Read 2 Samuel 8

Whether or not you think New Zealand needs to get back, or is being led back, on track, I think most of us agree that New Zealand is stuck in a bit of a rut right now. The economy is not great, cost of living high, nothing can get built or maintained and so starts erupting like a geyser, crime seems to be on a spike, and the culture is in decline. It makes you yearn for something better.

Something like God’s Kingdom. Where Christ rules with justice and equity. Maybe even a little slice of it in the here and now. I do not know if that is ever really possible on this side of Christ’s return (people disagree on that one), but we do see a taste of it in David’s reign over Israel. 2 Samuel 8 describes David’s reign over Israel, judging and subduing its enemies, and establishing a reign of justice and equity over the land. Enough to read it, and make you yearn for something better.

After God’s promises to David described in chapter 7, Second Samuel describes the advance of David’s kingdom as God started to fulfil, in a preliminary way, the promises that God would ultimately fulfil in Christ’s Kingdom.

The first is the judgement of those who opposed David and his kingdom. The Philistines had been a thorn in the side of Israel since the days of the Judges, but “David defeated the Philistines and subdued them” (v.1).

After this in quick succession flowed Moab, whom he defeated, slaughtered, and subdued into servanthood (v.2). Then Hadadezer of Zorab to Israel’s north (v.3). 

With Hadadezer, David hamstrung 1,700 horses rendering the chariots useless (like spiking artillery guns) and captured 20,000 troops (v.4). When the Syrians of Damascus came out to help Hadadezer, they were struck down too and became servants and clients of Israel (vv.5-6).

Importantly, this was not due to David’s superior military intellect like he was some 1000 BC Alexander the Great, but rather that “the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went” (v.6). David and his offspring, and God’s People who they ruled, were promised rest from their enemies. God was busy fulfilling his promises.

With all the tribute and subjugation, Israel became wealthy. Shields of gold, and large quantities of bronze, flooded into Jerusalem from the conquered territories (vv.7-8). Toi, king of Hamath, sent his son Joram with gold, silver, and bronze to King David to submit to David’s imperial rule (vv.9-10). 

Others needed to be subjected, Toi submitted. He recognised David’s reign, and was thankful for the positive effect it had on his own kingdom (removing Hadadezer, who was a right royal pain, v.10).

With all the riches pouring into Jerusalem, you might think that the people were eating on golden plates fashioned from Syrian shields. But instead David dedicated all of this, along with Toi of Hamath’s gifts, to God (vv.11-12). After all, it was God giving the victory to David and his people. God deserved the spoils.

Finally, to add to the tally, chapter 8 notes that David struck down the Edomites and garrisoned their lands (vv.13-14). Thus the descendants of Esau served the descendants of Jacob – the older serving the younger (cf. Gen 25:23).

So plenty of judgement going around for the enemies of God’s People. Yet what of Israel? We have already heard that tribute flooded in, dedicated to God. But David’s attention on the borders did not lead to trouble at home.

“David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people” (v.15). The kingdom ideals of a reign of justice and equity were fulfilled, however imperfectly and in part, by David’s reign over Israel.

David appointed officials over the army, over his public servants, and ensured that the rightful occupants were high priests over God’s tabernacle and surroundings (vv.16-18). There was no chaos and disorder in Israel.

Justice and equity! How great that sounds. How imperfect are both in the rule of even the best-intended rulers today. Thankfully, the reign of Christ will be one which shows true justice and equity to all God’s forgiven people.

It will also be a kingdom secure from its enemies. While in a physical sense the Church might be attacked today and suffer setbacks, from a spiritual sense we are already safe and secure in God’s Kingdom. One day, the physical will catch up to the spiritual when Christ returns and subdues all our enemies, including those who attack the Church and refuse to submit, but especially sin and death.

Yet our enjoyment of justice and equity is only because Christ took the judgement that was due to fall on us. We are unworthy recipients of God’s grace. Yet he chose us in his great covenant love to be his servants. God fulfilled his righteous justice and equity by judging Christ for our sins on the Cross. 

And so because of that, we get to enjoy the justice and equity of God’s eternal kingdom.

Read 2 Samuel 7:17-29

There is a place in many viewers’ hearts for footage or videos where someone is overcome by the generosity of a stranger. Back in the days when we watched television, shows like Undercover Boss would show hard-working humble folks overcome when the CEO generously rewards them for their service. Reaction videos of everyday people abound on the internet. It warms the heart.

If that is momentary physical things, then how much more are we not overcome by God’s great generosity in spiritual things? David certainly was. After the bad news that he would not be building God a temple anymore, David was overcome by God’s generosity in building his house, and the effect this would have on all of mankind. David’s prayer before God demonstrates thanks and prays that God’s promises would come to fulfilment. As we enjoy the benefits of God’s goodness ourselves, David’s model of prayer is a good place to start for us.

After Nathan the prophet received the message from God of his great goodness towards David, Nathan went and spoke with David (v.17).

David’s response was to immediately seek the fellowship of the God who had proclaimed his generous promises to him. He went to God’s tabernacle and sat to pray (as was then a custom) and humbly expressed his thanks for God’s graciousness (v.18).

He started by praising God for his past deeds. “Who am I … that you have brought me thus far?” (v.18) David understood that God had raised him from humble shepherd of his father’s flocks to king over all Israel, through many years of trial and tribulation.

Yet despite all the good God had done, he was not done yet. All of God’s goodness to date was a “small thing” and God had plans for his “servant’s house for a great while to come” (v.19). He also described this as “instruction for mankind” recognising that the implications went far beyond himself and his offspring.

Finally, David praised God for his sovereign choice. He had “known” David (likely meant in a covenantal sense rather than information) and because of God’s greatness and his heart (or will) he was bringing all this to pass (vv.20-21). What else could he do but praise? “For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you” (v.22).

Next David extended this praise because of God’s saving his people. David recognised that the people he ruled were special because God redeemed them from slavery by great and powerful deeds, and established them as the basis for his covenant people, privileged above all others (vv.23-4).

After praising God for his great generosity, to himself, his offspring, and his people, David turned to praying that all God’s promises would come to pass. This was not an act of doubt, but instead praying for its fulfilment like we pray for God’s Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

David prays that God would “confirm forever the word that you have spoken … and do as you have spoken” (v.25), taking God’s promises and praying they would happen. Why? So that God’s name would be glorified (v.26).

He prayed this prayer because God had revealed it to him, and therefore he wasn’t praying his own mere hopes and dreams but confidently seeking God’s revealed will (v.27).

Finally, David recognised that God had promised him these amazing promises in God’s goodness, and so he desired that God’s will would be done in fulfilling those promises to him and to his offspring after him (vv.28-9).

In these three pieces of the second part of David’s prayer, David was seeking that God would fulfil his promises.

There is much here for us as an example and an encouragement. God has been so good to us! Far more than we could ever deserve! Like David, as we dwell on God’s goodness to us it is entirely normal to be overcome by God’s generosity. It is entirely good.

For like David, like God’s People of David’s day, we too have been redeemed from slavery (to sin), set apart, and privileged above all others. We have received the benefits of the promises God made in years past to Abraham, to Moses, to David, to redeem us from our sins through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have been transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of light.

All that remains, as such, is the completion of the work begun in us. The completion of the salvation plan that was set in place before there was time.

And so we can praise God for his goodness to us. His goodness in the past, his goodness sure to come, his goodness in sovereign choice to not just us but countless others too.

And we can pray that God will fulfil his promises. Fulfil them for God’s glory. Pray with confidence, because God has announced his promises to us through his word, and through The Word (Jesus). 

Not sure what to pray for? David has a few ideas!