By Guerin Tueno, ministry student at St Theos.
My parents often remind me that when I was growing up I loved to do jigsaws. To fit the pieces together. To make a picture emerge. The stories of the Old Testament are bit like a jigsaw. There are some very important pieces – like God’s promise to David in last week’s reading But there are some like today’s reading which are harder!
We often wonder what to make of them. David and his army defeated lots of nations These are David’s officials. This is David being kind to Jonathan’s son. There’s a temptation just to moralise story: David was kind – we should be kind too. David had administrators – its good to have administrators. David killed lots of enemies – we should kill our enemies too. Hang on – that doesn’t sound right...
So what are we to do with passages like today’s?
This story in Samuel is part of a bigger story – we need to keep the bird’s eye view in mind when we view each piece. So what does this passage actually tell us?
Well in the first place we get a list of enemies David defeated. To the West he subdued the Philistines – the nations that Saul failed to overthrow. To the East he defeated the Moabites and the Ammonites. To the South he defeated the Edomites. To the north he defeated the Arameans. On each border, David has won peace. Other nations send tribute to him – goods and money. to show who’s the dominant superpower. Under David, Israel’s old enemies were defeated and disarmed. Other countries sought friendship and alliances with Israel.
Last week in chapter 7 we heard how God promised David and Israel rest from all their enemies. Today we hear about how that comes true.
The sign of David’s empire, and his ability is provide justice and rest is seen in the recording of his officials. Joab’s in charge of the army. Jehoshaphat is the court recorder. Zadok and Ahimlech are priests. Seraiah is the secretary. This is how God’s promise was realised, as v15 says, "David administered justice and equity to all his people." Do you hear the refrain about David’s victories in 8:13? "And the Lord gave David victory wherever he went."
For all his abilities, David didn’t do this. He might be King, but God really wears the crown. David didn’t build his kingdom. God did – David used the sword, but God gave the victory. Without God, David could have swung the sword around as much as he liked – but it wouldn’t have won the day. David might be King – but God’s in charge.
God rewarded David’s faithfulness to him, by building his kingdom. Giving his people rest from their enemies. Or to put it another way, David might wear the crown, but God wears the pants.
The defeat of Israel and Judah that we read of later in the book of 2 Kings happened not because God was weak, but because he judged them for their sins for their spiritual adultery (following other gods), and for their injustice. He was able to save and them and exalt them under David. And he can choose to punish if them if they deserve it.
I hope from the time this year we’ve spent reading Samuel that we see that God is faithful. Faithful to his promises – he keeps his word.
And while Israel was sent into exile for her sins, God eventually brings them back. God never forgets his people. His love never runs out.
David’s victories came about because he obeyed God. He sought to please God, and to rule with justice. By David and the people’s actions, God was able to bless them, give them all the good things he’d promised.
Well that’s well and good for David and Israel. But what about us – does faithfully following God today mean that God would be with us if we got out guns and knives to grab surrounding properties to enlarge the car park, or to double the church hall? I don’t think so.
And I don’t think its what God wants...
Part of the problem is that in David’s time God’s people were one racial group, and living in one geographic region. Today, God’s people are the church, and we’re not limited to one country. In fact, despite what the media often says, we don’t have a Holy Land, a special bit of dirt. Well not yet anyway.
Listen to what the author of Hebrews says: "Abraham looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them."
John helps us see more of this in Rev 21, when he looks ahead to the great day when God will take his people to their real home. Through our obedience now, God may well bless our churches, or punish the church when we forget God, but our real home, our real rest, is yet to come.
The example of David’s victories, while a real example of God’s keeping his promises is just a shadow of the country to come. But it is coming. And on that day Jesus – David’s greater Son, our Saviour will triumph ultimately, finally and totally over all the enemies of God and God’s people.
In Revelation 19 John gives a picture of Jesus as the great King, who defeats all God’s enemies so that they never rise again. He wins true ultimate rest and peace for his people.
I think God has recorded 2 Samuel 8 for us to remind us of his faithfulness, and to remind us of the day when Jesus will defeat all God’s enemies and give his people rest.
Well what about chapter 9? Is it there simply because it happened?
No it’s more than simply that. David and Jonathan, Saul’s son, were great friends. They promised that even though Saul was trying to kill David, They wouldn’t turn on each other. There would be friendship between David and Jonathan’s families.
Even though he was the crown prince, Jonathan knew that God’s plan was for David to be King, not him. And David didn’t see Jonathan as a threat to becoming King.
Sadly, despite being a suitable monarch himself, and not sinning like his dad did, Jonathan died in battle alongside Saul. Israel lost a leader, who like David, seems to have been a man after God’s heart too. And in chapter 8 we find David remembering his promises to Jonathan.
He finds out about poor Mephibosheth, and is true to his word. Its a bit odd what he does - chapter 8 was about David getting rid of his enemies.
If I were David, the grandson of Saul would seem like a potential enemy. At the start of Kings, there’s conflict about who’ll succeed David as King. If I were David, I’d knock this guy out now before any fight could take place. But instead David takes him into his own family. He treats him like one of his own sons.
I don’t think David is simply being cunning and keeping his friends close, and his enemies closer. No – this is about David showing love and undeserved kindness to Mephibosheth.
David is shown here as a man of his word. Like the God he follows, David is someone who keeps his promises, who is faithful to his covenant.
This is brilliant example of David at his best. He takes pity on this crippled man who could be a potential enemy because he keeps his word to Jonathan. I think this is here to show give us an example of David living as a man after God’s own heart.
We need to see this about David, because the next few weeks you’ll hear about David getting it wrong. Sleeping with Bathsheba. Killing her husband Uriah. And then we see the terrible price David and Israel paid for this when his own Son Absalom attempted to overthrow him as King.
Back in today’s reading, David even breaks the custom he established when he took the city of Jerusalem. The Jebusites said that even their blind and lame would stop David from entering their city. However, David wins. And so the tradition springs up that the blind and the lame will not enter the house.
But what about Mephibosheth? He’s lame. 2 Samuel 9 calls him a cripple. And yet, he not only enters the city, but comes into David’s own house. Eats at David’s table. Always.
Do you know what traditionally happened to family members of a deposed monarchy? (finger across neck and noise thing) Just to make sure they wouldn’t come back. Like the Socialist revolutionaries did with the Russian royal family.
David is really breaking with multiple traditions here. He is a man of great kindness – almost to the point of potentially risking his family’s rule. But he trusts God’s words in chapter seven. That God would give him a royal dynasty. A throne that would last forever. God made David king. God defeated David’s enemies. And David trusts God to keep his new promises.
He really is a man after God’s own heart.
I don’t think this is a story to make us keep our promises. Rather its a reflection of David’s trust in God, about David’s character.
And the message of today’s reading from 2 Samuel is that God as king keeps his promises.
Today we saw David reaping the benefits of his faith and obedience. We saw him invite what seemed like potential political suicide with Mephy, because he trusted God’s promises. God promised David and Israel rest from all their enemies. He delivered. God has shown himself to be the real King, the real power, over the human king.
He promised David kingship. He delivered. He promised Jesus. And Jesus came. He took upon himself the price for our broken relationship with God. And God has promised Jesus is coming back. Will you be on the side of God’s friends or foes? You can change sides – accept Jesus’ invitation. God keeps his promises – Jesus will return as judge and king.
And like David, we have the call to live lives of trust in God’s promises. David swore by God to show love to Jonathan. And that is what he did – even if it seemed counter to popular wisdom. We too are called to show faithful love for God in our lives. Even when it looks costly or foolish. Jesus said that who ever would follow him, must take up their own cross and follow him daily. Let me tell you I’m very good at living for myself. I can very easily spend all my time pursuing my interests. Only spending money on my hobbies. Not praying for others, not reading the Bible, listening to God.
Being selfish in my marriage with Emma, forgetting that Paul tells me to love her in such a way was to mirror Jesus’ offering his life for the church.
I’m very good at forgetting that God is king. Living as though I’m the king – as the most important piece of the puzzle of life But following Jesus means dying to myself. It means loving God with all my heart, mind and strength. Our society tells us to live as the centre of our own universes. We become the centre of gravity. But to be a Christian means living with God at the centre.
This part of 2 Samuel is really about God as the king, giving David the human king what he promised. It shows us David trusting God’s kingship, caring for Mephibosheth, not seeing him as a threat to what God gave him.
What does it mean for us for God to be King today?
I’d like to hear from you now, about how this God being king affects how you live, and then I’ll pray for us. You might like to break into groups to discuss it, and then I’ll ask you to share with us.
For more sermons from thissource go to www.sttheos.org.au
