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Scripture Text (NRSV)

 

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

5:1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh.

5:2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The LORD said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel."

5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5:5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

5:9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.

5:10 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.

 

Comments:

 

"Look, we are your bone and your flesh."

Everyone loves a hometown hero, someone who is "one of us," a guy like you and me whom we can respect. ...Everyone, that is, except the Nazarenes in this week's Gospel passage.

DSS


Does anyone else see the great irony in a Middle Eastern nation choosing a leader of age 30 who would reign for 40 years? Who could see this possibly happening today in any country in that region? And a shepherd of "my people?" Rulers today make better wolves than shepherds, admired for their cunning, not for their caring. Could such a "swearing in" ceremony change the way we look at leadership today? Affirm the bone-and-flesh nature of the relationship, the shepherding, and the covenant, and a new type of political leader might arise. And in the ancient Middle East, one did arise, by the name of David. Mark in Rockwall, Texas


Mu'ammar Gadhafi came to power in Libya when he was 27 years old. In 2009 he will celebrate his 40th year as the sole leader of Libya.

The late King Hussein of Jordan was only 17 when he took the throne, which he kept over 46 years until his death in 1999.


I find vs. 10 remarkable. The source of David becoming greater and grearter, the longevity of his reign, was not his political savvy, his military conquest, or his moral superiority, but the fact that the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. The promised blessing that comes with God's presence found repeatedly in Scripture. That is what God wants more than anything else, to be with us. O the great lengths that God went just to be with us, to be in relationship with us, to bless us. God wants more than anything else for us to be in relationship with his as our heavenly father, and we as his children. The great commandment that Jesus gave was not that we do this and that for God, but that we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus also promised that if we keep his word, the Father will abide in us. He will be with us! Amazing, isn't it? ES in OK

The thing that caught my attention from this passage (one that doesn't seem to offer much for a sermon at first glance) is that David "built the city." The "City of David" subsequently became an important symbol for the Jewish people.

How are we building a city for God? How are we building our churches in such a way that they become important symbols for our communities? And can we build a city for God in our own lives?

Danny in CA


I've had an idea about the anointing--perhaps anoint people for service to Christ during the worship service, as well as talking about all the times we are set aside as disciples--baptism, confirmation, installations, ordination, etc. David was anointed twice--once in secret, once publically. Perhaps that can be the lead in to this anointing of the congregation--a public affirmation of willingness to carry on God's work. JMK in PA


I've been thinking about this passage and it's nationalistic theme. We have David who is King - and he's king because of his might and strength. So, the people see him as holding God's favor. This is a real contrast to the passage from Corinthians where Paul speaks of the thorn in his flesh. And, how God shows strength through his weakness. It begs the question of how do know God's favor? I'd like to explore this further -- any thoughts?

The Iowa Star


These days I am mulling about the images of a "city of God" is what we are called to. THere is such a tendency to image the Kingdom in pastoral terms (empty but fruitful fields..sheep etc) that we forget that the Kingdom has to do with humans and justice. Here is an ancient image of an early "city of God". Just a thought...Deborah


Reading the passages that lead up to the establishment of Jerusalem, I am struck by the fighting, treachery, and political maneuvering that brought about the unification of the kingdom. On one hand David seems to wiggle out of being responsible for the assasinations and on the other hand he seems to stand for justice. Justice meaning that he seems to want to establish his kingdom not on a military/covert violent way, but on responsibility and fairness. I'm particularly concerned with the unfair killing of Abner which brought about the destruction of Ishbaal's government. Just thoughts.

Zack in Atlanta

 


In some ways today's lesson completes the rags to riches story of the shepherd boy anointed by Samuel to one day be king. It is hard to believe the poet made it, but he did. Sometimes we fail to do what God wants us to do because we lack faith in God and in ourselves. David had both. Fred in NC


In many ways todays lesson completes the rags to riches story of the little shepherd boy anointed by Samuel to be king. It is hard to believe the poet made it but he did. We also sometimes fail to do the great things God expects of us because we fail to believe in God and in ourselves. David had both. Fred in NC


Responding to Zack. Somewhere I picked up the idea that the contrast...the standing apart from the culture..is something to pay attention to. So David, comes up with a different idea of building the Kingdom on something other than violence...a step in the direction of the Kingdom of Peace. The step, or the movement is something to note. Thanks for your observation. Deborah