The King of Israel – David our King

John Carter – April 28, 2013 – 1 Chronicles 11:1-3, 12:16-18, 22, 38-40
1&2 Chronicles The Messiah-King
The King of Israel – David our King

11 Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. ² In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

¹⁶ And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. ¹⁷ David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” ¹⁸ Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,
“We are yours, O David,
and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”
Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

²² For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.

³⁸ All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. ³⁹ And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. ⁴⁰ And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Hosea 3:5

⁵ Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.

 

Introduction

It is Adam who were are first introduced to in 1 Chronicles. Then in chapters 1-9 we ee this progression from Adam to David & Solomon as we wait for the promised Messiah-King who will end the rebellion that began in the Garden of Eden. Last week we looked in chapter 10 and saw king Saul who was nothing like the Messiah-King that the author of 1 Chronicle’s is pointing us towards. In fact saw was the opposite of what it meant to be the Messiah-King. Today we begin to dig into David’s reign. In chapters 11-12 we will see king David as a picture of  the true Messiah-King. In the following weeks will see David’s spiritual reign in his kingdom. However, in chapters 11-12 we will see a great Army, like the Army of God pledge their loyalty to David.

The Story will begin in Hebron. A city of historical  importance, much like New York, Washington D.C., or even Jerusalem.  Hebron is the land Caleb was promised because he was faithful and wanted to enter into the promise land back in Numbers 13. In Joshua 21 we find out that Hebron is declared a city of refuge. Which a city where men accused of murder could find peace and  justice.  Lastly we find in Judges 16 that Hebron is where Samson put the doors of the gates of Gaza which is only 40 miles away![1] So it is no coincidence that Hebron is the city where King David’s rule and reign is established. A land of promise, a land of justice, and a land of heavy burdens laid down.

 

1 Chronicles 11:1-3 – The Anointed King

But before we move any further I believe it is important that we understand who David is. David is a type of Christ. He if the trailer to the movie that is coming out in a thousand years. We know this because of the New Testament but even the Old Testament confirms this. Hosea 3:5 in very clear terms understands that the future King of Israel will be a King Like David. And this is why I will speak of the Reign of David and the Reign of Jesus in synonymous terms.

For instance, in 11:1,  the people of Israel call king David their bone and flesh. Meaning that they were related. But it would be wise to see that like king David, King Jesus also became our bone and flesh. The incarnation, which is God becoming man is no small thing. We acknowledge the enormity of this through the Chalcedonian creed. And although the people of Israel were often in rebellion against God they still at times were able to recognize significant things. In verse 2 they acknowledge that God has called king David to shepherd and be prince over His people. King David was only a type of the true promised Messiah-King who would truly rule God’s people as their prince, and remove their heavy burdens as their shepherd.

Long before David was king God had hi9m anointed and made a promise to make David king of Israel. At the fall of man and  in the curse, God promised to send a Messiah-King who would rule and shepherd and best of all end the rebellion.

1 Chronicles 12:16-18, 22 – The Kings Army

After the anointing of king David we begin to see a gathering of people in support of this new king. In verses 16-18 we see a kingly warning and his peoples confession. King David warns of those who would seek his harm, but in response we see a confession of those who would loyally serve their new King.

First, they confess that they are the Kings. There is no other loyalty. There is no other allegiance. They have given up everything to follow their new King. Second they seek the Kings peace. They are concerned only for the welfare of the King and those that belong to Him. Finally, they recognize that the Kings God, Yahweh, helps him. It is in verse 22 that we see people are not just seeking to serve the King. They are preparing to die for the King. No one joins an army unprepared to die. You join an army ready to lay down your life for the King.

But here is the crazy thing. The King promises to unite his heart to those who are defecting to his kingdom. No one does this. The greater never joins his heart to the lesser. It is crazy. We confess our loyalty to the King and he comes to join himself to us? That is awe inspiring to think that as we confess our allegiance to Christ he unites his hear to ours!

In verse 22 of chapter 12 we see a significant statement and an unsettling implication. An army like the army of God gathered around David.  Using military language in connection with Christ is scary because of the abuse of  people justifying Holy War for unbiblical reasons. Such as the crusades. Especially when we study God’s word and begin to understand that the Kingdom of God and His Reign of Peace is established through military conquest.

In Psalm two we read that Jesus will rule with a rod of iron. And it we must see that when the Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, that is not a civilian statement. That is military conquest language used in light of the kingdom of God. Misunderstanding this truth results in unrighteous “Christian” military efforts.

1 Chronicles 12:38-40 – The Great Feast

As this army was gathering  in Hebron they had a ‘whole heart’ to make David king. Every person had an ‘undivided heart’. The people of Israel were of a ‘single mind’ to make David King. Unity defined this royal nation. They were putting their lives on the line as they came to king David in Hebron. Are you of an undivided heart to make David King? Are you prepared to sacrifice everything for the Kingdom of God? This is not a choice someone else can make for you. Parents cannot make this decision for their kids, and spouses cannot make this decision for each other either.

This unity with the king wasn’t just between the king and the individual. This unity existed within the army. Are we committed to seeing Christ established as King in this valley? As we meet later today to discuss becoming an autonomous Church sent out by Hemet Valley Baptist Church we are discussing our unity in seeing Christ made King in this valley.

As the people gathered and pledged their loyalty to the new King the land was filled with joy. A three day feast broke out. We too are going to celebrate a feast today. We are going to come together to rejoice in our King and take communion together as well. It won’t last three days, but I hope that our resolve to see Christ established as king will not fade as it often did with the Nation of Israel.

Conclusion

The joy in Hebron was not just because David was becoming King. Think about Hebron in light of the significance of the events that surround  it. It was Caleb who sacrificed for 40 years as he wandered until he was able to find his home. It was the men and women who sacrificed  their life of familiarity as they moved to find peace and justice in this city of refuge. It Was Samson who carried the burden of the doors of the gates of Gaza. What sacrifice to carry a garage door 40 miles. Thinks of the sacrifice that this new army made as they came to anoint David as king. Think of what Christ sacrificed to be made King. Think of what the Father sacrificed to make his Son king.

What have  you sacrificed to come to Hebron? Anything less than everything is nothing.