Lesson 229 - Senior

Memory Verse

"The LORD hath chosen Zion, he hath de­sired it for his habitation"  ([PS:132:13]).

Cross References

I David's Entrance into Hebron

1. After Saul's death David enquired of the Lord whether he should return to the land of Israel, II Samuel 2:1"3, I Samuel 30:8; I Chronicles 14:10, 14"16.
2. David was anointed king over Judah in Hebron, where he reigned seven and a half years, II Samuel 2:4, 11.
3. A message of encouragement was sent to the men of Jabeshgilead for the consideration they showed to Saul, II Samuel 2:5; I Samuel 31: 11"13.

II  King over All Israel

1. The tribes of Israel sent representatives to make a league with David and anoint him king over all the people, II Samuel 5: 1"3, I Samuel 16:1, 12, 13; I Chronicles 12:23"40; Acts 13:22.
2. The total length of David's kingship was 40 years, II Samuel 5:4, 5.
3. The capital of Israel was moved to Jerusalem, II Samuel 5:5"9.

III  Consideration for God's Ark

1. Thirty thousand men went with David to bring the Ark out of the house of Abinadab, II Samuel 6:1"4; I Samuel 7:1; I Chro-nicles 13:1"8.
2. One man was smitten because he took hold of the Ark, II Samuel 6:5"8; Numbers 4:15; I Chronicles 13:9, 10.
3. David feared to bring the Ark into his city, II Samuel 6:9"11, I Chronicles 13:12; Psalm 119:120.
4. The presence of the Ark brought blessings, so David took courage to bring the Ark into the City of David,
5. II Samuel 6:12-15.
6. The Ark was placed in a tabernacle that David had pitched for it, II Samuel 6:17; I Chronicles 15:1; 16:1.

Notes

Knowing God's Will

When David heard that Saul was slain in the battle with the Philistines, there was no rejoicing in David's heart, but rather lamentation.  "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be gladwhen he stumbleth" (Proverbs 24:17). It was not a feigned sorrow that David had for Saul; another soul had gone into a lost eternity. A true Christian could not wish that fate for even his worst enemy.

Faith had assured David that some day, in some way, the Lord would remove Saul from the scene of activity; but when that faith became sight, David stood in awe of God's judgment. He did not rush forward in haste, with a display of power, to claim the throne of Israel, even though Samuel, through God's direction, had anointed him for this position many years before. The same faith that had held David steady through the years of his waiting now dictated to his heart that what the Lord had begun to accomplish He was well able to bring to a successful conclusion. However, David did enquire of the Lord as to what the next step should be. He did not make a move until he knew the mind of his God. True faith does not signify inaction on the part of the believer; but true faith does have in it the element of waiting until the mind of the Lord is full known, thenacting upon that knowledge.

There are some things clear in God's plan for His children, such as justification, sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and divine healing for those who are sick. These graces and gifts are for every one who is called into the Gospel and should be eagerly sought until they are re­ceived; however, there are other offices and callings that are given to only those who wait upon the Lord in prayer and consecration. The most sacred place on earth to every soul should be the centre of God's will. Many covet to know His will, but they do not live in close touch and constant commun­ion with Him, with a consecrated heart and a life open to God, so that He might continually reveal His will to them. The joy of Heaven on earth is to know God's will, and to do it. David realized that his call to office was be­yond the ordinary call, and he knew that God's will must be absolutely clear to him before he could take one step forward.

Walking in the Light

David and his army of 600 men were still in the land of the Philis­tines when they heard of Saul's death. The Lord was faithful to David's honest inquiry and directed him to go into the land of Israel to the city of Hebron. In this ancient city, where Abraham had dwelt and where his wife Sarah was buried, the men of the tribe of Judah gathered and anointed David king over the house of Judah. In reality the men of Judah only sanc­tioned the anointing that David had received from the hand of God through Samuel. Any man who walks in the light of God's holy Word will see God's promises performed in his behalf every time.

It might be said that the kingdom of Judah was but a part of the promise made to David. That is true, but a promise of God need not be fulfilled in its entirety at the outset of a man's life or Christian experience. The Lord in wisdom may withhold a portion of a promise or blessing, that He may teach some valuable lesson and make a "vessel . . . meet for the master's use." David had many things yet to learn before God allowed him to rule over all Israel.  He had learned the art of arms and generalship during the years he had to flee from Saul; now in this minor kingship God taught David the use of power and authority. Every child of God is called to go through a schooling -- times of testing and trials -- that will fit him into the Master's plan.

God's Strong Soldiers

David was called from his father's sheepfolds to be the shepherd of Israel, many of the Apostles were called from their trade as fishermen to be fishers of men; and today God is calling men from every walk of life to be "kings and priests unto God." The path to God's service and Kingdom has always been the same -- the straight and narrow way. If David learned obedience by enduring hardship; if the Apostles and other heroes of faith were made strong out of weakness, opposition, and persecution (Hebrews 11:34); then how can any Christian expect to enter the pearly gates of Heaven without tasting a portion of these things?  God uses the same method today to create His strong soldiers of Christian warfare.

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him" (II Timothy 2:12).  But the Christian's experience is not all hardship, by any means. The rewards of faithfulness beckon God's warriors always onward. The full overcomes shall live and reign with Christ a thousand years upon this earth. (See Revelation 20:4.) It may take patience to see all God's good promises fulfilled in an individual life, but the soul who puts his faith and trust in God has already the earnest of his inheritance. "The LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11).

David as King

When a man was anointed as king to succeed the previous dynasty, many times his first action was to depose all who might have any claim to the throne. This was not only considered legitimate, but it was considered necessary in those days to slay all persons who might be pretenders to the throne or might in any wise threaten the reigning monarch. However, David was not a man of this spirit, for he did not lift his hand against the de­scendants of Saul.  Abner, the captain of Saul's hosts, took one of Saul's sons and anointed him king in place of his father; but "David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker" (II Samuel 3:1). David reigned seven and a half years in Hebron, and by the end of that time the Lord had brought all the tribes of Israel into a united kingdom under David's rulership, thus fulfilling God's promise to David.

To bring about the return of an Israel to one kingdom, the Lord al­lowed the death of Abner and of Ish"bosheth the son of Saul whom Abner had placed on the throne of Israel. When the men of Israel realized that the last support of the house of Saul was gone, they came to David in Hebron to make him king. They remembered that David had been their captain in years past, and that the Lord had promised to David, "Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel." The elders of Israel made a league with David in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel, to the joy of all the people.

The Kingdom of Heaven, which is the kingdom of the Son of David according to earthly lineage, has many similarities to the kingdom of David. David was anointed many years before the promise came to fulfilment.  The people of Israel said in a sense, "We will not have this man to reign over us"; and he felt it was necessary to flee from the land of Israel to save his life. David kept his faith in God, however, and saw the day when the Lord prospered him more and more to the extent that the whole of Israel came under his dominion. Satan and the rulers of darkness have opposed Jesus' reign in every conceivable way. The inhabitants of the world have rebelled against the Son of God's claim to their allegiance, yet the Kingdom has waxed stronger and stronger through the years. On the surface today, Satan might seem to have the upper hand, but the hour will soon come when his power will be broken with the sword of Christ's mouth. Jesus will be recognised in that day as "KINGOf Kings, And LORDOf, Lords" (Revelation 19:16), and all who are in Heaven and on earth will rejoice to give Him allegiance and pay Him homage. If the men of Israel rejoiced in their earthly king, how much more will the saints of God rejoice in their heavenly Monarch.

The Ark of the Covenant

As the life of David the king is studied, it will be noted that an outstanding trait in David's life was an honesty that caused him to recognise God as the supreme Ruler and himself as a human representative of God's government. David realized that the capital of the nation should also be the city of God and headquarters for the religious worship that the Israelites enjoyed. The Tabernacle that had been pitched in Shiloh had been in disuse for many years; while the Ark of the Covenant, after its return from the land of the Philistines had been placed in the house of Abinadab and apparently forgotten. When David was established king over all the tribes of Israel he soon felt the need of having the Ark of God in the city of Jerusalem. He gathered 30,000 chosen men to go with him to move the Ark of God into the city in triumph.

How careful men must be to do all things according to God's in­structions if they expect to enjoy God's favour upon their lives! Had the Children of Israel been careful to study God's Word at this time, they would have found that the Ark should be securely wrapped to prevent people from gazing upon it, and that it should be borne by staves upon the shoulders of the Levites. The Ark or any of the holy things were not to be touched by any man, under the penalty of death, except the priests who ministered in the Tabernacle.

The Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant to the Children of Israel on a new cart. David and his men disregarded God's command and tried to move the Ark in the same way from the house of Abinadab to the city of Jerusalem. As the procession made its way through the country toward the city, the Ark pitched forward upon the new cart as the oxen stumbled upon the rough ground. Immediately Uzzah, an attendant of the Ark, put forth his hand to steady the Ark, but the action displeased God because it was a breach of His commandment. God smote him there for his error, and he died. Uzzah's death brought great distress to the heart of David and he feared to bring the Ark into the city. The procession turned aside to place the Ark in the house of Obed"edom.

Obtaining the Blessing

The Lord blessed the house of Obed"edom during the time that the Ark was in his house. When the things of God are rightly used and reverenced, the blessing of the Lord will always attend. David again felt his need of having God's Ark with him in the city; and seeing the blessing that Obed"edom enjoyed from the Ark's presence, David took courage to bring the Ark into Jerusalem. The Ark was carried upon the shoulders of the Levites on this second occasion, and the blessing of the Lord rested upon all the people. They brought the Ark into the city of Jerusalem with great shouting and with the sound of the trumpet, and put it in its place in the tabernacle that David had pitched.

This incident should serve as a fresh warning to all men, even today, that the God of Heaven is particular about details. It shows how easy it is to make a misstep -- to get out of the order of the Lord -- and the tragic consequences of such action. If the Lord was particular about David's service to Him, is He not just as particular about the Christian's walk now? It shows the absolute need of having the Lord by our side every moment to guide each step. If men are careful to walk in the footsteps of Christ and follow His every direction, they can be sure of success along the highway of holiness and an open door when they arrive at Heaven.

Questions

1. Where was David when he heard of Saul's death?
2. What did David do before he moved? and into what city did he move?
3. Who came to that city?  What action did they take?
4. How many years passed before all the Children Israel anointed David to be their king?
5. What city did David choose to be his capital city?
6. Why did David want the Ark of the Covenant in the city with him?
7. Why did the Lord smite Uzzah and cause him to die?
8. How was the Ark of the Covenant finally brought into the city,
9. What lesson can be learned from this example?