The Happiest Place (2 Samuel 5)

They say – the happiest/magical place on earth – ? – Disney Land/World. It’s where Mickey Mouse and friends live! It’s where the princes and princesses live. Promises lots of fun and joy. Nothing can go wrong. Everything is good. – Smiles and laughter all day. BUT I’ve been there before and I experienced very little of that. – Cold. Rainy. Miserable. The food tasted like cardboard and was expensive. Crowded. We had to wait in line for hours – even with the “fast” pass. Kids were crying and breaking down everywhere. And I thought to myself – I’ve been tricked! This place is terrible! 

If you’re just joining us… Context: David was anointed king all the way back in 1 Sam. 16. It’s been ~15 years and David has finally just made it to the throne. Last weekend – Anointed king only over half of the kingdom – Judah. And even with just half – His kingdom and rule is off to a rough start. – Backstabbing, betrayal, and murder… But now David is about to unite the entire country under his kingship. Let’s see what happens…

Text: 2 Sam. 5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. ² 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.’” (Saul – Israel’s first king. Looked like a king in his physical appearance. Manly man. But Saul’s heart rejected God as he elevated and thought too much and too highly of himself so God rejected Saul. And David was anointed king in his place… Now for the 3rd time – It should stick this time.) 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. ⁴ David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 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.

⁶ And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” (Jerusalem – Heavily fortified/secured. – Mountain/Valleys. Water source. Talking trash and mocking David in their sense of security – Only the blind and lame needed to fend off David and his men.) ⁷ Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. ⁸ And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.” ⁹ And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. (Not the most creative name, but it works.) And David built the city all around from the Millo inward. ¹⁰ And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

Ask – Where is your happy place? Even if the world is falling apart – As long as you’re there, nothing can touch you. – Beach? Island? Sipping on a cool drink and reading a book or listening to a podcast. OR Mountains? Cool breeze with a hot cup of coffee. OR Disney?

Now how many of you thought – It doesn’t matter where I am – My happy place is wherever God has me. My happy place is just being with God. Anyone? No one? (Hard time. Free GCCKL TShirt.)

Here’s what I want you to see – David’s greatness/successes had nothing to do with himself. Even if David was gifted – wise, a good warrior, a good leader – Apart from God – He’s a complete wreck – As we’re going to see. – Everything good in David’s life and rule as king has to do with one thing and one thing only – God’s presence. This is the most important part of the message. V.10. – David became greater and greater BECAUSE GOD WAS WITH HIM.

3 Points and Ask 3 Corresponding Questions…

1. God’s presence is everything. You can have everything – great career, a big house, a wonderful family, lots of money, good health, or whatever you wish you could have that you think will make you happy and your life more complete – but if you don’t have God – You really have nothing. – Because all those things can be taken from you in a sec – You’re one uncontrollable disaster or accident away from your life being completely ruined.

But if you have God – even though you have nothing in this life – regardless of how bad your circumstances – you have everything. Because God is your life, joy, peace, freedom, comfort, security… There is nothing missing in God that you need to go somewhere else to add to him. If you have God, you have everything. (I know that may seem easy for me to say right now – God has been so good and gracious to me. But I’ve also been in the pits of life with pains so deep I didn’t know if I was going to make it – if I even had the strength to take my next breath. And I’m telling you this is true.)

Look at how David talks about God’s presence in the psalms… (2…)

Ps. 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Life – In God’s presence. – Fullness of joy – It can’t get any better. Pleasures forevermore – It never ends.

Ps. 63 ¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. ³Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 

This is really important – Phrase – “God was with him” – Only of two people – Samuel and David in the entire books of 1/2 Sam. – Like we see in Ps. 63 – David desired and sought the presence of God more than he even wanted to live. Not because he wanted something from God. But because he wanted God himself for who he is – to just be with him and to experience his beauty. – And so God blessed him with it. Shared before – God is always found by those who genuinely seek him. That’s God’s desire to bless people with his presence.

But is this how you feel towards God? – You love his presence. You can’t get enough. You want more and more. You’ll do anything to get it.  In one of my favorite parables – Mt. 13 – Man finds a treasure in a field. And in joy, sells everything he has (imagine – shirt off his back) to buy that field. – Kingdom of heaven – Presence of God.

There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. Nowhere else I’d rather be. Nothing more valuable – PRESENCE – This is the blessed life, where true joy is found. God is all I need. In his presence, there’s fullness of joy and pleasures forever. In his presence, there’s safety and security – Shelter/Strong Tower – When life comes for you, it can’t touch you.

This is what the entire Bible is about – In the beginning… Before the fall, before there was sin, before there was death – there was God’s presence. And man in God’s presence – walking together in unbroken communion.

The Fall – (Disobeyed and walked away from God) The most important thing that was lost was not the garden – a nice place to live, it wasn’t the place – as wonderful and beautiful it would have been – it’s the person – the presence of God.

And in the end… All those who put their trust in Jesus as their God and King – they get to be with him again. In his presence. Face to face.

If you don’t enjoy the presence of God…If it doesn’t sound all that good/special to you – You’re really not going to like heaven at all. Because that’s all there is in heaven. That’s what heaven is all about. Jesus’ presence is what makes heaven, heaven. – Why it’s so wonderful. Even if everything were the same and you took Jesus’ presence away – it’d be hell.

(Question: Maybe the most important question – ) Do you have God’s presence? On what basis? And do you treasure it? If your answer – Yes – I have God’s presence because I’m a pretty good person – You’ve missed it. On your own – Problem – You can’t have God’s presence. Like Disney World – Dream/Fantasy. (Hang with me because I’m going to tell you how before our time is over today…) Do you treasure it? Or are there things you love more? – Because that may be a sign that you haven’t truly experienced his presence.

Let’s keep going…¹¹ And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, also carpenters and masons who built David a house. ¹² 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. (Catch that? David knows that God is the one who is doing all the work and He’s acting for the sake of his people. To be faithful to his promises that his love will always be upon them. – He didn’t owe the people anything. The people surely didn’t deserve it. But he made a promise and he was going to keep it – to show them his love and faithfulness.) 

¹³ And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, and more sons and daughters were born to David. ¹⁴ And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. (We’ll come back to this.)

¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. (“Giants” – Goliath) ¹⁹ 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.” ²⁰ 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. ²¹ And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. (They get beaten so badly they just abandon their gods…People would carry out their gods to battle to help them. Basically – Defeat. 1Chron.14:12 – David burns them. Notice: David doesn’t say – I whooped them Philistines good. No. The Lord did it. – The God of breakthroughs – Awesome image of power. – Exodus. Well – Didn’t Israel lose the ark in the same way to the Philistines earlier? Correct! Reversal of 1Sam.4 – But – The ark wreaked so much havoc on the Philistines and their gods, they end up having to send the ark back – Next week…)

2. God’s presence leads to dependence. Key Phrase: David inquired of the Lord. – Sought God’s will. Self-Admission – I don’t know what to do. Let me not get ahead of God and get things wrong. Whatever God says – I know it will be good. I don’t have to worry about a single thing.

Disney ride with Timothy. – Scared out of his mind. Asteroids and dinosaurs. I leaned over and said – It’s ok. Daddy’s here. This ride is scary but I’m here with you. Timothy – Ok. My dad’s got this. I just have to listen to him and trust him. (Don’t know that he trusts me like that anymore. – Trying to scare him.)

Is your relationship with God like that? God I’m scared. I’m confused. I don’t know what to do. I don’t see a way out. I can’t do it on my own. I need you. Humility – On my own – I know I will mess it up. 

If you know God’s power, wisdom, faithfulness, love. And you have access to the God of the universe – Why wouldn’t you ask him? To move? To intervene? To step in on your behalf? Kids – I got it. I can do it myself. Tricky wrapper – Treat on the ground. Why didn’t you just ask for help?

Question to ask to direct your life – Where is God leading? Where is he working? – How can I join him? This is what David does – God, what are you up to? Do I go up or not? Tell me what to do. Not – I’ve decided I’ve had enough of these Philistines. I’m going to battle so God help me.

Oftentimes we go about our lives this way. Don’t we? God – I need you to step aside and leave me alone. I know what I’m doing. I have a good plan for my life. And if/when I need help, I’ll let you know. Nice if you bless me and my plans along the way. – You might gain all the world has to offer. But you will have missed out of something far greater – What God is up to in this world.

And I have great news! It’s not a mystery! The Scriptures make it very clear what God is doing in the world – He’s at work saving the nations through the proclamation of the gospel to all people for his glory. He’s doing it here in our city – That’s why you are where you are – your job, your school, your neighborhood – because God has sent you there to share the gospel with those people. That’s what God is doing – Will you join him? – WY1. – Who is the one person you will faithfully pray for God to save and share the gospel with. – Who is close to you but far from God? Where has God already sent you? Who has God already put in your life? 

Last part…²² And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ²³ And when David inquired of the Lord, (Again…) he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. ²⁴ And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” (God is leading the way. David is invited to join what God is doing. Again – What an awesome experience/image. Wait. Sound – God’s army marching forward. Then follow/come. – Watch.) ²⁵ And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

David could have presumed. I’ve done this before. I know what I’m doing. (Moses – Disobedience was costly.) But David goes back to God again. Again and again. – Dependence. And when God speaks – Differently – David obeys. David’s not just going out trying to do amazing things for God – What does God want to do? How does he want me to do it? Join him in that. 

3. God’s presence leads to obedience. David did as the Lord commanded him. – And as long as he did that – Everything was good. 

In God’s presence – There’s no mistake – He’s God. You’re not. He gets to call all the shots. He gets to make all the decisions and determine what is good and not good. He gets to say how you live your life and what you live for. – He’s either Lord of all or not at all. Every area of your life. You don’t get to say – I’ll follow him in a few places – at church on Sundays –  but these other places – the other 6 days of the week – I got it. 

Obedience – All the way, right away, with a happy heart to anything/everything. (Delayed or Partial or Disgruntled – Disobedience)

Two points on obedience…

(1) Obedience is not required for God’s presence. – Here’s what I mean by that – You can never earn your way by good works back to God. You can never be obedient enough, never do enough good things, never be good enough to save yourself, to make yourself acceptable to God, or to earn God’s presence…

Think – Well, I’m mostly good. I’m better than most. Well, maybe if you’re comparing yourself to other people. But God does not compare you to other people. He looks and judges against his perfect holiness and character. And there is no one who looks good when compared to a perfectly holy and righteous God. We all look like filth, wicked.

God’s presence is all about what He has graciously done to give it to you as a gift through faith in him.

(2) Obedience is required for God’s presence. Confused? Didn’t he just say? Let me explain – Obedience is a sign/fruit that your faith is genuine. So if there’s no fruit, you have to question whether there is real faith.

Paul – Ro. 1:5 – Mission – To bring about the obedience of faith. Obedience flows from saving faith – from the presence of God. Joy. Not duty.

Paul – Eph. 2 – We have been saved by grace through faith, not by works so no one can boast…but for good works that God prepared for us.

James 2 – Faith without works is dead. Genuine faith produces works – obedience. And if there’s faith and no works/obedience – then it’s not genuine faith. – You can’t have one without the other. There is no such thing as I’m going to put my faith in Jesus so I don’t go to hell and then I’m going to live my life however I want.

Obedience – Often feels like death. – Death to self. Hard. But it’s where we find true joy. (Mk. 8)

Where is God sending me? What is he calling me to do? Not – has he sent me? Not – Has he called me to something? What role has he called you to play in his mission? – Take some time to seek God in this for your life. Obey. Follow him in it.

Now – David clearly isn’t the king we’re hoping for – Left to David himself – What happens? Mocks (?) Blind and the lame. Not allowed? – At the very least – hated his enemies. AND he takes even more wives. – I don’t know how David thinks that’s a good idea. – It’s already hard enough just to keep one wife happy. And even worse – He also took many concubines – Sex slaves for his pleasure. In all these things – He blatantly disregards and breaks the commands of God.

David shows glimpses of hope and is involved in some great things not because he’s great. It’s not because David was awesome. Not because he’s good. – It’s because God is with him, because the God he put his faith in was great. And that’s good news for us – That God loves, saves, and uses broken people like David – Because that means he can do it in our lives – for us too. We too, like David, can have the presence of God and his power working in and through us – Not because we deserve it. But because God made a way for his enemies to be brought in…

We lost the presence of God – Because we walked away from him. We rejected God thinking we were better off on our own – to be our own king. But it only led to brokenness and death.

So we needed a better king – a Savior King. – It was said of David in foreshadow of the coming true King – You will be a shepherd to my people and prince over Israel – Jesus is the true shepherd of his people – The good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. He is the true King. Rule justly and righteously – For the sake of his people. Jesus’ reign wouldn’t last just 40yrs but is an everlasting kingdom.

There is no one who had the presence of God like Jesus did. For all eternity. But the only way for us to be brought back to the presence of God was for Jesus to humbly come, take on flesh and become one of us and dwell with us. He came to heal the blind and the lame (Matt. 21:14) – Not just those with physical disabilities but with spiritual blindness and lameness.

Jesus would live in relative obscurity until about 30yrs old – like the years leading up to David’s kingship – And when it was time for his earthly ministry to begin – He was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit as the heavens opened up and God’s Spirit/Presence rested on him – showing He is God’s Anointed One.

Jesus was fully dependent on the Father. Jesus was perfectly obedient. – Father, not my will but yours. Obedient – even death on a cross. Where He was rejected. He was forsaken. He was cast away from the Father’s presence so we could be brought back in. 

His body was buried for three days but then – Jesus rose from the dead. He burst out of the grave like a break flood swallowing up sin and death forever. And he would send and unleash his Holy Spirit – His presence – Mighty rushing wind… To dwell in us.

Do you have his presence? If so – Believer: God’s presence should stir up in us JOY, complete dependence and radical obedience to him.

Do you have God’s presence? Are you confident? There is only one way to get the presence of God. Other Religions – Do vs. Gospel -Done. Gift.