DAVID A man after God's own heart

Good morning!
Happy Sabbath!
God is good!

Question of the Day:  What is something you can't wait to do in heaven?

We are continuing our study in 2 Samuel chapter 5.  David has become king. This week we see David embracing some of the perks.  He starting to feel like a king. 

READ:  2 Samuel 5: 6-16

David Conquers Jerusalem

6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites,who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

8 On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[b] inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

In Patriarchs and Prophets Ellen White writes, "As soon as David was established on the throne of Israel he began to seek a more appropriate location for the capital of his realm. Twenty miles from Hebron a place was selected as the future metropolis of the kingdom. Before Joshua had led the armies of Israel over Jordan it had been called Salem. Near this place Abraham had proved his loyalty to God. Eight hundred years before the coronation of David it had been the home of Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. It held a central and elevated position in the country and was protected by an environment of hills. Being on the border between Benjamin and Judah, it was in close proximity to Ephraim and was easy of access to the other tribes.
In order to secure this location the Hebrews must dispossess a remnant of the Canaanites, who held a fortified position on the mountains of Zion and Moriah. This stronghold was called Jebus, and its inhabitants were known as Jebusites. For centuries Jebus had been looked upon as impregnable; but it was besieged and taken by the Hebrews under the command of Joab, who, as the reward of his valor, was made commander-in-chief of the armies of Israel. Jebus now became the national capital, and its heathen name was changed to Jerusalem."

David chose a place that had meaning. This is where Abraham had proved his loyalty to God.  In choosing this location he was also declaring that this kingdom would be a kingdom loyal to God.  It was a place that made logistical sense.  It was a place that brought the Kingdom closer together.  In choosing this location David was declaring this Kingdom as one that was first God's and second that brought all the tribes together. A great location.  But to move in he first had to move out the wickedness of the Jebusites.

Who were they?

This was a group of people who descended from Ham.  They were pagan and did things like child sacrifice.   They were not followers of God. 

Taking hold of this place and taking it away from them literally and symbolically made this place God's.

The Jebusites were putting their strength in the location and the walls, which were nothing for God.

Have you ever felt like the place God is leading you, the place you are supposed to be in is surrounded by walls and filled with people mocking you and your God?

Maybe it is bills mocking you or your financial situation mocking you.

Maybe it is sickness or addiction mocking you.

This past week I had an interaction with someone that shook me.  I realized as the conversation progressed that if I was open about certain aspects of my life, they would quickly judge me, and put me in a box that doesn't accurately fit me.  They would miss the real me! The heart of have for God. So do I hide certain parts of me so they see the real me?  Their judgement, or narrow mindedness was mocking me this week!

Their mocking was telling me that there was no way for me to get in the "real me" box. There was no way I was getting in the walls.... because of who they perceived me to be.

No matter what is mocking you, we serve a God who is THE conqueror.  It doesn't matter what the mocking is.... if we put our trust in God we will walk in! If God is calling you to a place, to a position,  to a ministry, those mocking you and trying to keep you out, will be defeated! 

David put his faith in God and walked in, the Jebusites put their trust in walls and were defeated.

What do you put your faith in?

I know the answer is God, but I want you to stop and think about some things you are personally struggling with.  Are you slinging insults back at the Jebusites or are you sitting outside the wall and thinking there is no way in, or are you moving forward with God by your side?

Do we speak our faith and step forward or do we just speak our faith without action?

What does it look like to have faith in God and trust in His strength?

I will admit I have struggled with verses 11-16. 

David is getting all the trappings of kingship.  His palace is built and amazing things are just brought to him, and gifted to him.  Then he takes more wives and concubines.  I struggle with this section.

I know:  It was the culture - was not God's will -  this is just what kings did.

Especially if you look at this in connection with the next section, I struggle.

READ:  2 Samuel 5:17-25

David Defeats the Philistines

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.[c] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon[d] to Gezer.

We have already talked about this story in our class.  David, asks God what he is supposed to do, and gets detailed directions about how he is to defeat the enemy.  Then when facing the same enemy he doesn't assume the answer, he goes back to God and he tells him to do something completely different.  

What an important lesson for us to learn!  Go to God and ask for his direction, ask for specifics, then when the same problem or enemy arises, as again, the tactic or battle plan may be different.  Just because it is the same foe, in the same location doesn't mean His plan is the same.

So here is where I struggle.  If you look at David and this incredible reliance on God, asking for details and getting it.... why, why, why, all the wives and concubines?

Was it that he didn't ask?

Prophets have been known to go to leaders and tell them what God is asking them to do.

He didn't listen?

When he didn't listen to God in other areas we clearly see the consequences. 

What is the deal here?

There are other great leaders in the bible who all had multiple wives and concubines. 

Is it not important enough to God?

I googled it.... wow the answers you get.  There are all kinds of "reasons" why it was allowed or ignored by God. I didn't find any of them very compelling.  If God could give specific instructions, like go around those trees, why couldn't he have a conversation with David about having one wife?

I don't know all the answers. I do know this.  We know that it isn't God's plan for marriage.  Concubines are not part of God's plan. Yet God still saw David as a man after His own heart.  A man who would serve Him.  A man who would be a great leader and warrior.  

The culture of the day didn't keep God from seeing David.  I'm so thankful for that.

I'm not saying we have free reign to sin and still expect God to be willing to use us.  I am saying, that if we wait for complete cleanliness before we work for him, we won't ever be his servant.  God wants to work with you right now.  No matter how much of your life is in a mess, He wants to come in and start battling with you, for you.  Some of that will be to start cleaning up the mess, to start the transformation of you...let Him him and change will happen.  But there may be things he never gets to because there are other things that He needs you to focus on.  

Those walls he is asking you to enter, He isn't expecting you to first getting everything right.  He just asks for a surrendered life.

David learned to surrender to God and for some unknown reason, the issue of being married to one woman was not the issue God chose to work with him on.  It wasn't the important issue.  

Is it possible that sometimes we get hung up on issues that we think are important and they take away from what God is trying to do with us?

If God is telling you to fight the Philistines and all you are doing is trying to figure out what to do about all your wives, then the Philistines win. 

There are things I don't think we will ever know this side of heaven.

There are questions we will have when we are sitting down with God face to face.

Until then...

1. Go to God and ask him if you should fight or not.

2. Follow His instructions carefully

3. Give Him the glory.

Fight where he is asking you to fight.  Fight how he is asking you to fight.  Give Him all the glory for the victories!

I want to challenge you this week to ask God what you are supposed to fight.  It is time for battle or are there things you should work on first. 

If it is time, how are you to fight.  What is the strategy? Ask for specifics!

Then follow those instructions carefully and when you win, make sure you give Him all the glory!!!!