Journal Through the Bible, Week 42, Day 3

I did not complete the online Bible Journal that I began in 2013. There were parts of II Samuel and some of the psalms that were not covered. Beginning today - and depending on the amount of time the Lord gives me to work on this project - I will complete as many of the entries as I can.

I also hope to update the Bible Journal Index tab above as I have opportunity.

II Samuel 4:1 - 5:12

Does God issue any commands?

•  God did not speak, but He had already had Samuel anoint David as king years before so when the people came to Hebron in chapter 5 to confirm David as king they were fulfilling a command that God had already issued. They alluded to this command in 5:2 when they said, "and the LORD said to thee, 'Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.'"
  

Does God make any promises?

•  The people confirmed the promise that God had made to David when He had Samuel anoint him to be king over Israel. They anointed David the second time. (5:3)

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

•  Rechab and Baanah thought that killing Saul's son, Ishbosheth, would endear them to king David. It did not. David called Ishbosheth a righteous person who was slain in his own house and upon his own bed. Like David, Jesus is not pleased with our works which are as filthy rags even though we think they are pleasing to Him. Jesus told His disciples in John 16:2 "the time comes that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service." Obviously, they are not doing God any service.
• David commanded his servants to put Rechab and Baanah to death for the murder of Ishbosheth. Jesus will tell those who think they are doing His will but are not, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:23)
• The Jebusites mocked David by saying that the lame and the blind could defeat him, yet David defeated them. Although the men who had followed David through all his years of running from Saul and fighting with Ishbosheth's kingdom were mighty, they were also a rag-tag group of outcasts. We are also introduced to Jonathan's lame son, Mephibosheth, in chapter 4 verse 4. We know the story. And before we get to that passage, we already know that David had nothing but compassion for the lame and the blind, the outcasts of society. David said whoever won over the city, whether lame or blind or not, he would be a chief and captain in David's kingdom. Jesus' kingdom is made up of broken people also. It is those that the world mocks as being foolish upon whom Jesus shows compassion. This can be seen by the men He chose as His disciples. It can be seen in the beggars, lepers, and Gentiles that He healed during His earthly ministry. It can be seen in the lives of many of us also. We are the lame and blind. Many say that its the foolish and mentally weak who believe in God and that Christianity is a crutch. And yet, we know we are the exalted in Christ's Kingdom.
•  5:10 says that David "grew great, and the LORD GOD of hosts was with him." Luke 2:40 says of Jesus that "the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."
•  5:12 says that David realized that the LORD had exalted him for his people Israel's sake. Jesus is the Exalted for God's people's sake also.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

•  Revelation 6:9-11 says that the martyred cry out to the Lord and ask when they will be avenged. They are given white robes and told that they must wait for a little season for all things to be fulfilled, including waiting for those among the believers who are yet to be martyred. Jesus doesn't tell them that they will never be avenged. He tells them that they must wait awhile longer. Like David, Jesus will avenge the martyred. That day is coming!
• Jesus is already the Anointed of God. One day He will claim His throne and rule over Heaven and Earth.
• David took the stronghold of Zion even though the inhabitants mocked him and said it couldn't be done. Jesus will one day take the stronghold of Zion, the City of David, even though the world's inhabitants mock and say that it isn't going to happen.