences, and was quick to confess his sins. David had a tremendous faith in God’s power to defeat his enemies before him and there was no mention of idol worship during his reign. He was a lover of God, an uninhibited worshipper in God’s presence.
God is still building his kingdom among his people in the world. King Jesus, from David’s house, is the king of kings. Jesus taught us to pray, may your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.