A Good Ruler Expository Teachings on the book of 2 Sam 5 & 6

And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” - vs 2 - This is the first time the Bible refers to a specific human ruler as a shepherd - Thus David's kingship was established through: Divine election Human recognition

- The New Testament refers to a son from his own tribe, Jesus Christ, as The "Good Shepherd" “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:11 The "Great Shepherd" Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep… - Heb. 13:20

The "Chief Shepherd" “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” - 1 Pet. 5:4 - "Jerusalem" - means "Foundation of Peace"

“the blind and the lame” (vv. 6, 8) Seems to be "pre-battle verbal taunting" "The blind and the lame" evidently became a nickname for the Jebusites as a result of this event.

 He brought God back as King of Israel “Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” 5 Vs 12 He did not do things on his own 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.” 5 Vs 18-19

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… So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 5 Vs 22-25

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deut 6:4-9 We need to bring God back into our homes.

 He brought the People back to God “David again brought together all the able young men of Israel— thirty thousand. He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.” 2 Sam 6:1-5

Chapter 6 has a symmetrical construction. David's unsuccessful attempt to transport the ark Judgment against Uzzah David's successful attempt to transport the ark Judgment against Michal - David had good intentions but he did not do things this time, God’s way. He was casual in bringing in the Ark of God.

“When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.” 6: This time God was pleased with Him but his wife was very unhappy. “When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half- naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” 6 Vs 20

David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 6 Vs David demonstrated and modeled his love for the Lord. - The call from Jesus also is the same to come back to Him. We have been reading this in our TWG portion for this week

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11: 28-30