Day #113 | "When the King is On His Throne"

LOOK | WHAT DOES IT SAY?

Read 2 Samuel 19-20, and Psalms 6 and 9

THINK | WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Jesus will take his seat on the throne like David did. Here we see that David, the true king of Israel, having won his victory over Absalom (the anti-David, whose name means "father of peace," and who was described as the most handsome man in the kingdom in 2 Samuel 14:25, and yet was deceitfully wicked and who divided the kingdom), this King David took his place upon the throne, and put on the royal crown, and returned to lead his people as their King, to judge the people of God according to his righteous judgments. Though they were shedding tears of mourning, "The king arose and took his seat in the gate... and all the people came before the king" (2 Samuel 19:8). Though the people were ashamed of their sins against him, he spoke to them and said that if they trusted in him, then they would have a place in his kingdom (2 Samuel 19:12). As he was lifted up in royal power and splendor, many of those who had acted faithfully or unfaithfully were brought before his throne and bowed themselves to him, and he decided their case: for Shimei the son of Gera (2 Samuel 19:16-23), for Mephibosheth and Ziba (2 Samuel 19:24-30), for Barzillai the Gileadite (2 Samuel 19:31-40) and for Amasa the general (2 Samuel 19:13) and Zadok and Abiathar the priests (2 Samuel 19:11-12)--all those who had either accepted or rejected David during the reign of Absalom. Some surprising decisions were made as those who had seemed to be in good favor with the king were taken down from their lofty positions, and those who did not seem to be in good standing were lifted up (2 Samuel 19:13). Rewards were given, and the king came down and honored the one who had been faithful and kissed him on the forehead in the sight of all the people (2 Samuel 19:31). When the king is seated on his throne, then all will come to light, judgments will be made, righteousness will prevail, and the people will be blessed. That was true when David was seated on his throne. And it will be true when Jesus descends on his throne from heaven, to judge the peoples of the earth. That will be a day of celebration.

Jesus is the true and greater David. There are some ways where David showed that someone greater than him was needed. Joab was right in confronting him, because on the day of his victory he made the people weep and mourn. But when Jesus returns victorious, there will be only joy. When David returned, the unity of his kingdom was not truly completed--but when Jesus returns, every tribe and tongue will confess his name together. When David returned, he still had to contend with political wrangling in his kingdom from Joab and Abishai--but when Jesus returns, he will make straight every crooked path, reveal hidden things in plain sight, judge the secret thoughts of men's hearts, and reign unopposed to do mercy and justice upon the face of the earth. 

DO | HOW DO WE RESPOND?

How can we respond in our worship, attitude, and actions? IN OUR WORSHIP we can trust in Jesus to extend mercy, and to rule with righteousness in our lives. We can trust that he will one day be victorious over the brokenness of this world, and that he will restore all things. And we can lay ourselves out before him and declare that we are his willing servants.

PRAY | HOW DOES THIS BRING US TO GOD?

Whether in response to anything pointed out here, or to something else in your Bible reading time, take a few moments before you close up your Bible to pray in response to God. If you need a format for prayer, both the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), CALL (Confess, Ask, Love, Listen), and PRAY (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) methods are helpful ways to stay consistent.

-Sean