Peter Barnes | 2 Samuel 2:1-3:1
SERMON NOTES
DAVID AS THE KING OF JUDAH
2 Samuel 2:1-3:1
– Calvin says: ‘Here is a body without a head’. There is a power vacuum.
1. Be faithful to the Lord.
– 2:1-2. David had sought the Lord in adversity – Ps.140:1-6. But often it can be more difficult to seek the Lord when things have gone well.
– the only man who is worthy of power is the man who does not covet it.
2. Be magnanimous if possible.
– 2:4b-7. Dale Ralph Davis says that this is both ‘sharp and sincere’. Calvin: ‘since we are all given to self-love, we wish to battle those who have hurt us.’
3. Do not be surprised at divisions.
– David as a type of Christ – 2:3-4, 8-11; 2 Sam. 5:3.
– Rom.1:4; Luke 12:14; Phil.2:9-11; Rev.11:15.
– David’s struggles with a divided kingdom – 2:12-17. H. W. Hertzberg think that it was a mock duel that got out of hand – Prov.17:14.
– Zeruiah was David’s sister (1 Chron.2:16). Abishai’s death – 2:18-23. Some kind of peace results – 2:28-:3:1. Blaise Pascal: ‘Civil wars are the greatest of evils.’