Rise and Fall: The Rise of the King
2 Samuel 5:1-25
March 10, 2024
Andrew Boone

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” 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. —2 Samuel 5:1-3 ESV

And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land… —2 Samuel 5:6 ESV

But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day. —Judges 1:21 ESV

And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. —2 Samuel 5:10 ESV

And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. —2 Samuel 5:12 ESV

And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. —2 Samuel 5:13 ESV

And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. —Deuteronomy 17:17 ESV

“Gross sin is a culmination of a process, not a sudden act.” —Charles Swindoll

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. —2 Samuel 5:17-18 ESV

And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” —2 Samuel 5:19 ESV

And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. —2 Samuel 5:20-21 ESV

And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. —2 Samuel 5:22 ESV

…David inquired of the Lord… —2 Samuel 5:23 ESV

And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. —2 Samuel 5:25 ESV

Big Idea:

Repent quickly and trust God fully.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Memory Verse: 2 Samuel 7:22 NIV
How great you are, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

These questions aim to foster meaningful discussion and encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.

Read 2 Samuel 5:6-25
Some 400 years after God commanded Israel to take the whole land, Jerusalem, a small city in the center of Israel, was still in Jebusite hands. What areas of your life do you feel resemble the Jebusites’ stronghold – difficult to overcome, entrenched in your life? What would it take to be like David and face the stronghold?

The Jebusites mock David and his attempt to defeat their city. Have you ever been mocked or ridiculed for your Christian beliefs? If so, describe the situation. How did it make you feel? How can we respond to such criticisms in a healthy and God-honoring way?

David chooses to make Jerusalem (the City of David) the capital of Israel. Discuss the significance this decision has on the history of Israel. Decisions we make today can have long-lasting impacts. What do you want the long-lasting impact of your life to be? How does Christ and the Gospel message fit into that? What are you doing today to make that a reality?

Often those who become great among God’s people experience much pain and difficulty in God’s training process. What challenges are you facing now? How do you see these present challenges as future opportunities to turn around and help others?

The Lord did not elevate and bless David for the sake of David’s self-gratification. Rather, He made David great for the sake of His people, Israel. Visualizing a picture of yourself as being “great” what do you see? How do you define greatness? Are you more prone to see greatness having to do with yourself or with others? How can we be better at attributing greatness to other-focused people?

Seeds of future trouble are sown in times of great success. How does this saying ring true for David? Does success or blessing tend to cause you to drift from God? If so, when you experience blessing, how can you avoid the same trap as David? If not, share what helps you keep your focus on God.

David consulted God before each major decision. How often do you turn to God for direction in your life? Are there any specific areas of your life where you’d like to be more consistent in doing that?

After the first victory over the Philistines, David was wise enough to wait on the LORD before the second battle. Even though it was the same situation, God had David approach it differently. Have you ever thought, “I’ve done this before, therefore I can do this on my own?” How often do you rely on your wisdom and strength? What is lost by not consulting with God in prayer?