Place: Lurgan Baptist 12:1:2003

Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-12 17-25

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF DAVID

9. A NEW KING, BUT THE SAME LORD

A man was buying a piece of property in the Los Angeles area of California. His estate agent gave him some valuable advice. He said to him, " the three most important things to consider when buying property here are location, location, and location." We might also say that the three most important things in any organisation are " leadership, leadership, and leadership." How many times we have the expression,

" All we need is the right leader." In every realm of life people are looking for leadership. Business men say,

" if we had the right person in this city it would just catch fire with profits." People in every walk of life are crying out for leadership, for someone to take over, to take responsibility, to take charge, to make the right decision. Leadership. President Dwight Eisenhower said, " Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it."

Someone said an executive is a man who talks to visitors so the other employees can get their work done. English dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse says,

" I can train any dog in five minutes. Its training the owners that takes longer." My .... the question has become crucial, " is there a leader ? Is there a

preacher ? Is there someone who has integrity ?" Is there someone who can stand up, under the spotlight ? People who are qualified to be leaders. People who are willing to pay the price of leadership. People whose leadership is marked by integrity. A senior pastor once said that, along with the kind of temperament, winsomeness, and charisma it takes to be a dynamic spiritual leader, there also come a series of easy faults to fall into. He named them, Silver, Sloth, Self, and Sex ! In other words, the demise of so many outstanding leaders and preachers can be traced back to Greed, Glory, Sloth, or Girls ! Now what has all this got to do with David ? Just this, in the opening chapters of 2 Samuel we are presented with " A New King, or Leader but the Same Lord." Now this book naturally divides itself into three periods of the Kings life.

1. In Chapters 1-10 we have the Successes of David:

2. In Chapters 11-12 we have the Sins of David:

3. In Chapters 12-24 we have the Sorrows of David:

Thus, David's reign from 1011 .... 971 BC is brought before us in this book. We have now reached the place where he is about thirty years old. All of his hopes and aspirations find fulfilment in the early verse of this chapter. However, the chapter does not end, " And he lived happily ever after." In fact, before the new king can warm the seat of his new throne, he is embroiled in three strategic battles.

Now .... is that not what real life is all about ?

Especially the Christian life ? You see, when you crown Christ King of your life, problems do not vanish, conflicts do not subside. Someone might try to convince you that life transforms into a rose garden, but never forget that the thorns are still there. Now as we look into this chapter of David's life we'll discover many parallels to the life of a believer who has crowned Christ as Lord. Notice firstly:

(1) DAVID'S RIGHT TO THE THRONE

Ishbosheth was dead and now the previously disunited tribes unite to confess their loyalty to David. David, you see had every right to the throne.

(a) Historically Speaking the Shepherd has a Right to the Throne:

Indeed in the opening verse of ( Ch 5 ) 3 reasons are given why David should be anointed King over all Israel.

1. There was National Affinity:

" Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh." ( 5:1 ) There was a kinship with David. David was one of their own. This is harmony with the conditions that God set down for kingship in the law of Moses. There God said, " One from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee."

( Deut 17:15 ) 1.

2. There was Personal Ability:

" Thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel." ( 5:2 ) David had been a leader of the people under Saul's administration ( 1 Sam 18:5 ) and he had proved his leadership for he saved them from something and for something. David had led them all the way. 1.2.

3. There was Spiritual Authority:

For the people recognised David as the one God had chosen to be king. ( 1 Sam 16:13 ) " And the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel." The word

" feed," here is the same word used of David keeping the sheep. ( 1 Sam 16:11 ) You see, David was still be a shepherd, nourishing, protecting, leading, he simply changed flock. The Lord had a bigger flock for him to feed ! (a)

(b) Prophetically Speaking the Sovereign has a Right to the Throne:

Do you recall the words of Gabriel to Mary concerning the Lord Jesus ? " He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David." ( Lk 1:32 ) Christ has come to Redeem, but He is coming to Reign. And like David, the Lord Jesus is going to have a double crowning. Do you recall what happened after Saul and Jonathan's death ? In Hebron, " the men of Judah came and anointed David over the house of Judah." ( 2:4 ) David was crowned King by a special group of people, Judah, his own.

So now, even in this present age noone recognises the absolute Lordship of Christ, except His own peculiar people. But do know what happened after David's first crowning ? There followed seven years of war between the house of David and the house of Saul each faction contending for the kingdom. ( 3:1 5:5 ) Finally, David was made king over all Israel and was crowned the second time. Now do you see the prophetic picture

here ? We, the church have crowned Christ, one day soon we shall be gathered unto Him to glory. What will happen then ? A seven year war in which Isbosheth, the man of shame will oppose our David in his world-wide Antichrist campaign. But after his downfall all the world will see the glorious Son of David .... rightful heir to the Davidic throne crowned as King of King and Lord of Lords ! Oh, what a coronation day that will be, when

" Jesus shall reign .... " ( Dan 9:24-27 Matt 24:29 ) a:b

(c) Spiritually Speaking the Saviour has a Right to the Throne:

S. D. Gordon used to say " In every heart there is a throne and a cross, if self is on the throne, Christ is on the cross, if Christ is on the throne self is on the cross."

My .... has the Lord not a right to the throne of your

life ? Consider His Affinity with you: we can confess the closest possible tie, " we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones." ( Eph 5:30 ) What about Christ's Ability for you ? Do you not have to say this ....

" Jesus has led me all the way." What about His Authority over you ? " Captain, Lord." Do you remember the story of the wee boy who went to the seaside and lost his boat ? He saw it in the shop and he bought it back and he said, " You are my boat aren't

you ? I made you and now I have bought you so you are mine twice over ?" My .... would you dispute Christ's claim to the throne of your life ? Would you dispute His right to Lordship ? (1)

(2) DAVID'S RIVAL FOR THE THRONE

You see, Abner captain of Sauls army had somehow managed to escape death on Mount Gilboa

( 1 Sam 31:1 ) and now he appears on the scene with a puppet king for the northern tribes, Ishbosheth, another of Saul's sons was made King over all Israel. ( 2:9-10 )

Ishbosheth, means " man of shame," he is also called

" Eshbaal," ( 1 Chron 8:33 ) which means " man of Baal." Does this imply that he followed false gods ?

We are not sure. What we are sure about is that he was a weak man, a helpless pawn in the hands of Abner.

( 3:6 ) Thus, the kingdom was divided between " the house of Saul and the house of David." The result ?

Hostility, war, conflict ! Indeed as we seek to trace this rivalry for the throne we notice that:

(a) DISCORD IS DISPLAYED:

" Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David." ( 3:1 ) You see, each faction was contending for the kingdom. Now this conflict typifies that which is going on between the " flesh and the Spirit." ( Gal 5:17 ) Indeed, Abners actions were a revelation of life " in the flesh."

* He sought strength in himself. The Bible says " that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul."

* He fulfilled his own fleshly desires: for he had physical relationships with Saul's concubine.

* He demonstrated his pride by not admitting his sin:

* He displayed an uncontrolled temperament: ( 3:8 )

* He acted out of wrong motivation: ( 3:9 )

My .... is all this not simply a picture of life lived in the flesh ? Paul says, " For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other." ( Gal 5:17 ) Now, by the flesh, Paul does not mean, " the body." The human body is not sinful, it is neutral. If the Holy Spirit controls the body, then we walk in the Spirit, but if the flesh controls the body, then we walk in the lusts or desires of the flesh. You see, the flesh stands for that part of man's nature, wherein his natural desires have free rein.

( Rom 7:18 ) My .... the Spirit and the flesh have different appetites and thats what creates the conflict.

Do you know anything about this conflict ? Oh, we love to hold up the tottering kingdom of self .... if only we could keep this or that at any cost ! And all the time this civil war goes on, the flesh wants the throne ! (a)

(b) DECISION IS DEMANDED:

For Abner, now frustrated with Ishbosheth comes to the elders of Israel and says, " Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you, now then do it." ( 3:17 ) My .... they knew the right thing to do, all that was left was the doing of it. How many times have you been on the verge of making Christ King of your life ? Of acknowledging His Lordship in every area of your life ?

But then you've put it off, " I'll wait, I'll allow self on the throne just a little longer." Is the Lord saying to you this .... do it now ? (a) (b) and then:

(c) DEATH IS DECLARED:

" And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron." ( 4:8 ) You see, the rival for the throne was removed by death. My .... do you know something ? If the Lord Jesus is to occupy the throne of your life there will have to be a death ! A crucifixion, the flesh must be crucified. ( Gal 5:24 ) Now the interesting thing is this. Paul does not tell us to crucify ourselves, for this is impossible, crucifixion is one death a man cannot inflict on himself. Paul tells us that the flesh has already been crucified. But it is our responsibility to believe this and act on this ! That's what Paul means when he says in

( Rom 6:11 ) " Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin .... " The word " reckon," is " to count, compute, to take into account." The story is told of two Irishmen, Pat and Mike who found a most unusual turtle. The animals head had been completely severed from its body, but the turtle was still running around as though nothing had happened. Pat maintained that it was dead, but Mike denied it strongly and the argument waxed louder and louder until O'Brien came along. They decided that O'Brien should arbitrate the matter and that his verdict would be final. O'Brien took one look at this remarkable turtle and said, " Its dead but it don't believe it." Is that not the problem with many of us ?

We are dead but we don't believe it ! Back to David ! How did this war all end ? " And they anointed David king over all Israel." ( 5:3 ) (1) (2) and now:

(3) DAVID'S REIGN ON THE THRONE

What a celebration ensued, possibly 400,000 participated in a three day feast that had been prepared in Hebron. ( 1 Chron 12:39 ) The people were as " one," a new dynasty had been set up, there was " joy," in Israel. ( 1 Chron 12:40 ) But what took place, initially when David came to the throne ? Well,

(a) INWARD PROBLEMS WERE MASTERED:

" David took the stronghold of Zion, the same is the city of David." ( 5:7 ) My .... for hundreds of years this was a stronghold of the Canaanites ( Joshua 15:63 Judges 1:8, 21 ) and so confident were the present occupants the Jebusites that they boasted even the blind and lame could defend the city from David's little ragtag army. " Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion .... " My .... Jerusalem typifies the " thorn," that has plagued us throughout our lives. Inward problems, an inward battle usually with self or some sinful habit. Like Lazarus we've been raised from the dead, but we're still bound. Is that you ? Are you still bound by bad temper ?

By a critical spirit ? By impurity ? Let me tell you, when Christ is on the throne inward problems are mastered !

(b) FORWARD PROGRESS WAS MANIFESTED:

Did you notice ( 5:10 ) ? David went on going and growing !

1. David was a man of CONQUEST:

He expanded Israel's boundaries from 6000 to 60,000 square miles and founded an empire which rivalled those of Assyria and Babylon in its military might.

2. David was a man of CULTURE:

For he established his people's traditions according to the law of Moses.

3. David was a man of COMMERCE:

Look at ( 5:11 ) He just kept going and growing. Spiritually, is that true of you ? Is Christ, Lord over an increasing area of your life ? Or are there still areas which are " no go," to Him ? Oh, when He is on the throne (a) (b) and:

(c) OUTWARD PRESSURES WERE MATCHED:

" But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up .... "

( 5:17 ) Isn't that an interesting thing ? An old enemy comes on the scene again. An old enemy makes an attack again. My .... its always that way. The moment you crown Christ Lord of your life. Get ready. The devil is going to make an attack. He will attack, initially and continually ! ( 5:18, 22 ) I tell you, as long we are prepared to co-exist with sin and self the devil's happy.

But you crown Christ, as Lord and spiritual warfare erupts and spiritual weapons are needed. We need to enquire of God ( 5:19 ) and we need to wait on God.

( 5:23 ) A New King, but the Same Lord.

" And they anointed David king over Israel," ( 5:3 )

Have you ever put the crown where it belongs ? It will effect how you spend your TIME ? More for prayer, less for pleasure ! It will effect how you spend your MONEY ? Are you robbing God ? ( Mal 3:8 ) It will effect how you spend your FUTURE ? Have you ever said and meant it, " Take my life and let it be." Have you ever fallen at the Saviours feet and said, " My Lord and my God." ( Jn 20:28 ) At the Coronation service of our present Queen there sat the Queen Mother. When it came to the moment when that stripling of a girl was crowned Queen the tears started streaming down the Queen Mother's cheeks. I don't think anyone could have watched that moment unmoved, many watched on T.V. and the crown was placed on the one who had the right to wear it, the only one.

My Christian .... there is only one person who has the right to the crown in your life and mine, only one, and that's the Lord Jesus. Have you crowned Him ? If not,

" Now then do it." ( 3:18 )