Day 3

VICTORY AND GRATITUDE

"They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever." Psalm 125:1

The first years of David's reign were occupied with establishing for Israel a position of security among the surrounding nations. David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and moved his headquarters to the "strong hold of Zion" (2 Sam. 5:7). There he built a new city and established his government. He drove out the Philistines (2 Sam. 5:19-25). The Bible tells us he "went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him."(2 Sam. 5:10)

It speaks volumes for David that during his difficult first two years and as his power grew he was conscious of the need to fulfil vows to those he had loved and pay debts of gratitude to those who had acted justly towards him. He knew and willingly admitted that he owed everything to God (2 Sam. 5:12). His response was to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem from it's temporary location in Baale so that it might take it's rightful place at the centre of the nations worship (2 Sam. 6) He then sought to make a house to honour the God who had given him so much (2 Sam. 7)

David's good intentions brought heartache. There was tragedy in the transport of the ark and disappointment when God refused David the task of constructing a temple. How did David respond to these events? (2 Sam. 6:8-10; 7:18-29 1 Chron 15:1-13) What lessons can we learn from these two stories?