A KING’S HOUSE
2 Samuel 5:9 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. 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.
David’s Inward Perception
It is one thing to see Providential events happening in your life, but it is quite another to have an inward assurance of what they mean as to the Lord’s statement of his spiritual purposes for you! And here we see that with the events recorded in 2 Samuel, chapter five, there came also an inward perception to the heart of David, providing a personal understanding from God! He was not just a king by the falling out of events! He was not just king because he got the most votes! He perceived that he was king over all Israel because the Lord had established him to be so, and that it was the Lord that had exalted his kingdom! And he also had it revealed to him the purpose for the entire matter! – It was done for God’s people’s sake!
What a clarity to simplify the mind and heart of God’s servant as to his purpose! All ministers sent forth by the Lord should understand this! For all ministers are for the good of the people, unto their edification! 1 Corin. 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
Ministers are raised up for the saint’s benefit! 2 Corin. 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. The Lord sent his seven letters to the churches in Asia addressed to the angel of the church! (Rev. 2 & 3). And we know that angels are ministering spirits to those who are the heirs of salvation. (Heb 1:14).
The Sovereign Spirit who dwells within every true believer is certainly sufficient to get every last one of them into eternal glory without ministers! 1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. But it is by the foolishness of preaching that God has ordained to save them that believe! (1 Corin. 1:21). And God’s true ministers are given the privilege to minister the preached word as water that washes their souls! (Ephes. 5:26).
But let us never forget that natural creation and Providence are by the same Hand that created us in Christ Jesus unto good works! And therefore we read, Doth not even nature itself teach you…? (1 Corin. 11:14). And in Psalm 19 we definitely read that the heavens declare; the day utters speech; that night showeth knowledge; that their language is of a universal voice; and that their words go to the end of the world! So the Providence of the Lord was used in the inward perception in David’s heart that God desired him to be king!
Have you perceived that the Lord has established you as a king? Can you look within at God’s revelation to you by the Holy Spirit and see that it is so? And can you look without and see the confirming voices of Providence sustaining your perception?
Rev. 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rom. 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
But what were these Providences?
God’s Outward Providence
1. His Relation to the Body of Believers! – 2 Sam. 5:1-3
In these verses the tribes of Israel reveal to David of their inner spiritual perception of what they saw him to be before the Lord! 2 Sam. 5:2 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.
Notice the word “So” that begins verse three! That word reveals that what was stated in the preceding verse is the reason they anointed him! And that which we read in verse two is that they had a spiritual awareness from David’s past conduct which made them know within their hearts the Lord has made him a captain over Israel! And this was confirmed by the Lord’s word to David!
In 1 John 3:18-24 it is revealed to us that loving the Lord’s flock in deed and in truth assures our hearts before God that we are of the truth! And this assurance brings us great confidence toward God. This is also confirmed in that our petitions in prayers are granted. For our hearts being purified by the Spirit’s love of the brethren in us, only directs us to pray for that which is glorifying to God, and not to be consumed upon our own lusts! And those petitions are always granted! So love of the brethren brings assurance of God’s inner presence!
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
2. His Hatred of Evil! – 2Sam. 5:6-10
In these verses we see that David, along with all Israel now confronts a common enemy. They are seen as the mocking Jebusites who inhabit that which shall come to be called, the city of David! Every true Christian has the same enemy! – Sin! Although we all, in times past, were sometimes darkness, we all now are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness! (Eph. 5:8,11). For it was our sin that separated us from dwelling in the place where God now calls his name!
But what of that Jebusite mockery that said, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:? And what does it mean that they are hated of David’s soul?
These Jebusites were so confident of their safety in their high fortress, so assured that David could not conquer them, that they used Israel’s terms to describe their idol gods, to mock David! In both Psalms 115 and 135 David clearly refers to the heathen idols as having eyes, but seeing not, and as having feet but walking not!
So the Jebusites mockingly tell Israel that what you call our blind and lame gods are plenty enough to protect us from you invasion! But all spiritual Israel have turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1Thes 1:9). So the hatred of idolatry, coupled with turning to God is a confirming Providence to David’s perception! And David’s Living God revealed to him the way to conquer the city!
3. He Transformed an Enemy Fortress into His Home! – 2Sam 5:9
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 we are told that the ministries spiritual weapons, (such as the gospel), which are mighty through God, pull down every strong hold, and make that which was previously exalted against God, now to be brought into the obedience of Christ! And should not this providence speak to you, confirming your perception that God has establish you as kings and priests before Him?
Do you not recall that while you were yet enemies, Christ died for you? (Rom 5:10). And that heart, that fortress of disobedience, has now become the seat of Christ? We no longer walk, as others in the vanity of our minds. But we have put on the new man and have been renewed in the spirit of our minds! (Eph. 4:17, 23). We were once conformed to this world, but now are transformed by the renewing of our minds! And that strong hold of our sin, now proves what is that good and acceptable will of God! (Rom. 12:2).
Can you perceive that about yourself?
4. An Established King Built Him a Home! – 2Sam 5:11.
The first words we read after this verse that states that Hiram king of Tyre built David a house are, And David perceived! Dear reader, if you are Christ’s, you have been built as a living stone into the house of God! (1 Pet. 2:5). Christ has taken up us Gentile stones to raise up children unto Abraham! (Luke 3:8).
Christ is the established king, represented by Hiram, who Himself is King of Kings, and has builded the house of God, the church! 1 Tim. 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Hebrews 3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Have you perceived that Christ has built you upon Himself as the foundation, and incorporated you into the body of Christ, His church?
God told David that his son, Solomon, shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. (2 Sam 7:13). And the Apostle Peter preached in the Holy Spirit on Pentecost that David being a prophet knew that of the fruit of his loins He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;! (Acts 2:30). So Christ, at Calvary, by his own blood, purchased the church and established his kingdom as an everlasting kingdom. He built the house of God, for he that built all things is God!
Pastor Gene Breed