2 Samuel 5:1-16 Don’t let your age hinder your dreams

2 Samuel 5:1-16

1 Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, “We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. And the Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’”

3 So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in all. 5 He had reigned over Judah from Hebron for seven years and six months, and from Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty- three years.

6 David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Jebusites thought they were safe. 7 But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David. 8 On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites. Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”

9 So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces and working inward. 10 And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies was with him.

11 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built David a palace. 12 And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters. 14 These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem:Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

Background

The northerners swear allegiance to David, who at a youthful age of just 30 makes the diplomatic move to Jerusalem; a more “neutral” location not to be seen as favoring his own tribe. To do that, he takes on an almost impenetrable fortress inhabited by the Jebusites. Today’s passage shows us what God can do through a person who follows his dreams uninhibited by his age.

Observation

We are your own flesh and blood – This is a demonstration of credible and righteous leadership, the disillusioned followers of Ishbosheth make their peace with David. These are the three reasons leading to their recognition of David as their King:

First, there is the bonding of kinship, for David is no foreigner who imposes his rule on them; he is one from among their brothers: We are your own flesh and blood. Secondly, they acknowledge David as the most prominent military commander who led Saul’s army: you were the one who really led the forces of Israel. Thirdly, David is appointed to rule by divine decree having been anointed by Prophet Samuel and endorsed by God through his many successes: The Lord told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people Israel. You will be Israel’s leader.’

You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out! – David, after making a covenant with the people as their king and chief shepherd, leads an attack against the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites taunt David ridiculing his ability to overrun their fortress: You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out! This rhetoric is designed to heighten Jebusite superiority and dent Israelite morale. David retorts with an equally scathing rhetoric: I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebushites. As the Jebusites’ fortress is considered impenetrable in those days, David orders his men to capture the water-source itself by climbing up the shaft. This seemingly impenetrable city through David’s ingenious stratagem fell without incident. The battle with the Jebusites gives rise to the popular saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house” probably connotes the prohibition of gentiles to enter the temple to worship God.

So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David – David’s choice of Jerusalem as his capital city is a diplomatic and politically savvy move to govern the whole kingdom. By ruling from this formerly Jebusite city located in the territory belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, he shows himself as a righteous and impartial king. As Benjamin is part of the northern tribe sympathetic to the Saul dynasty, he is perceived as just, without seemingly favoring his fellow Judah supporters.

Truth

1. For those aspiring to accomplish their dreams, age is no consideration. Many people seem to let their youthfulness or by their comparatively aged appearance affect their confidence. God has time and again proven that age is no consideration when He looks for a vessel of choice. God uses prophet Samuel when he is just three years old to deliver a message to Eli and He uses Moses when he is at a ripe old age of 80 to confront the forces of Egypt. The northerners acknowledge David as king and shepherd over Israel when he is at a youthful age of 30. Of the three reasons that anchored David’s coronation, two are attributed to his moral and spiritual characteristics: his righteous and outstanding leadership in leading the people, and God’s anointing over him. We must not at any time let our age affect our dreams and our confidence to achieve. Instead, we must take our cue from divine intuition and passions of Spirit.

Those who are younger must not be intimidated by the older, who seemed more experienced. Although some count their years and white hair as trophies of wisdom who take occasion to belittle the young. But Job 32:8,9 say,

“But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right”

If the young would discipline themselves to read the word and integrate the truth into their psyche, they would have the advantage of doing without the baggages of outdated experiences.

Those who are older must not feel under achieved in the presence of a younger and seemingly sharper generation. With repertoires of life experiences under their belts they had better not let them go to waste. Colonel Sanders – real name Harland Sanders, started his KFC empire at the age of 65. Mary Wesley – had her first best selling novel, Jumping The Queue, published when she was 70. These are late bloomers who never saw their age as a hindrance to their wild passions.

2. A person in authority must not be seen as favoring anyone. The credibility of a person in authority hinges upon his neutrality and unwavering biase towards the truth. Once, you pander to an individual or a group people because of what they could offer, you lose the popular mandate to lead. The abandoning of Hebron as the capital in preference for Jerusalem is David’s master stroke in diplomacy aimed at preserving national unity; a king must not be seen as favoring his own tribe. Therefore, one must not attempt to use relationship as a leverage or a means of attracting commitment and loyalty. True commitment and loyalty can only be garnered by a righteous spirit that practices equity for all, and who rules with justice and truth.
3. A man anointed by God must never give in to impossible situations. Many people are intimidated by the show of force or by fierce rhetoric; they are perpetually conscious of their handicap and past failures. Yet, there are those who have an uncanny optimism and boldness towards their circumstances as if lacking in the ability to sense danger. The Jebusite stronghold is well known in those days as a fortress that is almost impossible to penetrate. Their complacence work against them and at the same instance fuels David’s resolve to overrun it. David retorts with his own rhetoric: I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites which depicts the Jebusites as inferior to the Lord’s army. David’s resolve finally gives way to ingenuity as he gives instructions to attack the fortress via the water shaft. The victory over the Jebusites resulting in its designation as David’s city is one of the inspired moves for which he is remembered. Therefore, we must not throw in the towel too early but let our resolve weigh in long enough for the Spirit’s revelations to surface. Through our resolve and faith, the Spirit gives insights into solving difficult problems. As in the case of Daniel, he is made the chief of the wisemen… because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel. Daniel 5:12.

Application

Do you often look with envy those who are younger and seemingly more accomplished and polished than you are? Are you who are younger easily intimidated by the suaved demeanors and belittling words that come from people who are more seasoned? You should look past these tactics and focus on the task at hand. It is God who will ultimately prosper and commend us, no one has the power to make judgments on us except God.

Dear Lord, I ask you to use me in the way that you desire as I surrender myself fully in your control. I acknowledge that with you I can do all things for nothing is impossible for you. Instill in me, wisdom and truth so that I can find a solution in every problem. Help me to remain faithful to you without being biase to some. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.