New King but Same Lord

Introduction

A. Trying to see God’s work in our lives can be difficult at times. We aren’t always aware of his power and presence in our lives. The promise from God is that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Yet, there are times we wonder why he doesn’t more readily reveal himself to us. David’s life is a good example of this. At a very early age, he is anointed to be king over God’s people. However, from the time of the anointing to the time of actually becoming king takes 13 years. During that 13 year time frame—David has some victories and he had numerous times when he didn’t know what the next day would be like.

B. In that 13 years David led Saul’s armies to victory after victory. During that 13 years, David spent years in caves—hiding from Saul and his army who were seeking to kill him. The anointed king lived as a mercenary. Surrounded by some of the roughest men who lived, David’s army was for hire. He traveled around giving protection, seeking financial support, and killing those who opposed him. During this time David is writing songs—songs which depict his uncertainty of God’s presence, but yet, David holds on to his faith.

C. 13 years is a long time to have to wait for what God has promised. Wonder what David was thinking as he had to sleep on the hard ground under the stars? Not much of a palace for a king. Wonder what David thought as he allowed saliva to run down his chin pretending to be a crazy man so that he could live among the Philistines? Not the way a king usually acts. Wonder what David thought when he was on his way to kill Nabal for not paying his bill? Not the way a king usually gains his funds. Through it all, David does not reject God nor does he curse God. Listen to some songs that David wrote during this time of waiting for God to fulfill his promise. Then let’s sing our own songs which express faith in God’s promises.

1. Reading from Psalm 142:1-7.

2. Psalm 57:1-5.

3. Psalm 34:1-10

A Different Time

A. Saul has died. It is now time for David to ascend the throne. But his kingdom will not start out with unity. In 2 Samuel 2, David inquires of God about which city he should go to. God tells him to go to Hebron. There David is anointed king over Judah. But Saul’s strong commander of the army, Abner, has his own idea about being king. He anoints Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul as king. For the next 7 years there is a civil war between David’s army and Abner’s army. During this time David remains in Hebron waiting for God’s instructions.

B. Eventually, Abner is killed. Ish-Bosheth is murdered. There are no more rivals to David’s leadership. From the time David was anointed by Samuel to the time he now has no rivals is 20 years. Don’t you think David got discouraged during that time? Don’t you think there were times David wondered about God’s intent and purpose? Don’t you think there were times when David believed that maybe he wasn’t God’s anointed after all?

C. In 5:6, David again inquires of God. God instructs David to go to Jerusalem. At this time the city is actually called Jebus because the people living there are the Jebusites. David conquers the city and establishes it as his capital. The time of victory and celebration has finally come. A great palace is built for David. He begins to live as a king. All the years of uncertainty and wandering have given way to victory. The God whom David trusted in the caves is the same God who brings him to Jerusalem and establishes him as king of Judah. It has been a long 20 years, but God did not fail to keep his promises.

Lessons

A. That is the first lesson. When God makes a promise he will keep it. One of the reasons the old stories exist is to reveal to us the faithfulness of God’s promises. David was promised a kingdom. Twenty years later that promise is fulfilled. But is it not true that the promise was actually fulfilled before then. David had a small kingdom during this twenty years of uncertainty. He led a small group of men into battle. He won numerous victories. While the complete promise comes later, God is still working in David’s life to prepare him for the full completion of his promise. But David has a kingdom. When God makes a promise he fulfills it. But he also is in the process of teaching us so that we can be ready to receive the promise.

1. God's promise to us is that he will bring us into his presence so that we can spend eternity with Him. In the meantime, he is preparing us for that day. His intent is that we become more like Jesus. He is in the process of molding and shaping us to be in the image of his son. That will take a lifetime, but in the process we are being prepared for an eternity with the Father.

2. David became king on God's timetable. Anointed at 17, he still needed to learn a lot about leading people. But when the time was right, God led him into his kingdom with great joy, celebration, and victory.

B. Second, during those twenty years, David continues to seek God’s direction. David seeks God’s guidance. David doesn’t go long between those times that he asks what God wants him to do. And once God’s direction is given, David is patient waiting for the next part of God’s plan to unfold. At the beginning of chapter 2, David inquires about moving since Saul has died. He isn’t jumping ahead of God. He spends 7 years in Hebron. And from all appearances he is content to remain there until God tells him to move to Jerusalem. And once in Jerusalem he asks God if he should begin to expand his kingdom. Seeking God’s direction. Patience in waiting for God. Not jumping ahead of God.

C. Third, for all that is commendable about David, we see the beginning of a major flaw. Notice in 2:2, that David goes to Hebron with two wives. In 3:2, there is a list of the beginning of David’s children. Six children are listed. All six have different mothers. Then in 5:13, David goes to Jerusalem. Seven years have come and gone since he first went to Hebron. The Bible says that David took more wives and concubines and more sons and daughters were born to him and the names of eleven children are listed.

1. It appears that David was tempted and gave into the passions of the flesh. And when we get to chapter 11, David is lusting after Bathsheba. David is God's man, but his inability to control himself sexually will have an impact on his family and his nation.

2. In addition to this lust, David seems unable to control his family as well. In chapter 13, when Amnon rapes his sister, David's only response is anger. Adonijah and Absalom both try to usurp his throne and David's response is to remain silent or to flee Jerusalem.

3. For all the ways that God can bless us, we must not lose our family in the process. David's son, Solomon, will eventually become king. Some of his other children are killed, some are scattered, some are forgotten. David loved God—no doubt about it. But he lost his family. Too bad he didn't instill his love for God into his family.

D. Let’s hold on to God’s promises. Let’s learn to be patient waiting for him to complete what he has started. Let’s realize that God is working in our lives to complete not only his promises, but to prepare us for those promises. Let’s make sure that our family goes with us. Invitation.

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