2 Samuel 5.1-10

This Sunday we will be focusing on 2 Samuel 5.1-10. In this passage we see the culmination of David's rise to power. Previously, David had been made King of Judah ----- but not of all of Israel. Instead, there was one of Saul's sons that had been made King of the other tribes. That son was Ishbaal. Ishbaal had been assassinated by some of the captains of his raiding bands [2 Samuel 4]. So, now the 11 other tribes had no king ----- so they came and gave into David's rule. This was done with a great deal of humility where the elders made a covenant with David and anointed David King over Israel [2 Samuel 5.3]. Interestingly, David's first act as the newly anointed King was to take Jerusalem from the Jebusites and make Jerusalem the center of power for the Kingdom of Israel. This move was of huge significance for David and all of Israel. For Jerusalem was not a city that was occupied by any tribe of Israel. By David taking a city that was not in any particular tribes political grip he was making a statement about how he would rule. His rule would not be to favor a particular tribe or family ----- but instead it was to be King for all of Israel.

In considering the significance of Jerusalem at the time of David ----- I was thinking about how significant that city has been on the world stage since that time. Jerusalem has become the place that is the focus of tension for Jewish people and Muslims. But it has also seen tension from Christians with the Crusades. It was also the scene of tension as Jesus paraded into the city on a donkey ----- and a few days later he was crucified on a Roman cross. The shepherd boy David had the city of David for him to shepherd the people of Israel [2 Samuel 5.2]. Jesus now promises us the new Jerusalem that will come down out of heaven from God. The light of this city is the very Lamb of God [Revelation 21.23]. Those will enter into the gates whose names are written in the lamb's book of life [21.27] And Christ says from his throne: "See, I am making all things new" [21.5]. Let us go up to Jerusalem ---- the city of David ----- the very place where victory was claimed by dying on a Roman cross.