Read 2 Samuel 5:1-25
With all threats to his kingdom annulled, all the people of Israel now recognised David as their king. Chapter 5, rather than giving us a continuous narrative gives us a series of snapshots illustrating the establishment of David’s kingdom.
The first section shows those Israelites who had been loyal to Saul coming over to David and accepting David as their king. Their speech gave three reasons for supporting David as their king:
Relationship – ‘we are your flesh and blood’
Leadership – ‘when Saul was king over us you were the one who led Israel’
God’s Promise – ‘the Lord said to you, “you shall shepherd my people Israel and you shall become their ruler”’
It is the last reason that is surely the one that clinches the argument. God had Samuel anoint David as king way back in 1 Samuel 16. And now because of God’s providence and his sovereignty, God’s promise has been made to come to fruition. The writer is telling us that despite all the obstacles put in place by human beings, God’s promises are certain – they will take place. And we see that happening in all its glory with Jesus Christ carrying out perfectly God’s plan and promise of salvation on the cross.
Next we have David’s capture of Jerusalem, which at this time is still occupied by a group of non-Israelites called Jebusites. Their cocky resistance is soon overcome. We are not quite sure how but there is a hint that it was something to do with the water system – soldiers climbing through drainage tunnels perhaps. David then set about rebuilding and improving Jerusalem with the help of resources from the king of neighbouring Tyre with whom he had established good diplomatic relations. David was now getting a reputation beyond the borders of Israel and the narrator tells us that he became more and more powerful – but he also tells us the reason for David’s power. It was because the Lord Almighty was with him (v10). With such success it would be easy for David to start thinking highly of himself and giving himself credit for his achievements. The writer is keen to tell us that it is because of God that David is successful, and we see that David himself is still very humble. Verse 12 says, ‘David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel’.
In the final section we see the reappearance of the old enemy, the Philistines; they had not gone away. David led his army against them, but again we see that he is dependent upon the Lord. Twice (v19 and v23) David enquired of the Lord as to what he should do. The Lord answered David’s prayers; David was obedient to the Lord’s instructions and was successful in repelling the Philistine threat. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever (Revelation 7:12).