[Brother V]

2 Samuel 7-9

Today we get:

• David wants to build the LORD a house
• God promises David
• David conquers many lands
• David brings Mephibosheth to live with him

2 Samuel 7

There was peace in the land, so David decides...

2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

Nathan says go ahead, God would probably like to have a nice house.

4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

The LORD came to Nathan in a dream saying, I don't want a house, I've always lived in a tent, and I kind of like it in a tent.

Maybe that's why God didn't like being in Ashdod (not just that he was sharing a temple with Dagon) he just didn't like being cooped up in side a structural building.

So where was God, when the ark was in the house of Abinadab?

1 Samuel 7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.

He blessed the house, but from a distance, He must've not been residing between the cherubims at the time.

God then promises that they will live in Israel for ever, and the children of wickedness won't bother them.

12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

David's successor will get to build God a house.

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.


Try to tell modern christians that the LORD takes away his mercy and see what they say.

16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

That is why Israel is the oldest running kingdom in the world... uh... apparently, forever means from 1050 AD to 722 AD. Even though Solomon was the last king from the line of David. But then JESUS was in the line of David, and his kingdom will last forever, so the promise is fulfilled! (Although, does forever mean that there can't be periods of time where it's not people from his line as king?)

22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

David was one of the most poetic kings ever. He expressed his love of God through harp, dancing and poetry... all VERY MANLY endeavours!

23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

Well, it's no wonder the LORD loves David, he reminds God of his great triumph of bringing the people out of Egypt.

25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

Hey, if you want to make my family be king of Israel for ever, you are God, and who am I to stop you.

(although the house of David as king of Israel lasted only until the next generation, then it was replaced by the house of Jeroboam.

29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

The kingdom of Israel lasted 300-ish years.

2 Samuel 8

1 And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

David goes on a smoting spree.

First the Philistines, then Moab, then Hadadezer, then some Syrians.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

Since David is such an ass kicker, Toi decides to send him some trinkets, which David then dedicates to the LORD.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

We have garrisons in countries, why aren't they our servants? I guess back then, people knew their place. When you get your ass kicked and there is an occupying force, you have lost, you become servants. What country has garrisons in the U.S.?

15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

Joab was his adjutant, Jehosaphat was the secretary, Zadok and Abiathar's son Ahimelech (named after his grandpa) were the priests, David's children were governors.

2 Samuel 9

1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

There's that kid who was lame, then became lamer when his nurse dropped him.

3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

What's the term that Jonathan was?... um?... I think people call it the "down-low" where a guy is married and his REAL self is something else...

6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

He must've been trying to walk.

7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

So you will get all of your father's land back, but you won't need it, because David will take care of you.

8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

David didn't mention that he loved Mephibosheth's father more than anyone else (other than the LORD).

10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

David set up Ziba to work Mephibosheth's land, and bring him food, however, he won't need it, because he'll be eating at the king's table. Remember, David ate at the kings table when he was a boy (not lame though) and the king continually threw javelins at him. I'm sure Mephibosheth heard stories about that, and was really scared, especially seeing as how he couldn't run away.

12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

So Mephibosheth had some parts that worked below the waist...

David should have gotten him a Rascal, or one of those walmart fat person get around things.

So what have we learned today?

1. God set David's house up to be king of Israel FOREVER. The current king of Israel is... um...
2. When people offered David tribute (trinkets) he consecrated them for the LORD!
3. Mephibosheth was given land that he wouldn't ever need.

YIC
V

[Ahimaaz Smith]

Excellent work yet again, Brother V. I have just one quick textual note to help prepare the faithful for debates with the Godless:

David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen.... 2 Samuel 8:3-4

And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand footmen.... 1 Chronicles 18:3-4

Surely, if David took 7,000 horsemen, then perforce he must have taken 700. Here we see no contradiction, merely the author of 2 Samuel showing some humility, knowing full well that readers would learn, in 1 Chronicles, the true extent of David's victory.

[Brother V]

Originally Posted by Ahimaaz Smith

Surely, if David took 7,000 horsemen, then perforce he must have taken 700. Here we see no contradiction, merely the author of 2 Samuel showing some humility, knowing full well that readers would learn, in 1 Chronicles, the true extent of David's victory.

Thank you for the kind words brother.

But then, what's a decimal point between friends.

YIC
V