God's Love Story; "The King and We" Edition; Sermon on 2 Samuel 5:1-5

Rev. George Miller
Oct 20, 2019
2 Samuel 5:1-5

There are many ways that you can read the Bible. You may view the Bible as a guide to salvation and how to save your soul. You may think of the Bible as a set of instructions on how to live your most heavenly life while on earth.

I see the Bible as a love story. A love story in which God creates us, frees us, leads us, and blesses us.

A love story in which God does the impossibly possible and gives us family when there is none, parts the sea when there is no way out, and cares for us when we are in the desert.

A love story in which God makes sure our jars of flour never run out, miraculous healings take place, and we are invited to sit and eat together- bread and wine, loaves and fishes.

A love story in which God makes it so simple- don’t turn God into a thing, say “Yes Ma’am” to your Momma, don’t spread false lies about others, and take time each week to relax, rest, and to humbly be one with your Creator.

But ever so sadly, the Bible is a love story in which God is constantly getting God’s heart broken.

No matter what miraculous things God does, we soon forget.

No matter what gifts God gives, we aren’t content.

No matter how simple God makes things, we find a way to muck it up.

In Genesis, God creates us so we can walk together in the cool breeze of the afternoon, only to find us hiding in the undergrowth, afraid.

In Numbers 13 God leads the people right to the Promised Land in the height of spring, when the grapes are growing and butterflies are flying, they spread lies, act in fear and refuse to step forward, which causes them to wander the wilderness for 40 more years.

In 1 Samuel 8 we see one of God’s biggest heartbreaks. The people have been living in the Promised Land for years. God’s love for them has continued even with all their missteps.

God wants to be their King, guiding them through priests and judges, visions and prophecy, through patience and miracles, and an unstoppable, unshakeable love for them.

God assures them that if they do the simple things God has asked, God will continue to provide and care for them.

But sadly, this is not enough for the people of Israel.

They look around at the other nations and see that they all have Kings, so they want the same thing to.

They feel the God who set them free, parted the sea, and gave them rest is no longer good enough.

“Give us a king to govern us!” they demand.

Their rejection breaks God’s heart. God tries to warn them “If you have a king, bad things will happen. A king will take your sons and turn them into soldiers. A king will take your daughters and turn them into servants.”

“A King will take the best of your land and the best of your crops and give them to his cronies.”

“A King will take your possessions and use them for his own satisfaction.”

“A King will wage wars, see everyone as expendable, and turn you into slaves. You will cry out and regret your choice.”

“Please, whatever you do- don’t do this.”

But the people, not caring about what God has done, what God has given, respond by saying “We know best, we want a king over us, we want to be like everybody else.”

The people had forgotten that what made them so special was that they were not like everybody else, they were not supposed to be like everybody else.

So God, broken hearted, and totally rejected, gives the people what they want- a King.

And at first the King seemed to do everything right. He won battles. He conquered enemies. He kept the people safe…but soon things fall apart.

In a moment of distress, the King makes an unlawful sacrifice, followed by decisions to starve his soldiers, disobey God, not follow the commandments, and getting caught up in things like flocks and gold, opulence and unwarranted opportunity.

Once again God’s heart is broken, yet God does not give up. A second king is anointed to take the 1st Kings place.

This 2nd King is David. And in typical God-Style, God does it in God’s own unique, unexpected way.

David is not from a big city. He’s not from the best family. He is not the 1st born. He is not the best looking or well educated.

David is the 8th born son of a farming family living in a small southern town, considered so inconsequential that his own father forgets about him.

David is ruddy and rough around the edges, but he plays a mean harp, can cast a sharp stone, and knows how to protect his father’s flock.

It is David who becomes Israel’s second king, an event has twists and turns, invokes great controversy, and more drama than a weekly soap opera such as “Dynasty” or “Empire”.

But here we are, 2 Samuel, to witness the anointing of David. It is an event that unifies the entire country, bringing the northern and southern towns together.

It is an event that involves both God, the people and the King.

And look at the words that are used in this story: we, shepherd, covenant.

So simple, yet so powerful.

This event becomes one in which it seems possible as if all the wrongs will be made right, as if all the lessons have been learned from their mistakes, as if this time God’s heart will be made happy.

“We.”

The elders realize it is not just about “I”, it is not just about “you”, it is not just about “Everybody else” but it is about “us”; it is about “we.”

“We are your bone and flesh,” they say to their new king. Meaning we are not alone, we are not apart, we are not separated, but we are all in this, together, untied.

And not just us, doing it alone, but with the Lord, beside us, guiding us.

“Covenant.”

The people and King David make a covenant with one another. It is not just a business deal. It is not just a worldly transaction.

It is a holy agreement they chose to make before the Lord, a heavenly promise they enter into, in which they trust David to be their leader on the ground while God will be their leader from the cosmic control room.

“Shepherd.”

Such a simple world, yet revolutionary.

Whereas all the other kings ruled by fear and domination, this new king was expected to rule via care and compassion.

Whereas the kings of the world forced their people into back breaking work, crushed their spirits and filled them with fear, King David was expected to guide the people into prosperity, calm their souls, and use his strength as a source of comfort.

While other kings preferred to starve their citizens, twist justice into punishment, and rule with hateful anger, King David was expected to make sure the bellies of God’s people were full, kindness and mercy prevailed, and decisions were based on righteousness and care.

In other words, as a shepherd, King David was being called upon to lead the people through green pastures, comfort them in times of distress, and try his best to remove whatever metaphoric briars and brambles, thieves and bears may come their way.

How awesome that this is the model of leadership that God desires for the people. That what God wants is what’s best for all.

With this model of covenant, using words like “we” and “shepherd”, and including the Lord, it seems as if things are off to a good start, and perhaps now God’s heart will no longer be broken, and the people can be happy.

Will it work? Will kindness and compassion prevail?

Will the people God created, delivered, and blessed finally learn how to trust and obey, work as partners, and believe?

Like any good love story, like any good television soap opera….

…you’ll have to tune in next week to see what happens. Amen.