31. Hebron Before Jerusalem (Parts 1 & 2) Series

Hebron Before Jerusalem

November 5, 2025

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

2 Samuel 2

God advances His kingdom through Spirit-dependent obedience, patient waiting, and merciful leadership—not through pride, ambition, or personal vendetta. Go will often take us to “Hebron before Jerusalem.” God often builds us in smaller, hidden places before He brings us to public platforms.

Imagine being an astronaut sitting in the pilot’s seat of a space rocket—helmet sealed, oxygen hissing, the cabin trembling as countdown begins. Through the tiny window you can see the launch tower bathed in orange light. Every nerve in your body is ready to explode into motion.

But for now, you wait. You don’t push the throttle; you obey the countdown. All the while in a control room, a hundred engineers monitor gauges, a thousand calculations are synchronizing, and under you in the rocket a million pounds of fuel are straining for release. Then you remember this staggering fact: Nearly 90% of all rocket fuel is spent just getting off the ground.

All that fire and energy—just to lift the vessel from the pad and overcome the pull of gravity.

That’s what Hebron is for David. It’s where God pours most of His energy into forming your foundation before He ever launches your ministry. God has placed David on the training ground of life to not only become the King of Israel, but establish a throne that will one day soon be held by Jesus Messiah.

Hebron wasn’t the destination, it was the next step. It was the waiting, training, and refining—the place where obedience outpaces ambition. David wasn’t wasting time in Hebron; he was fueling for Jerusalem. When God finally gave the green light, he didn’t explode upward in pride—he ascended in purpose.

We in the church need to be discerning of these times to (1) seek God’s direction, (2) embrace God’s timing, and (3) recognize and resist the spirit of rivalry that divides God’s people—both then and now.

For David, this has been a long time coming. He was anointed King years ago by the Prophet Samuel and since then he has been in a crucible of learning

• From anointed as king to the king’s harpist

• From playing the harp to running from spears

• From running from spears to resisting opportunity to a short cut by killing the king

He has been betrayed, on the run, and even escaped his own country to the land of Philistines.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Every turn was a test by God.

• There is no testimony without the test

• Ziklag burned; David strengthens himself in the LORD (1 Sam 30:6).

• Saul falls at Gilboa; David laments rather than gloats (2 Sam 1).

• Now: What’s next for David? Will he seize power or seek the Lord?

1.) David Seeks & Settles in Hebron (2:1–4a)

After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. (2 Samuel 2:1–4a)

Seek God’s Direction — Dependence, Not Presumption. After victory and vindication, David doesn’t assume the next step—he inquires of the LORD, not once but twice. True leadership begins with asking, not assuming. Every great movement of God starts with a man or woman on their knees.

Follow God’s Placement — Specific Guidance, Not Generic Calling. God doesn’t say, “Go anywhere you like.” He names a place—Hebron, the city of Abraham’s altar and Caleb’s inheritance. It was a Levitical city, a refuge and place of worship. When God leads, He doesn’t deal in vague inspiration but precise instruction.

Pursue God’s Presence — Fellowship Before Authority. The name Hebron means “fellowship” or “association.” Before God gives David a throne, He gives him communion. Before public authority comes private intimacy. The King of Jerusalem must first be the man of Hebron—trained in obscurity, shaped by worship, and prepared in the presence.

And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9)

Prophetic Picture: Before the King of Kings reigns in Jerusalem (Zech. 14:9), His people must be prepared in Hebron—hidden seasons of fellowship and refining. God is calling His Church back to Hebron: away from platforms, into prayer; away from promotion, into presence. Don’t despise Hebron seasons. The place of obscurity is often where the Spirit forges the heart of a king.