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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
July 1924
INTRODUCTION: As 1 Samuel is largely a history of two men— Samuel and Saul— so 2 Samuel is largely a history of one manM-David. The key word of 2 Samuel is “ kingdom.” The divisions of the book are as follows: (1) Chs. 1-4, David Crowned King over LESSON Judah, at Hebron. EXPOSITION (2) Ch. 5, David Made King Over the T. C. Horton Twelve Tribes. Zion. , (3) Chs. 6,7, The Ark Brought to Mount (4) Chs. 8-10, The Enlargement of the Kingdom. (5) Chs. 11-18, The Sin of David and Its Consequences. (6) Chs. 19, 20, David’s Repentance and Return to the Lord. (7) Chs. 21-24, Settlement with the. Men of Gibeah and David’s Song of Praise. David has a place of great prominence in the Bible. . His name is associated forever with the name of our Lord. Jesus was His son and His Lord. Jerusalem is called after him. (2 Samuel 5 :9). Bethle hem is called after him (Luke 2:4-11). The Virgin Mary descended from the house of David (Luke 1 :27 ); The tabernacle is called “ The Tabernacle of David” (Acts 15: 16). He foreshadows Christ in the following: He was a shepherd (1 Sam. 16); a soldier, (1 Sam. 17); a sovereign (1 Samuel 16:12, 13; 2 Sam. 2:4; 2 Sam. 5 :3). Every teacher should read the book of 2 Samuel through as many times as possible, and the scholars should he urged to do so also. There are many lessons, truths and facts which cannot be dwelt upon in our effort to cover so many chapters in one lesson, but the foundation can be laid for future teaching of them all. We shall seek to stress a few vital points under each of the chapters, giving special at tention to the anointing of David as king. (1) THE ANGUISH OF DAVID OVER THE DEATH OF SAUL AND JONATHAN, Ch. 1. “ And David lamented over Saul and over Jonathan” v. 17. I During the conflict between Israel and the Philistines, David had kept aloof and was located in Ziklag. He was not aware of the death of Saul and Jonathan. He knew that God had chosen him to be king over Israel, but had de termined not to take matters into his own hand nor force an issue, but to abide the providential leadings of God. It is well to note and profit by this attitude of David. Men are often misled in Christian service and have forced themselves into positions not selected by God for them. There are always temptations from Satan to every believer. Unholy ambitions and desires are attractive, but fatal, if fostered. We must avoid either running ahead of God or lagging behind. To be consciously in His will and avoid every tendency to seek things for ourselves, is a safe posi tion to maintain. The real David is manifested in his mourning for Saul, (who had insistently sought to take his life), and for Jona than, who was the logical successor of Saul as king. The 15-27 verses contain a sublime eulogy of Saul and Jona than, closing with that never-to-be-forgotten sentence “ Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” (2) THE ANOINTING OF DAVID AS KING and THE ANTAGONISM OF ABNER, Ch. 2. “ They anointed David king over the house of Judah,” v. 4 “ But Abner *** took IShbosheth *** and made him king over Gilead.” v. 9. (a) David Asks Divine Guidance, v. 1. The question is “ Shall I go?” and the answer is “ Go.” Here is an import
ant lesson. Saul is dead. Jonathan is dead. David has played fair with both. He has manifested an unusually gracious spirit in the whole matter and this has met with the approval of God. Now David goes to God for guidance. He seems to sense the fact that he has been chosen of God for a definite ser vice and that the time has come to act. A conviction that God has a purpose in his life possesses him. Shall we say that the lack of knowledge of this fact has been the hinder ing cause in many a life? Will God make d e a r to His own what His purpose for them is? If we are not certain, what should be our attitude? (Psa. 25:4, 5; Prov. 3:5, 6) God’s reply was as definite as David’s request. “ Go to Hebron,” the ancient city, Caleb’s inheritance, twenty miles south of Jerusalem. It was centrally located. The Philistines were on one side, Saul’s followers on the other. It was here that the spies who were sent out by Moses gath ered the grapes of Eshcol. (b) Anointing of David, vs. 2-4. David took with him his two wives and his followers who had been with him in the caves of Adullam. He had been anointed once by Sam uel j l Sam. 16:13) hut this anointing had been of a pri vate character and preliminary, in which God had evidenced His' purpose and which had produced a profound influence upon David. The prediction concerning Judah had been made long be fore (Gen. 49:8; 1 Chron. 5 :2). The promise was made before they entered the land (Deut. 17:14, 15). David had recognized it (1 Sam. 30:26). Judah had voluntarily sub mitted to God’s choice and looked for God’s blessing upon it. (c) David Acknowledges the Kindness Shown Saul, vs. 5-7 “ Blessed be ye of the Lord.”’ ,, David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead who had buried Saul (Sam. 31:11-13). He acknowledged the kindness shown to his enemy. He prayed for them and promised to remember them. This has the appearance of diplomacy, but in the light of David’s faithfulness to Saul it seems genuine. He spared Saul’s life. He lamented over his death. These men showed kindness to Saul and he would show kindness to them. He encouraged them and promised to remember them. (d) Abner is Antagonized, vs. 8-32. We come now to study a little about the difficulties which confronted David as king of Judah. He had foes. Abner was the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle, and an adroit politician. He was heartily loyal to Saul’s family and hated David. Abner was also a soldier and the captain of Saul’s army (1 Sam. 14:50; 17:55). He planned a conflict between Judah and Israel, taking Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and setting him up as king over Israel. Ishbosheth was forty years old and reigned two years as king. Abner planned to bring Judah into subjection to Israel. Abner was seeking his own ascendency to power and was working against God’s will. This is the story of political self-seeking by ambitious men, as well as the story of the church of'Christ as manifested in the political prac tices of ecclesiastics who seek to dominate the church. Most of the divisions in the church have been due to the po litical ambitions of wilful men. If every child of God would submit their wills to the will of God there would be wonderful harmony in the church. God’s will can only be known through God’s Word. Christ is God’s ordained ruler and we must bow to His appointed plan and purpose. David was God’s appointed ruler for Israel (1 Sam. 16:1). So Jesus is God’s appointed Ruler (Acts 10:38-43). Satan’s power has been exercised for six
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