Good morning class!
Question of the Day: Is there a place that has significance for you and your relationship with God?
This morning we continue in 2 Samuel chapter 2 verse 2. It is important to review the very last sentence of verse 1.
READ: 2 Samuel 2:1-7
David Anointed King Over Judah
2 In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.
The Lord said, “Go up.”
David asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.
When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him.6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”
So at the end of verse 1 God tells David where to go.
What do we know about Hebron?
Do you remember when we first hear about this place?
According to the Jewish virtual library:
states that (Canaanite) Hebron was founded seven years before the Egyptian town of Zoan, i.e. around 1720 BCE, and the ancient (Canaanite and Israelite) city of Hebron was situated at Tel Rumeida. The city's history has been inseparably linked with the , which the Patriarch purchased from Ephron the for 400 silver shekels (), as a family tomb. As recorded in Genesis, the Patriarchs , , and , and the Matriarchs , and , are buried there, and — according to a Jewish tradition — and are also buried there.
Hebron is mentioned 87 times in the Bible, and is the world's oldest Jewish community. Joshua assigned Hebron to Caleb from the tribe of Judah (), who subsequently led his tribe in conquering the city and its environs (). As Joshua 14:15 notes, "the former name of Hebron was Kiryat Arba..."
Following the death of King Saul, God instructed David to go to Hebron, where he was anointed King of Judah (). A little more than 7.5 years later, David was anointed King over all Israel, in Hebron ().
What does Hebron mean?
According to Pro/Con.com, The Hebrew word 'Hebron' is (inter alia) explained as being derived from the Hebrew word for 'friend' ('haver'), a description for the Patriarch Abraham, who was considered to be the friend of God. The Arabic 'Al- Khalil' -- literally 'the friend' -- has a nearly identical derivation, and also refers to the Patriarch Abraham (Ibrahim), whom Muslims similarly describe as the friend of God.
A place. How significant is the place?
Several years ago I had the opportunity to take my paternal grandparents back to Southern California where my grandfather had been born, raised and married. He was being honored at Loma Linda University and was too frail to travel alone, so I took them. While there we visited my great grandparents old home, found the first home my grandparents lived in after marrying, went to the grave sites for my great grandparents, and saw where my grandmother had lived as a young girl. I found that being there on the land was a profound experience for me. Being in the place where they were resting, they, my great grands whom I had never known was moving. To be on the property that they had once lived in, to stand on the same ground that they walked on, work on, lived on, was a moving experience. I felt oddly connected to them in a new way. It made me yearn for heaven. It made me long for the day when I can meet them. When I can talk with them.
I can imagine that for David going to Hebron may have been similar. He knew of God's promise to Abraham. He knew that God had promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation. Now David was sent to the burial place of the Father of the great nation that David was being asked to be rule over. David was being asked to carry on, to continue growing and leading and working with God to fulfill the promise of God. Humbling!
This place has significance.
I also find it interesting that the name of Hebron is friend. Abraham, friend of God, and then David, a man after God's own heart, both connected to this place.
Hebron, a significant place.
So David takes his wives, all his men and their wives and they settle in this significant place and then...
Ok, the woman in me was terribly disappointed in this chapter. Where is the pomp and circumstance? Where are the trumpets, robes, crowns? We have finally gotten to this moment and NOTHING happens, except he is anointed as King of the tribe of Judah. Not even all of Israel! Really!
Why not?
Did they have a huge ceremony and it just wasn't recorded? I don't think it matters. It is significant either way.
If there was pomp and circumstance without recording it says, the pomp and circumstance wasn't important. If there was no pomp and circumstance then it also states that it wasn't important. Perhaps it is even better to state that it is clear the lack of pomp and circumstance is important! Serving as King isn't a position to glorify, but a humbling, act of service.
When Jesus came, it wasn't a King of glory but a humble servant.
Oh I still wish there was some fairy tale writing here, but perhaps the lack there of is more beautiful!
Can you imagine what David must have been tempted to think? Ok, Saul is finally dead, NOW is my time..... what just one tribe?
It doesn't say anything here about his reaction and I am sure he was much more mature and way to humble to have that reaction, but what a temptation.
How many times do we rush ahead of God?
There is a lot of waiting!
So what does David do?
I find his first recorded act as King of Judah to be quite telling about where his heart is.
What is his first recorded act as King?
What does this tell us about David?
I want to close this lesson with several personal question for us.
1. Are you impatient with God fulfilling the calling you believe he has called you to?
2. Are you content without the pomp and circumstance?
3. Do you serve out of a place of humility or a place of self glorification?
4. Do you see the good that others are doing?
5. Do you take the time to say "thank you" and bless those around you who have stepped up and served God?
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