2 Samuel 5:17-25 – God’s King Defends His People
The Philistines, it seems, were happy enough when David was just king over Judah. While there was civil war between Israel and Judah, God’s people were obviously in a weak position. But this united kingdom is a far bigger threat to the Philistines, and so they go on the offensive. But David, in reliance on God, and with the blessing of God, fights them off and defends his people. In that he points us to Christ.
“How does Christ execute the office of a king? Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.” (Shorter Catechism 26) Today his defending us is seen in defending us from the very accusations and charges that others bring against us, and in sheltering us from the very wrath of God. None of us are lying awake at night worrying about the Philistines. But the accusations of others, our consciences, the threat of judgement, Jesus is our defence against it all.
It’s worth noting David’s dependence on God in vs 19 and 23. It’s commendable that David inquires of the LORD. Especially the second time when he might assume that God’s answer will be exactly the same as the first time. David is a humble king, fully reliant and dependent on God. In that he’s an example for us.
But I wonder if there’s a bigger application here than simply the need to pray about big decisions. Because when we’re told that David inquires of the LORD, as we’ve seen before in 1st and 2nd Samuel, it’s almost certainly through the priest’s ephod. Basically it was some way of getting a direct answer from God that we don’t have today, nor for that matter did the ordinary people in David’s day. It’s a reminder that the king we serve has direct access to God, and that if we pray through him, he will take our requests into the very throne room of heaven. Does that not just highlight the folly of saying: ‘I hope to go to Heaven, but don’t talk to me about Jesus’. Or ‘I’m a good person, so I don’t need Jesus’. There’s only one person in this chapter with direct access to God, and that’s God’s chosen king. So if you want access to God, if you want heaven’s door opened to you, you have to go through Jesus.
Question
- How does Christ fulfil the office of a King?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.