2 Samuel 5:1-9 – Building Jerusalem
2 Samuel 5 is a very significant chapter. It tells of the capture of the city of Jerusalem which was inhabited by the Jebusites. They were so confident of resisting David that they said that even the lame and the blind would ward him off. While what actually happens isn’t crystal clear, it seems like David’s men climb up the water shaft – a vertical tunnel cut into the limestone rock, to take the city.
There’s a well-known hymn used by political parties that references building Jerusalem in England. It sums up the political dream right across the board. People want to see Jerusalem built here on earth. They think it can be brought in by social reforms, by political change, by government strategies. But has political change managed to build Jerusalem? Maybe for some of you the political sphere doesn’t hold much interest, but you’re trying to build Jerusalem in your own way. Maybe it’s your house or your garden that you’re trying to improve – or just get under control. Or maybe it’s your family. In that way you want to build Jerusalem.
In this chapter, the actual Jerusalem is built, or at least, it becomes part of Israel, and in v9 it’s built up. It’s a city that had been promised to God’s people many years before. It’s the most significant city in the Bible, and now, at long last, it’s theirs. Yet that only happens when God’s true king is recognised for who he is. The story up to this point in 2nd Samuel is that only one of the 12 tribes of Israel has recognised David for who he really is – God’s anointed king. But in this chapter things take a huge step forward as the other tribes recognise him as well, and it’s only then that they know God’s blessing. It’s only then that they see God’s promises being fulfilled around them. If you want to see Jerusalem built – if you want to know God’s blessing on your life – you must recognise God’s anointed king. You must bow the knee before him. If we don’t do that as a nation, then all our hopes for political solutions will come to nothing. And all our desires for ourselves and our families will be left disappointed. Whatever we may be able to achieve by human effort – without Jesus at the centre, it will turn to dust in our hands. That’s the big picture of this chapter.
Question
- What is necessary to see true blessing in our nation and in our lives?
Prayer Points
- Pray that our nation would bow the knee to King Jesus.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.