Pastor Marshall Ochs | August 13, 2023
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 2 Samuel 4-5. These chapters cover David’s third and final anointing as king over all Israel. His first act of king is to establish Jerusalem as the new capital city. However, Jebusites live in Jerusalem and they have no intention of leaving. These chapters cover aspects of physical and spiritual warfare that remind us to take comfort, our God is the Lord of Hosts.
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Read 2 Samuel 4
In 2 Samuel 4, we encounter a story of two men who took drastic measures to bring about what they believed was God's work. These men murdered the king, Ish- bosheth, and brought his head to David, thinking they were advancing God's plan. However, we can learn valuable lessons about the significance of the process and how it honors God.
Their intentions might have seemed noble in their eyes, as they believed they were aiding God's purpose, but their methods were far from honorable. They disregarded God's sovereignty.
It's interesting to note that the men truly believed their actions were aligned with God's will. Verse 8 indicates that they thought they were doing God's work. However, the narrative makes it clear that their perception was flawed, and their methods were not aligned with God's plan.
This story teaches us that the outcome is not the only thing that matters; how we achieve them matters just as much, if not more. God desires obedience and righteousness in every step we take. The lesson here is not just about the end goal but about walking in complete surrender and obedience to God.
David's journey to becoming king was marked by trials, hardships, and waiting. He could have easily succumbed to the offers of an easier way out, but he recognized God’s sovereignty.
Today, will you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any instances where you might be taking steps not aligned with God's direction to get to the desired outcome on your timetable?
Read 2 Samuel 5
As we first open the pages of 2 Samuel, the accounts of David's victories against the Philistines may appear normal to us. Yet, beneath the surface, these narratives reveal a deeper understanding of warfare's intertwined physical and spiritual dimensions.
In the ancient Hebrew worldview, battles weren't solely fought on the physical plane. In Philistine idol worship, they sought to harness power from disembodied giant spirits to fight on their behalf.
When God advised David to wait for the sound of angelic armies, it revealed two battlefronts. David battled the Philistines, and God fought against the Philistines and
the evil spiritual forces. In essence, these chapters mark a pivotal juncture in Israel's history. For the first time, Israel had a king in David, who honored God and aligned with Yahweh's divine process. David demonstrated the heart of a shepherd king, tending to his people rather than exploiting them. His unique understanding of both the physical and spiritual battlegrounds set a precedent. Yet, this turning point serves as more than just a historical marker. It unveils a foreshadowing of a more excellent King, a descendant of David—Jesus. This King submits to the Father's will, shepherds His people with compassion, and triumphs over every physical or spiritual battle.
As we contemplate these chapters in 2 Samuel, they beckon us to look beyond the surface and find echoes of joy, just as Israel did, in the promise of a Savior who would win the ultimate victory.