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What kind of king earns loyalty through integrity instead of power? Our journey through Samuel leads us to David finally being crowned as king. Discover how his character points us to Jesus, the greater Shepherd-King who laid down His life for His people. Crown HIM King!

Catch the Context

Abner, once the leading ENEMY of King David, changed teams, submitted to David as king over all Israel and influenced others to do the same. After having a face to face meeting with King David where David honored him and his men…

Notice in this few sentences the author has made it clear that Abner had left in peace. But this is just NOT acceptable for Joab - he wants REVENGE. 

The general from the North who had changed teams and was influencing others to do the same had now been brutally murdered by the leader of David’s army. This could certainly have a massive impact reconciling the northern tribes with Judah and David.

BUT…there’s a bigger reality here. David was NOT faking the peace he had extended to Abner and the people of Israel. David is sincere in his graciousness towards those who once fought against him. 

David was not okay with this. He was genuinely pleased to have Abner changing teams, but Joab would have none of it.

David’s response to Abner’s death, was similar to David’s response to the death of King Saul, years earlier.

David instructed Joab…Lament before Abner! The king forces the man who MURDERED Abner, to MOURN over him - to tear his clothes and mourn as if this was his brother who died and not his enemy. What a humiliating moment for Joab!

David commands the others from Judah to do the same. David followed behind the funeral pallet, grieving as if a dear family member just died.

The Hebrew word used here is the normal word for BED (mittah), which the NIV, ESV, & KJV translate as “bier” and the NET translates as “funeral pallet”. The CSB used “coffin” - doesn’t convey the best meaning.

David’s sincere mourning over Abner put conspiracy theories to rest. From this text it should be obvious that no one should belittle the character of the king (David) based on what someone under his authority (Joab) supposedly does in his name.

• Don’t think less of King Jesus due to the disobedience of those who claim Him as King yet refuse to obey his commands.
• This should remind those who say they follow Jesus NOT to misrepresent Him before others, as people have a tendency to view Jesus like they view those who claim His Name.
• If others based the character of Jesus on YOUR character, what conclusions would they draw? Would they see Jesus as kind, patient, loving, truthful, & holy. OR…would your disobedience to Jesus tarnish His image to others?

David is proving himself worthy of following & honoring as a compassionate king. Meanwhile, things aren’t looking good for his rival up north who rules over 11 of the 12 tribes. He is quickly losing his grasp & hope.

Abner, the great military leader from the reign of Saul, the one who had established Ish-bosheth as king over Israel after Saul died (2 Sam 2:8-9) , had not only defected to David, but now was DEAD. Who would lead the troops of Israel? Would David now come and CRUSH Ish-bosheth and those who had supported him? That was likely the concern of others, which leads us to what happens next.

That these men were Benjamites means that they were directly related to Ish-bosheth as they were from the same tribe.

This 5 year old was the son of David’s best friend, Jonathan. When his father was killed in battle along King Saul, and 2 other brothers, many people of Israel fled in fear of the Philistines - especially those who were from the house of Saul - as they would be hunted. This is when Mephibosheth fell and broke something, something that never healed right, and made him lame for the rest of his life. At this point, Mephibosheth is probably about 12 years old (7 years later) and will soon become the last surviving member of Saul’s household. (That’s all we hear of this lame boy until chapter 9.)

2 SAMUEL 4:6

They entered the interior of the house as if to get wheat an stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped.

These men obviously think they will hailed as heroes and honored by King David. When they reminded David of Saul attempt to take his life, David is quick to give credit to Yahweh Who redeemed his life - from the bear & lion, from Goliath, from the Philistines, and from Saul who had hunted him for years. Despite Saul considering David as an enemy, David never treated Saul as an enemy. Instead, David MOURNED over Saul when he died (2 Sam 1:11-12) and even put to death the man who claimed to have run Saul through with a sword (2 Sam 1:6-16). That was his ‘reward’. 

David continues to HONOR the house of Saul, and bring justice to those who harm his family. 

Over 20 years since David was anointed by Samuel as the future king of Israel, elders from all 12 tribes - travel south into the tribal region of Judah, to Hebron, and all the tribes of Israel recognize David as the anointed king over ALL of Israel!!

• All the people recognize David as their savior - the one who led them to victory and brought them back safely.
• And all the people submit to David as the shepherd and ruler whom Yahweh has given them. Keep in mind that David is not the ultimate shepherd. David writes, “Yahweh is my Shepherd” (Ps 23:1)” who provides for his needs and is present with him in the darkest valley.

All the people recognize David is the anointed (messiah) of Yahweh. David makes covenant with the people who recognize him as king. They submit to him as their leader and he promises to guide, protect, and provide for them, as any good shepherd would do for his sheep. This covenant, like the marriage covenant, is performed in Yahweh’s Presence.

About 400 years later, Ezekiel foretells of another King who will be Shepherd over all of Israel.

We understand this to be fulfilled by One who was born into the family line of David, born in the same place David had been a young shepherd. When King Herod ruled over Jerusalem and heard that a rival had been born, whom wise men had referred to as “king of the Jews,” Herod wanted to know where the the prophesied messiah - the anointed One - would be born. The religious leaders of Israel responded.

King David grew up as a shepherd…in Bethlehem! Matthew, Mark, & Luke consistently refer to Jesus is often called “Son of David” (Mat 1:1 ; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30-31; 21:9,15; Mk 10:47-48, 12:35; Lk 18:38-39, 20:41; Jn 7:42).

Just before Passover we see the arrival of this ruler.

After the people of Jerusalem heard Jesus teaching, they started asking some significant questions. 

Ultimately, this One from the family lineage of David, the One who referred to Himself as “the Good Shepherd” (Jn 10:11), would not just protect and provide for the sheep, but He would lay down His life for them.

And he WOULD put on a crown, but not the kind the typical king would wear.

He wore a crown of thorns and was crucified on a Roman cross, to lay down His life for His sheep.

Today we celebrate that King, who went to a Roman cross and took on our sin as we participate in the Lord’s Supper.