2 Samuel 4-5
2 Samuel 4-5; Ps 78
The initial chapters of 2 Samuel reveal that David had concern for a reputation of purity as he established his reign over all Israel. But he was not concerned for reputation only; David was a man of great integrity, and knew that—since God had promised him the throne (cf. 1 Sam 16.12)—he need not scheme and assassinate his rivals. Even foreign leadership recognized David’s greatness, which was displayed further by military advance against Israel’s enemies.
On the heels of the assassination of Abner, Ish-bosheth was distraught “and all Israel was dismayed” (4.1). Perhaps this was in part because Abner was of greater prowess than Ish-bosheth (cf. 3.6-11), and the fact that the only other rightful claimant to the throne was Jonathan’s son, Miphibosheth—who had been crippled from childhood (4.4-5). Possibly attempting to secure places for themselves in David’s soon-to-be administration, two men, Baanah and Rechab, leaders of raiding parties in Israel, assassinated Ish-bosheth and brought his head to David in Hebron (4.5-8). As David had responded to the supposed Amalekite who brought him the head of Saul (cf. 2 Sam 1), concerning the assassination of Ish-bosheth he replied, “Should I not require his blood from your hands and wipe you off the earth?” (4.11); he did: “David gave orders to the young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron” (4.12).
When the tribes of Israel gathered to David at Hebron, they surrendered themselves to Judah’s king, saying: “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. Even while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led us out to battle, and brought us back. The LORD also said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel’” (5.1-2). A Psalmist, poetically recounting Israel’s unfaithfulness to the law, reflected upon David’s greatness—even setting his reign as the high-point in national faithfulness. The Psalmist wrote that the LORD “chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; He brought him from tending ewes to be shepherd over His people Jacob—over Israel His inheritance. He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands” (78.70-72). The remainder of 2 Sam 5 shows that the confidence of the northern tribes was not unfounded; David was an aggressive and brilliant military strategist against those foreigners yet dwelling in the Land of Promise:
- David and His men went north from Hebron to secure Jerusalem (vv. 6-12). Jerusalem would come to be known as “the city of David” (v. 9). There, “David became more and more powerful, and the LORD God of hosts was with him” (v. 10). When King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys and built a palace for him, “David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel” (v. 12)
- David responded faithfully against the Philistine raids (vv. 17-25). Noteworthy here is that upon hearing of the threat from the Sea Peoples, “David inquired of the LORD, ‘Should I go to war against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?’” (v. 19). In victory David recognized God’s faithfulness, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me” (v. 20). Yet, the Philistines regrouped and came against David again—but the result was the same and David’s significance grew (vv. 22-25)
Ps 78 is a reminder that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a storyline recounting God’s acts of redemption for Israel, and in Christ. The pinnacle of the former may have been the reign of David over all Israel, inaugurated in 2 Sam 5. One should thus not discount the flow of redemptive history from the exodus (cf. Ps 78.12) to the time of David’s reign (cf. Ps 78.70). The author of the Psalm was concerned that Israel remember God’s acts and teach them to their children—“so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep His commandments. That they would not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not loyal and whose spirit was not faithful to God” (vv. 7-8). Yet Israel’s problem could not be reduced to a need for one generation to teach the next concerning God’s redemptive power; they needed God to give them a new heart—then they could obey and follow His commands. This new situation began with the coming of Jesus Christ, and the sending of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2). On the plains of Moab, Moses prophesied concerning Israel’s future:
“When all these things happen to you—the blessings and curses I have set before you—and you come to your senses while you are in all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, and you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and all your soul by doing everything I am giving you today, then He will restore your fortunes, have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you…The LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and all your soul, so that you will live” (Dt 30.1-3, 6)
Likewise, Paul wrote to the Romans: “For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. His praise is not from men but from God” (2.28-29).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com