"Covenant _________"
2 Samuel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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In the Bible, whenever we see the word “LORD” we need to take notice. “LORD” in all caps (capital-L, capital-O, capital-R, capital-D) is the personal name of the covenant God, Yahweh. The LORD spoke to Abraham. The LORD spoke to Moses at the burning bush. The LORD instructed Joshua in how to take the land.
Pay special attention anytime you see the word L-O-R-D. It means the Covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is at work. He’s doing something, keeping His covenant, holding His people, showing His love from generation to generation.
The Covenant LORD is at work.
If you have your Bible (and I hope you do), please turn with me to 2 Samuel 5. Please keep your Bible open in front of you. We’ll work through this entire chapter this morning, Lord willing. Please follow along with me.
1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ”
3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
Covenant King (vv. 1-4)
Covenant King (vv. 1-4)
At long last, David is anointed king by the tribes of Israel. All of them, not just one.
Years and years before this, the young man David was anointed by Samuel while Saul was still king. And Saul would be king for the next many years.
David was anointed by Samuel years ago, but was “basically anointed to wait,” as one Bible scholar put it.
Then, many years later, we read in 2 Samuel 2:4 “…the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.”
This is the beginning of David’s reign, but only over one tribe, Judah. It’s small, but it’s a start.
Now, in God’s timing we meet David, king of all Israel. Now that Saul and Ish-Bosheth (and Abner) are dead, all the tribes of Israel rally behind David.
The speak of their relationship to him: “We’re your own flesh and blood.”
They comment on his leadership: “You were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.”
And they emphatically highlight the word of the LORD given to David when He said, “YOU will shepherd my people Israel, and YOU will become their ruler.”
This final statement from the elders of Israel to David is significant. It points to David’s divine appointment. David is king because the LORD wants it so.
But it also points further down the road—to the King who will sit on David’s throne forever and ever.
Do you remember when the Magi went to King Herod and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?”
King Herod was nervous that some new king was going to take his kingdom from him. So he asked the chief priests and teachers of the law where the Messiah was to be born, and they come back with this quotation from the prophet Micah:
Matthew 2:6
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
“A ruler who will shepherd” sounds a lot like what the LORD told David, “You will shepherd my people…you will become their ruler.”
Once again, David points us to Jesus, the One who will be born of his line; Jesus, the perfect king.
Verse 3 is key. Look at it with me.
2 Samuel 5:3 “When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.”
A covenant is a solemn, oath-bound relationship sealed in God’s presence.
By entering into this covenant, Israel was committing themselves to David’s rule, just as David was committing himself to be a faithful servant-ruler over the people.
In anointing David as king, the Israelites were confirming the LORD’s earlier anointing. Thus began David’s reign over all Israel that would last for forty years.
David is the covenant king over Israel. Mark that verse in your Bible; it’s an important moment in the history of God’s people.
It marks the end of a long, patient wait for God’s time, and the start of a life-work to which David had been anointed years prior.
And it should—it should—shift our gaze to our king: Jesus, the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Let’s pick back up in 2 Samuel 5. We’ll look at verses 5-9 and then skip down to verses 13-16.
5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
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.” 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 inward.
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.
Covenant Blessing (vv. 5-9, 13-16)
Covenant Blessing (vv. 5-9, 13-16)
David conquers Jerusalem and takes up residence there. But there’s a little bit to get through before David’s all settled in his new digs.
The Jebusites make this cocky wisecrack to David—“You won’t get in here; even the blind and lame can ward you off.”
This is a little Jebusite chutzpah/bravado. They think Jerusalem is untouchable. They taunt the new king. They tell him even the men without eyes and the men who can’t walk could keep him from coming in here.
Nevertheless—all Jebusite assurances aside—David captures the fortress of Zion.
What David says in verse 8 is a little confusing. But it seems to reveal the way David’s men made their way into the city.
Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a complex water system in Jerusalem. It was built to bring water into the city from the Gihon Spring, which was located outside the city. The water shaft might be the way David’s men took the city.
However they took the city, the score is David: 1, Jebusites: 0.
Sitting here today, we’re a long way from the time of David, and an even longer way from the time of Abraham. But the promise and blessing of the LORD to Abraham is finding fulfillment here.
When the LORD promised the land from the Nile to the Euphrates to Abraham’s descendants, He meant land which was occupied by other people.
Among all the promises God made to Abraham, to bless him and his offspring, to give them land, the LORD also detailed some of the peoples Israel would conquer.
18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
And Jebusites.
David overruns the Jebusites and takes possession of the fortress of Zion.
All the taunts from the Jebusites come to nothing. David is unfazed. He turns them back around on the Jebusites after taking their city.
The LORD’s promise of Covenant Blessing to Abraham is proven true. 800 years (plus or minus a few) from Abraham to David does not change the reliability of God’s Word.
Dale Ralph Davis has a great way of putting it: “The LORD’s promises are not stamped with an expiration date written in small print.”
This makes a difference for us today. Christ’s people have to do a lot of patient waiting. But as we read our Bibles and look to the future, we realize and we must remember, the LORD’s promises will all be kept.
The LORD’s promises are firm and His blessing is certain. Neither the passage of time nor the presence of our enemy can negate what the LORD has spoken.
The LORD is blessing David. The LORD is already in the process of blessing David abundantly.
We see this in verses 13-16. David’s family continues to grow. The number of David’s sons indicates David’s strength. Progeny/descendants/family meant a great deal, especially back then. David’s family is growing.
We know some of the names in these verses, and some we don’t. But the familiar names are really familiar, and they speak beyond the time of David’s children.
In Matthew 1, the genealogy of Jesus, we read this:
Matthew 1:6–7 “and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,”
Here, we read about Solomon, among others. This is a signal to us with eyes to see and ears to hear. It’s not just a list of names; this is a list of names leading to Jesus.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all the blessings given to Abraham and David. He is the “amen” to all the promises. The source of all blessing. The culmination of all the good things promised to God’s people.
David is experiencing the blessing of God, no doubt about it. Everyone can see that. Anyone can see it.
But this also shows David’s error. The number of David’s concubines and wives reveals his folly. David is being foolish; he’s making a bad, sinful move. He has taken more concubines, more wives. He already has a whole flock of women, and now there are more.
Among the LORD’s instruction for Israel’s future king, we read this:
Deuteronomy 17:17 “He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”
It’s a bad idea to go against God’s word. This goes for David, and for me, and for you. Don’t follow your heart, the lust of your eyes, the ways of the world. Just don’t. Do things God’s way.
We have to see both good and bad here. The LORD is obviously blessing David (Jerusalem, children). But David is being stupid and sinful.
The LORD has blessed David and will continue to do so. For the sake of the LORD’s people and for the glory of the LORD’s name.
We like David, but we must remember that David is sinful, like all the rest of us. David will inevitably disappoint in some way or another. Even David compromises and mars the kingdom.
The lesson: “The kingdom is only safe in the hands of David’s Descendant who always does what pleases His Father.” -DRD
The Covenant king experiences Covenant Blessing from the LORD.
What’s more, we read:
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.
Covenant Presence (vv. 10-12)
Covenant Presence (vv. 10-12)
It’s one of my favorite themes in the whole Bible. You can trace this theme throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Without this wonderful truth, we would all perish.
We see an instance here, stated clearly. 2 Samuel 5:10 “ because the Lord God Almighty was with him.”
Here, the Covenant God—the LORD—is said to be with David.
The fundamental reason for David’s success is that the LORD is with Him.
David hangs on this truth throughout his life. He famously writes:
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The LORD is establishing David and exalting David’s kingdom. The LORD is with him. And he knows it. He believes it. He trusts it. He’s dependent upon this truth; his life hangs on the LORD being present with him.
I would argue the same is true for us. There’s no use in sharing the good news about Jesus if the LORD isn’t with us. This is why Jesus assures us, at the end of the Great Commission, by saying He’s with us always, to the very end of the age.
If the LORD isn’t with us, we would be unable to do anything. Separate the branches from the vine, and they die. “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” So says Jesus (John 15:5).
We, like David, need the presence of the LORD. David grew more and more powerful because the LORD was with him. That’s the only reason.
Let’s finish the chapter now:
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. 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 to Gezer.
Covenant Protection (vv. 17-25)
Covenant Protection (vv. 17-25)
David knows the LORD has protected him thus far. David’s still alive, all these years and all these confrontations later. Only because the LORD was with him, protecting him.
The LORD protected David from Goliath (an actual, flesh-and-blood giant, not a metaphorical one).
The LORD protected David from Saul who wanted David dead, hunted David down.
The LORD protected David from all the enemies and battles David fought. David, so the song goes, “slayed his tens of thousands”, and is alive to talk all about it.
The Philistines are at it again. They hear David is king and they come in full force to find him. David doesn’t rush head-long into battle with the Philistines, but rather inquires of the LORD, seeks the LORD’s counsel.
And David asks the covenant LORD: Will you deliver them into my hands?
The LORD, the One who has delivered David out of every trouble (2 Samuel 4:9) promises David He will: “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
And so it is. The LORD breaks out against them, as waters break out and sweep away everything in sight (as we’ve seen from Helene and Milton), so the LORD takes care of David’s enemies.
The LORD delivers David, just as He said he would.
The LORD breaks out. That’s a level of protection nothing can mess with. The LORD has broken through David’s enemies like a bursting flood.
“The LORD who breaks out” is protecting David.
And then, we read, the Philistines show up again. They’re either stubborn or stupid. But here they are.
David again inquires of the LORD, and the LORD tells him what to do. This time is a little different than the time before. The LORD directs David to go around behind the Philistines and attack under the sound of the trees.
It may be that the sound of marching was a distinct sound caused by the LORD, a sound that would frighten the Philistines. Or it’s that the sound the trees made was enough cover for David to attack.
The LORD broke out against the Philistines. And now, the LORD goes out in front of David and strikes the Philistines.
David strikes down the Philistines once again, because the LORD is the one protecting him.
The LORD protects David’s kingdom by His guidance. David asks direction from the LORD. The LORD gives different guidance each time, but His guidance is sure.
The LORD protects David’s kingdom by His power. The LORD smashes through the enemy, sweeping them away as in an undertow. And the LORD leads David’s men into battle, going before them; the LORD of hosts enters combat and his people only have to follow.
The LORD’s people have a God who breaks through, a God who fights. “The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”
This points us, as all of this book does, directly to Jesus—the Good Shepherd who defends His sheep and conquers all enemies.
It’s as we sang earlier:
“He'll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast”
Jesus assures of the LORD’s protection:
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
The LORD will protect and keep us, safe and secure. Of this, there is no doubt.
I’m not sure I have to make explicit application here. I’m assuming you could connect the dots as we went along.
Because this isn’t about David. It’s about the LORD—the LORD who is the same LORD today as He was then.
The LORD who blesses us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.
The LORD is the One who protects us, delivering us from all trouble, doing this, most notably by Jesus laying down His life for us: to save from sin and death all who belong to Him by faith.
The LORD is with us—Father, Son, and Spirit—to the very end of the age. Never to leave us or forsake us. He won’t abandon us. Not ever.
Jesus, the King of a new and better covenant, is alive and He reigns forever and ever.
You either stand under His protection, or you stand as His enemy. You will either experience His blessing, or His wrath and condemnation. He’s either with you, or He’s against you.
Turn to Christ, the mediator of a new covenant, sealed in His blood. And experience His blessing, His presence, His protection.
Serve Jesus the King, and Him only.
