David Ascends the Throne
(The challenges to the throne; capture of Jerusalem; permanence of David's throne; 2 Samuel 2-8)

Just for Starters:

A time of transition, especially between those who had ruled and those who are about to rule, is at best a time of anxiety and at worse a time of incredible bloodshed. History of mankind is littered with blood during times of transition from one government to another. There are winners and losers. No one wants to be a loser, a has-been, a never-to-be-again. Everyone wants to be a winner, an always-will-be an always-on-top!!

But when it comes to God's people, and those who will lead them, it is never a matter of merit or personal glory --- only God's powerful and merciful will. It just doesn't matter what is on our agenda---only His. David had it right...

"Who is he, this King of Glory?
The Lord Almighty---
He is King of Glory!"Psalms 24:10

What's the story?

After some time, David asks the Lord if he should go to one of the Judean towns. God tells him to go to Hebron, and there David is crowned King of Judah.

In the meantime, Abner, commander of Saul's army, takes the last remaining son of Saul, Ish-Bosheth, and makes him King over Israel. Thus, it is to be war between the house of David and the house of Saul over the throne of Israel.

Eventually Abner's forces meet up with Joab's (commander over David's men) forces and a small but stinging battle erupts. David's men win, losing only 19 men while Abner, representing the house of Saul, loses 360 men. From there the war drags on over many years, until eventually, David becomes stronger while Saul's house weakens.

In due time, Abner concedes that the kingdom belongs to David and goes to make peace with him. Joab returns from a raid and hears that Abner has been to see David. Joab is enraged to find out that David has let Abner go in peace and pursues Abner, finds him and kills him. David rebukes Joab for the murder of Abner, proclaims his innocence in the matter to the people and mourns for the death of his one-time enemy, Abner.

Ish-Bosheth, last son of Saul, is murdered by two of his own men, leaders of a band of men. They take the head of Ish-Bosheth to David thinking it will bring them cheers and praise from the new king, but nothing can be further from the truth. David, angered at the cold-blooded murder of another innocent man, has the two put to death.

In time, all Israel comes to recognize, accept and anoint David as king over all Israel. Soon David decides to attack the Jebusites living in Jerusalem in order to make it the city from where he will reign. He does defeat the Jebusites, conquers Jerusalem, and renames it the city of David.

The Philistines, David's former friends and foes, hear of David's coronation as king of Israel and make plans to attack and conquer Israel. But, unlike Saul, God is with David, and the Philistines lose terribly. David then decides to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It had previously been staying at the house of Abinadab. After some hardship (Abinadab losing a son among those hardships), the ark of God comes to rest in Jerusalem with much pomp and circumstance.

David's conscience bothers him after a while over the fact that while he lives in a palace, the Ark of God resides in a tent. So David decides to build a house for it. It's then that Nathan, a local prophet of God, delivers a message from God telling him it is not for David to build him a house but for one of David's offspring. Instead God will build a house for David -- a house and a kingdom that will last forever!!! David is overwhelmed and responds with a prayer of praise and exaltation.

Just the Facts:

* David is anointed king over Judah after the death of Saul.
* Abner, Saul's commander of the army, makes Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, king over the rest of Israel.
* War breaks out between the house of Saul and the house of David.
* Abner and Ish-Bosheth are both eventually murdered, though not by David's orders or with his consent.
* David is in time anointed over all Israel.
* David defeats the Jebusites occupying Jerusalem, and makes the city the seat of his throne.
* David goes to war with the Philistines and wins resoundingly.
* David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem to stay.
* David is promised by God a house and a kingdom that will last forever.

So What?

* There can be only one ruler, one king, or there will be rebellion, bloodshed and constant war. There will be no peace, either within that specific country or within someone's life. We can't serve two masters, whether physically or spiritually (Mt. 6:24). We will either serve God alone or we will serve another master and be disobedient to God.
* The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7). For Uzzah, a lack of fear for the Lord and what is holy to Him was deadly. Maybe Uzzah became too familiar with the Lord and didn't respect Him the way he should have. It can be so for us as well. I may not cost us our lives, physically but it could in other ways. When we do not learn to fear the Lord and give Him his due honor and reverence, it can cause us to do irreverent things before the Lord or to the Lord.