David as King: Victory and Honor

2 Samuel 8–9

Main Idea: God blesses His covenant King, and the covenant King blesses others.

1. “The Lord Made David Victorious.”
2. David Brings Honor to the Shamed.

Introduction

Second Samuel 8–9 reveals God’s blessing of David. God’s blessing is a gift that is not earned in any way. It is much like the gospel of Jesus Christ: a gift given but never earned. When one considers the expansiveness of the Davidic covenant, one sees the gracious heart of Yahweh, the high and holy King. In the biblical presentation David is now the undershepherd of the divine Shepherd, Yahweh. Because of this, David will rule the kingdom of God. Under the rule of David, 2 Samuel 8–9 records his military victories and the extraordinary kindness he displays to undeserving peoples.

“The Lord Made David Victorious”

2 Samuel 8

In business it is not uncommon for issues of “turf” and “credit” to be sources of consternation and competition. What do we mean by this? Turf refers to the region of responsibility for which one is responsible; if anyone steps into another person’s turf, then conflict inevitably ensues. Stay off my turf: that’s my project, my client, my department, my responsibility! In reality the issue of credit is closely linked to turf. People guard their turf because they want credit for what happens on it. Getting credit means that someone acknowledges something good that has happened on your turf: that project went well, that client paid out, that department turned a profit, or you handled your responsibilities well (now you get a raise!). Credit and turf go hand in hand in business.

But credit and turf do not go together in kingdom business. When we turn to 2 Samuel 8, we see that God has made David king, and the king gains victory over his adversaries. The military report in this passage is pretty astounding! Little, puny, runt David tackles and conquers nations far stronger, wiser, and older than his kingdom. He conquers regions in the north, south, east, and west and expands the Israelite territory significantly. It is no wonder that 2 Samuel 7:1 says that in the reign of David Israel experienced “rest” from all other enemy nations. David is amazing!

But we must keep in mind that if David ever wanted to take credit for what happened on his turf, the word of the Lord keeps him in touch with reality. Twice the text reads, “The Lord made David victorious wherever he went” (8:6,14). Why does the narrative say this twice? The reason is simple but profound. We are supposed to understand that Yahweh is the only reason David is where he is and is doing what he is doing. In short, the text highlights the true hero of the story: Yahweh the King! The divine King grants His human king victory. In short, God blesses David.

But for what reason does God bless David? Sometimes we act as though God blesses us so that we can just sit back, relax, and revel in His goodness—so that we can pat ourselves on the back as we drink a margarita and think, Wow! I am so blessed. Great to be me. But that is the wrong perspective on divine blessing. The biblical view of divine blessing is this:

Blessed by God to be a blessing to others.

God’s blessing is meant to flow to us and through us. The Lord gives David victory and blesses him, to be sure. But what does David do with that gift? He blesses others. Second Samuel 8:15 says, “So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.” God granted David victory and success so that he could rule God’s kingdom in “justice and righteousness for all his people.” God blessed David so that the blessing would flow to him and through him.

This is true for you and for me. God’s victory and blessing to David is a picture of what God would do through Jesus. God put all enemies, including sin, death, and hell, under the feet of Jesus. God gave Jesus victory wherever He went. And He did this so we might be forgiven and brought into God’s kingdom. But those who are blessed in the forgiveness of Jesus are meant to share the blessing. We are blessed by God to be a blessing to others.

David Brings Honor to the Shamed

2 Samuel 9

“Beauty for Ashes” is one of the most famous and beautiful praise songs that I (Heath) was able to sing while we lived in England (Bennetts, “Beauty for Ashes”). Our worship pastor, Neil, wrote the song, and its opening lyrics go like this:

Beauty for ashes and garments of praise,

you come and adorn me with joy once again,

and pour oil of gladness in instead of despair;

bringing your mercy again like sweet, spring rain.

The words speak of the restoration, forgiveness, and transformation that occur when we are saved by the blood of Jesus. Jesus brings a reversal of the despair, gloom, and drought that gripped our lives prior to knowing Him. Of course the song derives from Isaiah 61:3, where God promises the reversal of shame and dishonor and reveals that joy, gladness, liberation, and forgiveness come in His salvation. But experiencing such a reversal is also the turnabout from shame to honor. God provides beauty instead of ashes, honor instead of shame.

In 2 Samuel 9 we see God’s son, the Davidic king, give beauty for ashes and honor from shame. Almost “out of the blue,” verse 1 begins with David asking his officials if there is anyone he can bless from Saul’s family (if anyone is left!). The officials find one of Saul’s servants, Ziba, who is the one who shares that Mephibosheth is still around. Mephibosheth is Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet, a disabled individual. The name “Mephibosheth” in Hebrew is linked to the concept of shame (bosheth in Hebrew means “shame”). The text indicates in two places that Mephibosheth was “lame in both feet” (vv. 3,13 NIV 1984). This detail is emphasized for a specific purpose. In the ancient world, if someone was disabled or was born with a birth defect of some sort, they often were ostracized or thought of as sinful.

We remember this from the New Testament as well, when the disciples encountered a person with a disability. The event is recorded in John 9:1-3: “As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples questioned Him: ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’” Of course, Jesus responded, “Neither this man nor his parents.” God’s glory would be revealed through that man and his disability.

The reality was that Mephibosheth was not disabled due to a specific sin he had committed; he was just disabled. But in that culture, disability prevented one from experiencing the same kind of life a fully healthy individual could. Now we might not like that, but that is how it was at that time. That fact is what makes this passage so powerful. David brought the disabled/shamed Mephibosheth to the king’s banquet table in a place of honor.

The story of David’s blessing of Mephibosheth is a story of God’s glory. The text records that David wanted to show some form of kindness to Mephibosheth because he was Saul’s family member. God had chosen, anointed, and appointed David to be the king over Israel and all peoples. What kind of king would God’s chosen messiah be? He would be the one who brings honor from shame. Those who are broken and shamed, either by circumstances or self-inflicted wounds, would be brought to the table of honor in the messiah’s kingdom.

In the narrative of David’s reign, this story reveals that kindness, justice, and a reversal from shame to honor will characterize God’s messianic kingdom. All people will be welcome at the Messiah’s table.

The extravagant kindness of the messiah and his table is one of the ways this passage reveals to us Jesus, the true Davidic Messiah. Jesus is the Davidic Messiah whose kindness, generosity, and reversal of shame to honor stand as the banner for His rule. At His table all come to enjoy the feast, whether Jew, Gentile, lame, poor, sinner, or outcast. He draws all to Himself (Luke 13:28-29; Matt 8:11-12) (see Pitre, “Jesus, the Messianic Banquet, and the Kingdom of God,” 145–66).

What about David? He was a type of the Messiah to come. His actions toward Mephibosheth transformed him from shame to honor. Because of David, Mephibosheth had a seat at the messiah’s banquet table. But because of the true Messiah and His act of kindness and love—giving His own life for ours—we who are washed by the blood of the Lamb now will share in the banquet of Jesus forever. Jesus truly gives us beauty for ashes and garments of praise. He comes and adorns us with joy and gladness instead of despair.

Reflect and Discuss

1. How does this passage help you understand God?
2. How does this passage of Scripture exalt Jesus?
3. How does this story help us understand God’s choice of David?
4. According to this passage of Scripture, who is the ultimate source of victory in life? Do you take credit for your victories, or do you have a grateful heart that recognizes God as the source of all victory?
5. How have you experienced shame? How did you handle it?
6. Why specifically did you handle that situation in that way? Write down your thoughts.
7. What does it do for your heart to know that God sent Jesus to give you “beauty for ashes”?
8. Identify the ways Jesus has transformed shame to honor in the past year. Write down your thoughts, and as you compile your list, express gratitude to God.
9. Read Luke 13:28-29 and Matthew 8:11-12. What does it do for you to know that we will dine at the King’s table for eternity just as Mephibosheth dined at David’s table?
10. How can you love others as Jesus has loved you?