2 Samuel 5-7. David is considered by many as Israel’s greatest king. After King Saul died in battle along with his son Jonathan, David unites the tribes and at age 30 becomes king for the next 40 years, until age 70! He captures Jerusalem and calls it “the City of David.” David returns the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. David wants to build the Temple for the Lord but God stops him. That task will be delegated to David’s son, Solomon. David brings a reign of peace that make the building of the Temple possible. God tells Nathan, the prophet, to give a promise to David,
“Now I will make your name great like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed, wicked people will not oppress them anymore.” (7:9,10)
God promises to establish the house of David. “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. (7:13)” We call it the Davidic Covenant. God then gave David rest from his enemies.
David was not perfect but he did show three character habits that stand out in these chapters.
- David sought God’s directions and advice when he went into battle. (5:19)
- David celebrated with his whole being, worshipping God as the source of his success. (6:14)
- David was a man of prayer. Chapter 7 records his prayer that showed a heart of humility. “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? (7:18)”
Seeking God’s plan, celebrating God’s person, and giving God the credit for my achievements are good habits and qualities for us to be building into our lives. Do we measure success by how much God is honored? Do we measure joy by our relationship with God? And am I humble, seeking God’s fame rather than my own? David may well have been the greatest king Israel ever had. Certainly “David” which means “beloved” is a common male name. As we mentioned yesterday, David was able to wait for God to unfold his life’s plan and what a plan it was! That little shepherd boy far exceeded the expectations of his family. May we ponder today those qualities in our lives. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 