2 Sam. 5, 1 Chron. 11, 12, 14

These words were fulfilled after David’s reign of 7½ years in Hebron. When Ish-Bosheth's kingdom collapsed, the nation knew it was time to make David king over all Israel. The elders came to him in Hebron, pledged their support, made a covenant with him, and anointed him as king over the entire nation. David’s coronation was accompanied by a display of massive military power. God inspired each tribe, even the Levites, to send a regiment of their elite corps with armor and provisions to take part in the inauguration ceremonies and feasting, which lasted for three days at Hebron. Although fourteen tribes are mentioned, the two half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh should count for one because they were descendants of Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob.

David grabbed the opportunity, using this high-spirited army of about 340,000 to start his kingdom with two resounding victories. First, they captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites, something Israel had not done in the previous four centuries. Second, they dealt the marauding Philistines two heavy blows. While David and his men fought on the ground, God let them hear the footsteps of the angels above the treetops. David honored God for His protection by destroying the idols left behind by the enemy.

David followed up on these successes by fortifying Jerusalem as the new capital of Israel and by beating the Philistines into increasing submission in the first years of his reign. The first international recognition of David’s power came from his northern neighbor, King Hiram of Tyre.

2 Sam. 6, 1 Chron. 13, 15

Although the ark had been in obscurity for about a century, it had not diminished in significance in God’s sight. By a shocking event, He reminded Israel of the holiness of the ark and sent them back to His Word.

David organized a massive military march to accompany the ark to Jerusalem. Maybe he was more concerned about the honor the ark would bring to him and the city than he was about God’s honor. Instead of consulting the priests about the proper way to move the ark, he followed the example of the Philistines by conveying the ark on a cart, as though it were common goods.

Uzzah had become so familiarized with the ark in his father’s house that he did not refrain from grabbing it when the oxen stumbled. Maybe there was some showoff in his behavior too: showing to the crowds his importance as guardian of the ark. He paid with his life for his arrogant boldness.

David’s frolicsome attitude now changed to anger and fear—anger toward himself for the mistakes made and fear toward God for punishing Uzzah so severely. David did not want such a dangerous object near him, so he passed the ark off on the nearest house, that of Obed-Edom. Strangely, this man did not complain that he was saddled with the danger. He received the ark with bold reverence. For him the ark was an honor and a blessing.

After three months David had done his homework better. He had studied God’s Word and discovered the proper way to move the ark. He also took notice of the blessings Obed-Edom had received. David decided to proceed with his plans, and Yahveh blessed them. The Levites carried the ark. David, dressed in the simple clothes of a priest, took part in the joyful procession with bold reverence, singing, and dancing. His wife Michal stayed uninvolved at a distance and later scorned David with bold arrogance for his childlike spontaneity, which she labeled as childish impulsiveness.

1 Chron. 16, 2 Chron. 1:3-4

When David put the ark in Jerusalem, the Tabernacle with its contents remained at Gibeon, six miles north of Jerusalem. David organized the priests and Levites to serve at both places. He saw this arrangement as a transitional phase until the temple would be built. In this early stage of the reunited kingdom, he probably did not want to affront the northern tribes by moving the place of worship to the south. Meanwhile they could get used to the idea that the ark was in Jerusalem and that a temple would be built there.

The important move to make Jerusalem the religious center of Israel was not without hazards and delays. First they handled the ark contrary to God’s commands—with disastrous effects. Then David had to hear that he would not be allowed to build a temple but that his son would complete that task. Zeal alone is not enough for worshiping the true God. The worshipers have to do it God’s way. He is not a passive receiver of man-made worship; He is in control of God-given worship, the only worship acceptable to Him.

2 Sam. 7, 1 Chron. 17

Soon after David had brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, he started to feel guilty that he was living in a beautiful house made from the best Lebanon wood while the ark was sitting in a tent.

He got a bright idea: Why not replace the Tabernacle, made of fabric, with a more permanent structure made of stone, wood, and gold? After all, the reason for the tent-like sanctuary was to fold it up and carry it from place to place during Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness. Yes, a permanent structure would now better symbolize their permanent stay in their permanent inheritance.

He discussed his idea with Nathan the prophet who thought it was a great idea. He encouraged David to proceed with it. That night God spoke to Nathan and sent him back to David the next day with a message that was both a deep disappointment and an exciting encouragement for David.

Knowing that David’s idea came up from a devoted heart, God found it somewhat amusing. God asked: "Since Israel had settled in Canaan, did I ever tell any of the judges to build Me a house?" Then God gave David some more perspective over history. During the time of the judges, Israel was repeatedly oppressed by their enemies. God had called David, the shepherd, to shepherd His people Israel and to start a new era in which they would no longer be oppressed by their enemies. In this new dispensation David would not build a house for God, but God would build a "house" for David.

2 Sam. 8, 10, 1 Chron. 18-20

Looking at the disastrous effects of war, how can good come from something so horrific? Yet there always have been greedy aggressors wanting to take by force what belongs to others. Consequently, stalwart defenders of justice have to mobilize to protect the rights of the afflicted. Something good can come from battling the enemies of society—enemies like criminals, drug lords, murderers, abusers, tyrants, and terrorists. If we don’t fight them, evil will take over like weeds in a garden.

When Israel conquered the Promised Land, they executed God’s wrath on nations with evil practices. After that, Israel suffered attacks by their neighbors. God now used David to break the power of those nasty neighbors for good.

He started with the Philistines on the west and proceeded on the east with Edom, Moab, Ammon, and Syria (in order from south to north). The main results of these victories were breaking the military power of those nations, taking their treasures, receiving their taxes, and using their workforce. In this way David’s kingdom received a powerful boost toward prosperity. David’s mighty men, under Joab and Abishai, played a major part in these wars and victories, which took several years to complete.

2 Sam. 22

David’s success in breaking the military power of Israel’s aggressors and harnessing their economical power for Israel’s prosperity inspired David to give all the honor to God. He looked back on his life, applying this song to all his struggles, even to the days he had been fleeing from Saul.

He painted his own predicament and Yahveh’s merciful intervention in poetic metaphors. He saw himself as drowning in a stormy sea, covered by waves and strangled by seaweed. In his agony he called to God for help. God came down in a terrible thunderstorm. The lightning bolts were His flying arrows, and the roaring thunder was His mighty voice. He grabbed David and pulled him out of his sea of troubles.