PM April 16th 2 Samuel 4

April 16^th           2 Samuel 4        Ishbosheth killed

1: And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. 2: And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin: 3: And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.) 4: And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 5: And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. 6: And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. 7: For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. 8: And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. 9: And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 10: When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: 11: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? 12: And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

2 Samuel 5        David King of Israel & Judah

1: Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2: Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 3: So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. 4: David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5: In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

David captures Zion

6: And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 7: Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. 8: And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. 9: So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. 10: And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

David prospers

11: And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. 12: And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 13: And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 14: And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 15: Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 16: And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

David defeats the Philistines

17: But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 18: The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19: And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 20: And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 21: And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. 22: And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23: And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 24: And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. 25: And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.

In today’s Bible reading we see that king Ish-bosheth the son of Saul is killed and David takes the throne of Israel without a rival. The next thing that David does is to capture the city which becomes Jerusalem. God causes David to prosper in all that he does and defeats the Philistines. Coming back to Ish-bosheth when he heard of the death of his greatest soldier at Hebron he became overcome in weakness and all Israel were troubled by the news. Ish-bosheth had two trusted men but when they heard of Abner’s death they fled and remained fugitives. Jonathan had a son who was 5 years old and was lame in his feet because his nurse was in such a hurry that she dropped the child and this caused him to be lame. His name was Mephibosheth. The men who had fled came to Ish-bosheth who was resting in his house on his bed at noon. (A common custom in the east) They pretended that they had come for food but they killed him and left him on his bed and they beheaded him and took his head and escaped and they brought his head to David. They said to David we have killed your rival for you. But David answered did you not know what l did to the man who killed Saul. And how much more l will do to those who kill a righteous man on his bed. David ordered his young men to execute these evil men and cut off their heads and hands and they hung them over the pool in Hebron. David never lifted up his hand to kill his enemies or rivals in Israel. David was an honourable man and a man with the mind of the LORD. They took the head of Ish-bosheth and carefully buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron. The result of this event was that all the tribes of Israel gathered to David in Hebron. The people looked to David as their provider and leader. They anointed David king of Israel. David was 30 when he began to reign and he reigned for 40 years. He reigned over Judah in Hebron for 7½ years and he reigned over all Israel and Judah in Jerusalem for 33 years. David and his men went to Jerusalem which was occupied by the Jebusites and conquered it. David ordered that the man who killed all the Jebusites would become chief and captain of his army. But they insisted that the lame and blind should not come into his house so he lived in the fort and he called it the city of David.  David progressed and became very great and the LORD of all the armies of heaven was with him. David should be called by posterity ‘David the Great’. What was his secret? He was a man who was very close to the Lord. So close that he had the heart of God and therefore he did what was right in Gods eyes and God blessed him.  David became famous and the King of Tyre, Hiram sent him materials and workers and they built a house for David. He also took wives who were slaves and had many children. As soon as the Philistines heard that David was king they set themselves to go to war against him. As usual David enquired of the LORD saying shall l go and will you give me victory? And the LORD said Go and you will win the battle. David attacked them and they found their images and they burnt them. Again the Philistines attacked and David enquired of the LORD again and the LORD said Go and come behind them through the mulberry trees. And when you hear a sound in the tops of the trees you are to get ready. Because then the Lord will go in front of you to kill the enemy. David did exactly as the Lord told him and achieved complete victory. From this we see that seeking the Lords direction is essential and obeying the leading of the Lord is the way to victory.