2 Samuel 6:12

2 Samuel 6:12 says, And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.  Though David had at first not brought the Ark into Jerusalem but had left it with Obededom, eventually he was told that the LORD had blessed Obededom and all his house because of the Ark, so he brought it on to Jerusalem.  We can either fear or ignore the gospel and never enjoy the salvation it brings , or we can welcome it into our heart and receive its blessings.  Verse thirteen adds, And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.  After those carrying the Ark had only gone six paces, David offered a sacrifice to God.  This time, instead of carrying the Ark in a cart as they had been doing before, it was carried on their shoulders as God had prescribed.  We must present the gospel as God intends for it to be presented under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and should never present it with anything less than reverence for God.  Verse fourteen continues, And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.  We are told that David dance before the LORD while wearing a linen ephod.  We find that these early people of God often worshipped with music and even dancing, so if we don't sing and even dance or move in worshipping God, we certainly shouldn't look down on those who do, if it is done to honor God and not just for show.  Verse fifteen concludes, So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.  This continues to tell us that not only David, but all the people of Israel brought the Ark to Jerusalem with shouting and the playing of trumpets.  We need to get excited about worshipping God again today.  Verse sixteen states, And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.  When Michal saw David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him. Some people today may despise us if we get excited about worshipping God because of their own attitude about worship.  Verse seventeen adds, And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.  The Ark was placed in a tabernacle that David had made for it, and burnt and sacrifice offerings were offered to God.  Our worship services today should be an offering to God for our thankfulness for His gift of salvation,  and if we bring nothing else, we should present our life to Him as a living sacrifice.   Verse eighteen continues, And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.  After the sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of God.  When we worship today, and really even in our everyday life no matter what we are doing, we should do it in the name of God if we are indeed followers of Christ.  Verse nineteen concludes, And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.  David fed the people before they left for their own homes.  When we gather together to worship God today, we should go home spiritually filled.  Verse twenty says, Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!   As David returned to bless his household, he was met by Michal who made her displeasure with him known.  Matthew Henry says it was her pride that made her express her displeasure with David,.  He had removed his royal robes and danced as a common man among the people, and Michal thought he thereby degraded his position.  We should never allow other people's opinion cause us to not sincerely worship God as He moves us to do, nor should we judge other people's sincere worship because we find it undignified.  Verse twenty-one adds, And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.  David told Michal that God had anointed him king before her father, and he said he would therefore worship Him. We need to remember that we are saved by the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross, and we should never allow anyone to control our sincere worship of God.  Verse twenty-two continues, And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.  David said that he would be even more vile, or look on himself as but a sinner before God, if he was led to in worshipping God. We should never look down on others because of how they worship God as long as they are sincere in their worship of God, nor should we be worried about how others view our worshipping God.  We can become too prideful in the way we choose to worship and feel that those who worship differently should be looked down on.  Verse twenty-three concludes, Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. Because of her anger at David for his worshipping God as he did, Michal never had any children.  We may miss blessings from God because we are putting down others who are joyously worshipping God.

2 Samuel 6:1

2 Samuel 6:1 says, Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.  David gathered thirty thousand chosen men of Israel for a purpose as we shall see. Verse two adds, And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.  David had gathered them to go and return the Ark of God to Jerusalem.  As Matthew Henry points out, though the Ark had once been a very visible, important part of God's leadership of Israel, after its return to Israel it had only been mentioned one time.  As Christians, the gospel is the most important message we have, and we should never leave it out of our message to the world today.  Verse three continues, And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.  There was great respect shown in transporting the Ark.  Ir was placed in a new cart, one that had been used before nor contaminated by anything.  We need to deliver the gospel just as undiluted to the world today.  Still, this was not the way God had ordained that the Ark be carried since it was to be borne on the shoulders and not in a cart.  He also points out that even though the Philistines had not been punished for returning the Ark to Israel in a cart, that David should have known God's law concerning its transport, and the Philistines did not.  When we share the gospel, we to make sure that we are sharing it as God intends, which is to bring people to salvation and nothing more or less.  Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the cart.  The Ark had been housed with them since its return to Israel so now they were taking charge of its transportation.  Still it shouldn't have been hidden away all these years, just as we as Christians are not to hide away the gospel today.  Verse four concludes, And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.  We are just told again of the removal of the Ark from Abinadab's house and its accompaniment by his sons, with Ahio going ahead of the Ark.  Verse five states, And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.  The people of Isreal played music on the way to Jerusalem with the Ark, and I believe that music is still an important part of our worship services today.  Matthew Henry says some people think this is when David wrote the sixty-eigth Psalm.  Verse six adds, And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.  On their journey, when the ark shook, Uzzah put his hand on it to steady it. He had been around the Ark for a long time, and it may be that it had lost some of the holiness that it represented to him.  We can never allow the Gospel to become so ordinary to us that we allow it to lose its holiness.  Verse seven continues, And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.  We are told that God was angry with Uzzah and struck him dead there by the Ark.  We might view what Uzzah was doing as a good thing, but what he did violated God's law.  If we violate God's law, we should expect there to be consequences, even if we have everlasting salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.  We therefore should make sure that we never pervert the Gospel by making it just an ordinary thing and not God's plan for salvation.  Verse seven declares, And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.  David was displeased with God.  Nothing is said about him going to God for help in understanding why Uzzah had been struck down,  but only that he was angry with God.  If something that we consider bad happens as we are presenting the gospel, we need to first make sure that we are presenting it in accordance with God's law and then we should go to God and ask Him what we have done wrong.  We will never be justified in getting angry with God.  Verse nine continues, And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?  Instead of asking God for guidance, David became afraid of God and asked how the Ark would ever come to him.  Even if things go wrong when we are attempting to worship God, we should never become afraid of Him, but should simply go to Him in prayer for understanding instead.  Verse ten declares, So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.  David would not bring the Ark of the LORD to himself in Jerusalem, but sent it to the house of Obededom instead.  We must never allow the fear of God to cause us to turn aside from the Gospel.  David still had not sought God's guidance in this matter, which we should always do if we have questions or fears about our journey with Christ today.  Verse eleven continues, And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.  The Ark remained in the house of Obededom for three months and God blessed him.  If we abide in God's word today he will bless us spiritually if not materially. 

2 Samuel 5:17

2 Samuel 5:17 says, But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.  After the Philistines heard that David had been made king, they came seeking him, and not to congratulate him.  They were ready to kill him since he was now the leader of all Israel.  If we make a stand for God, even if we aren't an important part of God's kingdom, Satan will still try to destroy us.  Verse eighteen adds, The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  Verse nineteen adds, And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.  David did not just go against the Philistines without first asking God if he should and if he would be successful.  God answered yes to both questions, but I really believe that he should have stopped at the first question, and so should we.  If God tells us to do something, we should do it without being assured of success in this lifetime.  Verse twenty adds, And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.   When David fought the Philistines and defeated them, he gave all the credit to God.  He did not brag about his own abilities.   As followers of Christ when we have success of any kind in our life, we should always give God the credit and I believe that we should always be wary of those who exalt themselves.  Verse twenty-one continues, And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.  The Philistines had left their images, or idols, behind, and David and his men burned them.  We need to get rid of all the idols we may have in our life if we are to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse twenty-two states, And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  After the initial defeat the Philistines returned ready to fight once more.  Some things that we may believe we have defeated in life may come back ready to battle us again.  Verse twenty-three adds, And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.  This time when David asked God if he should go up against the Philistines, God said no.  David was to go behind them and wait.  We may not always be led to directly confront those who we are at war with who stand against God, but may be told to wait until God acts.  Verse twenty-four continues, And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. but to come up at them from behind instead.  Matthew Henry says that God was telling David that He Himself would defeat the Philistines, and that David would act only when God gave the signal.  At times God may defeat our enemies without our even realizing it.  Verse twenty-five concludes, And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.  David did as God told him to do and defeated the Philistines.  If we do as God directs us to do, we will always be successful spiritually, which is all that really matters. 

2 Samuel 5:6

2 Samuel 5:6 says, And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.  When David and his men went to Jerusalem, the Jebusites who lived there denied them entry unless the took away the lame and the blind, which David had referred to their gods as.  They were basically saying that their gods were more powerful than David and his God.  Some people still believe that what they worship or believe is more powerful than GOD.  Verse seven adds, Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.  Then, we are told, in spite of the boast of the Jebusites, David took the strong hold of Zion, which is the city of David.  I don't believe it was just by his power that David did this, but by the power of God.  What God has given us, which is everlasting life with Him, the world can never take away from us. Verse eight continues, And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.  David offered to make anyone who slew the Jebusites and the blind and lame which he hated with his soul referring to the idols that he would make them a chief and captain, and the people responded by saying the blind and lame would not come into the house.  Matthew Henry says it is possible that they put the blind and lame on the wall as lookouts to show their derision for David and his power.  Whatever the reason, the Jebusites said David could not come in unless he killed them.  We should not be surprised when people mock Christians today believing that our God is powerless to help us.  Verse nine states,  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.  David and his men took the fort, and he lived there.  He called Jerusalem the City of David and built all around it.  We as followers of Christ do not have a place here on earth that is really our home but have an everlasting home in heaven.  Verse ten adds, And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.  We are told that David grew great and that the LORD God of hosts was with him, but I believe this is reversed.  The LORD God of hosts was with him, so David grew great.  As Christians, we don't grow great and then have God with us, but any greatness we may have is because God is with us to empower us.  Verse eleven states, And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.  Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and carpenters, and they built David a house.  Matthew Henry says that the Israelites were not much experienced at buildin so this was a real blessing, and he adds that the palace was no less grand for having been built by strangers.  We as non Jews are called on to build the church, God's house or community here on earth, and it is none the worse for the fact that we are strangers to the Jewish religion.  Verse twelve adds, And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. David, who had years before been ordained as king of Israel by Samuel under the leadership of God finally understood that he was king of Israel.  Hopefully, when God calls us to a position of service it will not take us years to understand this.  Verse thirteen says, And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.  Of course, after being told that God had anointed him to be king, David acted outside of His will of God.  He took more wives and concubines and had more sons and daughters, yet he was called a man after God's own heart.  We may be people of great faith and still not always live according to God's law but that doesn't make it acceptable if we do.  Verse fourteen adds, And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem;  Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,  Verse fifteen continues, Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,  Verse sixteen concludes, And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.  We are told the names ten more of David's sons, one of whom was Solomon.  Many of his sons we know little about, but we do about Solomon.  Being the child of a person of great faith doesn't ensure that we will also be well known or even a person of faith. 

2 Samuel 5:1

2 Samuel 5:1 adds, Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.  All the tribes of Israel sent representatives to David in Hebron.  If we are fighting with our fellow followers of Christ, we need to pray that someone, if not we ourselves, will attempt to get together with those we have been fighting with and call for peace.  Being united as Christians is the best way to glorify God. They reminded David that they were all a part of the same family of God.  We may need to be reminded of that today as well, but I don't believe that David had ever forgotten it.  He had never initiated the battles but had actually done all he could to avoid them.  Verse two adds,  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.  These leaders of Israel acknowledged that even when Saul was king, David had successfully led the fight against the enemies of Israel.   Instead of fighting, we should acknowledge the good that our fellow believers that we might be fighting with have done for God's kingdom.  Verse three continues, So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.  All the elders of Israel came together to David and made a league, or covenant, with him and anointed him as king of all of Israel.  Of course, God through Samuel had already done this long before now, but the people of Israel were finally catching up with God's will, we might say.  Too often, we run behind God's will because we are so caught up in our own plans that we may even attribute to God.   Just because we think we are doing what God wants, we had better be certain that we are not just following our own understanding instead of His.  Verse four states, David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.  David was no longer the youth who had killed Goliath but was now thirty years old, and he ruled as king of Israel for forty years.  We may be called early to a position of service in God's kingdom and not immediately respond to the call, but we need to pray that we will one day and the sooner we do the better.  I believe that some calls, like the call into the ministry or to preach is a lifelong call, no matter if we fall badly along the way.  Verse five adds, In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. For seven and a half years David ruled at Hebron over just the house of Judah and then for thirty-three years he ruled over all of Israel at Jerusalem. Ruling over all of Israel was God's plan for David when he first anointed him king, but it took the people of Israel, and maybe even David himself, a long time to reach that point.  We need to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit so that we do not waste time getting to where God wants us to be.  

2 Samuel 4:9

2 Samuel 4:9 says, And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,   David began to speak to Rechab and Baanah under the authority of God, or at least swearing by His name and citing Him as his authority.   I really am not sure that we should ever swear by God to justify what we have done or about to do without first praying about it.  God may have revealed to David what to do, but we are not told this.  Verse ten adds, When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:  What David told them was probably not what they wanted to hear.  He said that when one brought him news about Saul’s death, claiming to have mercifully killed him and expecting a reward, that David took hold of him instead.  People may still expect us to reward them for doing something that they believe will benefit us, whether it is God's will that it be done or not.  Verse eleven adds, How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?  David said if he had taken hold of, or killed, the person bringing him news about Saul’s death and his involvement in it, how much more should he demand their blood, or death, for killing Ishbosheth.  David called Ishbosheth a righteous man whom they killed while he was in his bed.  Whether or not Ishbosheth was righteous, he had been anointed king of Israel, so he certainly didn't deserve to die the way he did.  If we destroy someone that we pronounce an enemy of God looking for personal reward, we had best first make sure that we are doing what God wants us to do.  Verse twelve concludes, And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.  David had his troops kill these two, cut off their hands and feet, and put their bodies on public display.  Though this would certainly tend to keep others from acting on their own to do something that they thought would please David and get themselves some sort of reward,  I don't believe that we should make a public display of those who may have died in the battle against evil today.  If they die in self-righteousness and without accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, we have failed in our calling to reach them for God and we should be saddened instead of rejoicing or celebrating.  David had the head of Ishbosheth buried in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.  Abner and Ishbosheth may have opposed David in life, but he honored them in death.  At times, we may have other Christians oppose us in life, and these were all a part of God's Chosen People, but that doesn't mean that we are to want their death, and we should never dishonor them when they die.  I personally believe this would have included Rechab and Baanah.  Of course, times were much different then, but God was and is the same. 

2 Samuel 4:1

2 Samuel 4:1 says, And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.  When Saul’s son Ishbosheth, who had been appointed king by Abner, heard that Abner was dead, he was very afraid.   Abner had been the power behind the throne, and now he was gone.  People may be perfectly willing to assume the role of a leader until they are left alone and actually have to rule by their own power.  Verse two adds, And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerotmayhite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:  Still only referred to as Saul’s son, Ishbosheth had two captains with him still, so at this point he didn't appear to be without help.  Verse three continues, And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)   We should not be surprised if those who have been serving a particular individual whom they put their faith in eventually prove to be more devoted to that individual than to God and those that they are supposed to serve, as these two would prove to be. Verse four concludes, And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.  Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who was five years old and lame.  His nurse took him and fled, likely fearing that he would be a target of execution now that there was little protection.  It then says that in the nurses haste to flee, that Mephibosheth fell and he became lame.  Matthew Henry points out that even though he was the rightful heir to the throne under man's law of succession and was being well cared for by a nurse, he was not immune to a lifelong disability, so we should thank God for our healthy children if we are blessed enough to have them.  Verse five states, And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.  The two captains who remained came around about noon and found Ishbosheth still in bed.  Matthew Henry points out that instead of being up and taking charge at this time as a king should, Ishbosheth was still in bed at noon.  Those who have been relying on others to keep them in power may suddenly lose all heart once that person or those people are gone, but as Christians we can be sure that our source of power, God Himself, will never leave us powerless.  The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers us always in this life.  Verse six adds, And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.  Rechab and Baanah came into Ishbosheth`s house under the presence of getting some wheat and killed him instead.  It seems they were more loyal to Abner than they were to Ishbosheth and they thought they would gain favor with David by doing this.  We should never do things for self-glory and we certainly shouldn't do things without first seeking God's guidance in the matter.  Verse six continues, For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.  Rechab and Baanah killed Ishbosheth as he lay in the bed and beheaded him.  They didn't even give him a chance to defend himself.  We may still be ambushed by those who we think to be friends if it somehow serves our purpose, but we must never be the one doing the betraying.  Verse eight concludes, And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.  They brought Ishbosheth's head to David, thinking this would bring them honor from David.  They assumed David would be pleased, but he had been doing all he could to prevent killing Saul or his descendants.  We may do things that we think are going to bring us honor with the one we are doing it for that they never wanted done in the first place, especially if they are done without consulting God or those we are supposedly doing them for.