The Latter Years Of King David: Victories, Lust, Betrayal, & Hope

"How the mighty have fallen!"

David cried out in tears and bitter pain and sorrow, as he must’ve looked upon the bodies of Saul and his son Jonathan. David composed a great song of regret and sorrow at the loss of these great men, despite the fact that David had been so severely persecuted and hated by Saul.

David begins by ruling from a city called Hebron. Then he slowly gains control of the tribe of Judah’s land. Slowly he is fighting off the remnants of Saul’s forces, led by Abner. But Abner betrayed the false king, a descendant of Saul, turned to help David, but was later killed by one of David's men.

Eventually David won control of the entire nation of Israel. And David’s first act as King was to conquer the city of Jerusalem, which would become the capital of Israel. To this very day, Jerusalem remains the capital of Israel.

From 2nd Samuel chapter 5:6-7,9-10, “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.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David. 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. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.”

Finally, at last, after all that nonsense, all the trouble! All the chaos! After having to hide in caves, and dodge javelins being thrown at him, and battles and betrayals, finally, David becomes king, as he was meant to be, the leader of the nation of Israel, the leader of God’s special nation.

God’s will is done. And it’s done in our lives. But we have to remind ourselves that it often takes time, and patience, and trusting in God day in and day out, having a rock solid faith that can’t be shaken.

Do you have that faith in your life? Not only on the good days, but when your upset, hurting, struggling, do you simply trust and have a faith in God, that no matter what, no matter how your emotions are right now, God remains with you, and you can trust Him.

We have to walk through the pain. But we can have a solid faith, an anchor in the storm, that keeps us steady, calm, firm, unmovable, brave, bold, courageous.

David has learned so much during his many trials. He’s been kept humble. He knows he must seek the Lord in everything he does. Every decision, big and small must be connected to God.

As soon as David is named King in Zion, the Philistines hear about it, and they are very worried. So they come and prepare for battle against Israel.

It says in 2nd Samuel 5:18-20, 22-25, "Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 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.” So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them.

Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 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. 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.” So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines…”

So David is victorious in once again driving back and defeating the enemy of Israel.

Next we see David bring the ark of the covenant, which contains the ten commandments given by God, into Jerusalem. And David dances with all his might before the ark as they bring the ark into the city, and it’s an amazingly beautiful scene of David’s political victory, but also his spiritual victory. God has done it all, he is victorious and they celebrate by bringing the ark into the new capital city.

It says in 2nd Samuel chapter 6:16-23 “As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.