The remainder of the people of Israel, the family of Jacob,
come to David at Hebron and bow to him as the true king. In their oath, they confess that even when
Saul was king David was truly the leader, “when Saul was king over us, it was
you who led out and brought in Israel.”
They confess that the Lord had anointed David king and shepherd of the
nation from long before this time. What
was David’s reaction? Graciousness, he
accepted their confession and made a covenant with them as their king. His first act was to go up to Jerusalem,
which was still ruled by the Jebusites, who had a little saying that the lame
and blind would be able to keep David from conquest. Apparently David didn’t take kindly to the
smack talk of the Jebusites, he hated
them in his soul. The Lord gave
the victory into David’s hand and thereafter the city was called the city of
David in spite of the fact that he was from Bethlehem. Jerusalem was his first
conquest as the king and the place he chose for his dwelling and therefore the
capital. David’s reign was long and
prosperous for both him and the nation, the Lord established him.
Jesus’ fame is such that even in a place like Tyre and
Sidon, pagan cities, provided incomplete refuge. When Jesus arrived He entered a house and
didn’t want anyone to know and yet this Gentile, a Syrophoenician woman, had
heard of this Jewish healer and came into the house in search of Him, begging
Him to heal her daughter. On what basis
did she make her appeal? None, other
than her need. She made no pretense to
deserving anything from Jesus at all.
You can see that same pattern throughout the Gospels, the Gentiles who
came to Him for something never commended themselves as worthy of His attention
or action. Her willingness to humble
herself was the key to receiving what she asked of Him. I am guilty of sometimes attempting to get
the Lord to do what I want based on something I have done, not done, or am
doing, as though I have created an obligation for Him. The cross should destroy that idea but it
hasn’t I am sorry to say. I always find
it amusing that Jesus tells people not to speak of His healing work. How could
they keep quiet?
So who started this uproar?
Some Jews who were jealous. What
was their charge? “These men who have
turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them,
and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is
another king, Jesus.” They knew they
couldn’t make it about religious matters, it had to be a civil charge if they
were going to get support from the citizenry.
It worked. It always works. The issues facing our country today are
religious issues but they have been made civil issues to build the support
necessary to do what the real agenda is.
It is amazing that there was a church in Thessalonica but indeed the
work there led to something that lasted.
Sadly, it wasn’t enough to oppose the work in Thessalonica, when they
heard it was bearing fruit in Berea they had to come there and stir up the
locals too. If, however, the Lord
establishes something it will be established so long as He desires.
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