Highlights:
Satan hates the will of God. The house of Saul continues to war against the house of David (II Sam. 3:1). Abner deserts Ish-bosheth to join David; Abner murdered by Joab; Ish-bosheth murdered; David declared king of all Israel; the city of Jebus (Jerusalem) is captured.
Verses for Today:
The king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites . . . which spake unto David, saying . . . thou shalt not come hither. . . . Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion (II Sam. 5:7).
While David was still a sheep herder, he was anointed king over Israel. David endured many hardships and faced many difficulties through his lifetime. During the years Saul was seeking to kill him, David once became discouraged and cried out in despair: I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul (I Sam. 27:1). Through the hopeless years, God was preparing him to be His faithful shepherd — a captain over Israel (II Sam. 5:2). David experienced the loving protection and provision of the Great Shepherd for His children and could say: He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust (Ps. 91:2).
After Saul's death, David was anointed king over Judah. Seven and one-half years later, all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron . . . and they anointed David king over Israel (II Sam. 5:3,5).
The time had come for David to move his capital from Hebron to a more central location in the heart of the promised land. The Jebusites held a stronghold in the central position of the promised land, which God had chosen for His dwelling place, the Temple. The king and his men went to Jerusalem. . . . David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David (5:6-7).
This strong hold of Zion is symbolic of strongholds which lie deep within our minds and hearts and which may not be known to anyone by our conduct. They depict secret motives and desires that keep Christ from becoming Lord of our lives.
Few are willing to accept and endure the Lord's discipline because they often do not recognize the hand of God in their difficulties. They only see people opposing them and cry out as David once did: I shall now perish (27:1).
The greatest obstacle to being used of God is self. Only when we are willing to die to self can we be an expression of His life.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh (II Cor. 4:11).
Thought for Today:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal. 2:20).
Christ Portrayed:
By David, the anointed king over Israel (II Sam. 5:3). Christ is the Lord's anointed. "Christ" is Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah (Anointed One) (Ps. 2:2; John 1:41). Jesus is the rightful King of the world. Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. . . . and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin (John 19:19-20).
Word Studies:
3:1 waxed =grew; 3:10 translate =transfer; 3:12 league =covenant; 3:27 smote =stabbed; 3:31 bier = stand for carrying a corpse; 4:2 reckoned to =considered part of; 5:8 getteth up to the gutter =enters the city through the water tunnel; 5:23 fetch a compass =circle around.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by a family that loves Jesus • Country: Equatorial Guinea (466,000) in western Africa • Major language: Spanish • Freedom for churches at this time • 71% Roman Catholic; 19% ancestral spirit worship and medicine men; 6% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church (Eph. 5:25).
Optional Reading: Acts 13
Memory Verse for the Week:
Matthew 6:11