April 3rd

April 3rd -- 2 Samuel 5:1-12 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%205:1-12&version=NLT)

David becomes king of all Israel ; David captures Jerusalem

Israel's tribes actually come to David, who is at Hebron. They say that even when Saul was really king, because he was appointed king, David was basically the one who actually led them. They bring up that God said to David "You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel's leader." So right there, in Hebron, David makes a covenant with God and is anointed by the elders as the new king of Israel. He was 30 when he became king, and would rule 40 years (until he was 40). At first, for 7 and 1/2 years he rules only Judah out of Hebron, but then for the next 33 or so years he rules over all of Israel from Jerusalem.

So after David becomes king, he takes his men over to Jerusalem, so they can fight the Jebusites, who are basically the natives of that land. They taunt him, saying he will never get in, and yet David managed to capture Zion, which became to be known the City of David because of this. The people were so convinced nobody could get in, but David and his men got in through the water tunnel. Then David makes that his home (hence the name) and basically begins expanding the city. David becomes more and more powerful over time, because God is with him. Then King Hyram of Tyram sends along building materials and the people to do the building, and they build a palace for David. This is when David realizes God is affirming him as king of His people, and is blessing him for the sake of Israel (as a country with a blessed king becomes a blessed country).

Okay, so really as odd as it may be, the part that stands out to me most is the fact that Zion was supposedly an undefeatable city, yet David took it down? How? He and his men went in through the water tunnel. Twice God's people who He was with have taken down "undefeatable" cities. The first of which was Jericho. In that case, though, it was quite clearly God, as the walls just crumbled. In this case, it was, I'm sure God's wisdom at work, but it was not such a miraculous takedown. It was merely a matter of finding the weak spot of the city. I think it's good that we remember that every thing that's "undefeatable" has a weak spot. Nothing is truly undefeatable with God on our side. If we try and work from our own power against God's will, then things may become impassible objects in our lives, but when we are following God's path, He will either shake down the obstacle or show us its weak spot so we can take it down and keep going.

Well, that will be all. God bless! Shalom!