Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, 'You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.'" Even while Saul was king over usThis phrase acknowledges the historical context of David's rise to power. Saul, the first king of Israel, was anointed by the prophet Samuel but eventually fell out of favor with God due to his disobedience. The Hebrew root for "king" (מֶלֶךְ, melek) signifies a ruler or sovereign, emphasizing the authority Saul held. Despite Saul's reign, David was recognized as a leader, indicating his God-given destiny and the people's awareness of his potential. This reflects the divine orchestration in leadership transitions, where God's plans prevail despite human authority. you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back
This phrase highlights David's role as a military leader and shepherd of the people. The Hebrew verbs for "led out" (יָצָא, yatsa) and "brought back" (בּוֹא, bo) convey movement and guidance, akin to a shepherd with his flock. David's leadership was not just in battle but in ensuring the safety and return of his people, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd. Historically, David's military prowess and strategic acumen were well-documented, earning him respect and loyalty from the tribes of Israel. And the LORD said to you
This phrase underscores the divine calling and anointing of David. The use of "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) signifies the covenantal name of God, emphasizing His sovereign will and purpose. God's direct communication with David through prophets like Samuel highlights the theocratic nature of Israel's monarchy, where the king was subject to divine authority. This serves as a reminder of God's active role in guiding His people and establishing leaders according to His will. You will shepherd My people Israel
The metaphor of a shepherd (רָעָה, ra'ah) is rich with meaning, portraying leadership as nurturing, guiding, and protecting. David, once a literal shepherd, was called to shepherd God's people, reflecting a leadership style based on care and responsibility. This imagery foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Shepherd, who leads His flock with love and sacrifice. The historical context of shepherding in ancient Israel, a common occupation, would resonate deeply with the people, illustrating the relational and pastoral nature of David's kingship. and you will be ruler over Israel
The term "ruler" (נָגִיד, nagid) implies a leader or prince, one who stands at the forefront. This designation confirms David's God-ordained position as king, distinct from Saul's failed kingship. The historical transition from Saul to David marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history, where God's choice of a ruler aligns with His covenantal promises. David's rule, characterized by a heart after God, sets a standard for leadership that prioritizes obedience and faithfulness to God's commands. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidAnointed as king over Israel, David is recognized for his leadership and God’s calling on his life to shepherd His people. 2. SaulThe first king of Israel, under whose reign David initially served and gained recognition as a leader. 3. IsraelThe nation of God's chosen people, whom David is called to lead and shepherd. 4. The LORDGod, who appoints and anoints David as the shepherd and ruler over Israel. 5. HebronThe place where David was anointed king over all Israel, marking the beginning of his reign. Teaching Points God’s Sovereign ChoiceGod chooses leaders according to His purpose and plan, often looking beyond human qualifications to the heart. Leadership through ServiceTrue leadership in God’s kingdom is characterized by service and shepherding, as exemplified by David’s care for Israel. Faithfulness in Small ThingsDavid’s faithfulness in leading Israel in battle prepared him for greater responsibilities. God often uses our current circumstances to prepare us for future roles. God’s Promises FulfilledGod’s promises may take time to come to fruition, as seen in David’s journey from anointing to kingship. Patience and trust in God’s timing are essential. Christ as the Ultimate ShepherdDavid’s role as a shepherd points to Jesus, the ultimate Shepherd, who leads and cares for His people with perfect love and sacrifice. Bible Study Questions 1. How does David’s experience as a shepherd prepare him for his role as king over Israel? 2. In what ways can we see God’s hand in the transition of leadership from Saul to David? 3. How does the concept of shepherding apply to modern Christian leadership, both in the church and in personal life? 4. What can we learn from David’s patience and trust in God’s timing regarding His promises? 5. How does understanding David’s role as a shepherd enhance our understanding of Jesus as the Good Shepherd? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 16This chapter describes the anointing of David by Samuel, signifying God’s choice of David as king. Psalm 78:70-72These verses highlight David’s role as a shepherd and leader, chosen by God to guide His people with integrity. John 10:11Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, drawing a parallel to David’s role as a shepherd of Israel. Ezekiel 34:23God promises to set up one shepherd over His people, a prophecy pointing to both David and ultimately to Christ. People David, Eliada, Eliphalet, Eliphelet, Elishama, Elishua, Gibeon, Hiram, Ibhar, Japhia, Jebusites, Nathan, Nepheg, Saul, Shammua, Shammuah, Shobab, SolomonPlaces Baal-perazim, Geba, Gezer, Hebron, Jerusalem, Millo, Tyre, Valley of Rephaim, ZionTopics Aforetime, Bring, Bringing, Broughtest, Campaigns, Captain, Feed, Hast, Heretofore, Keeper, Lead, Leader, Led, Leddest, Military, Past, Previously, Prince, Ruler, Saul, Saul's, Shepherd, WastDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Samuel 5:2 1220 God, as shepherd 2 Samuel 5:1-2 5509 rulers
8130 guidance, from godly people 2 Samuel 5:1-3 7236 Israel, united kingdom 2 Samuel 5:1-5 5366 king Library One Fold and one Shepherd
'Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 2. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed My people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel. 4. David was …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Sound in the Mulberry Trees
My brethren, let us learn from David to take no steps without God. The last time you moved, or went into another business, or changed your situation in life, you asked God's help, and then did it, and you were blessed in the doing of it. You have been up to this time a successful man, you have always sought God, but do not think that the stream of providence necessarily runs in a continuous current; remember, you may to-morrow without seeking God's advice venture upon a step which you will regret …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 Early Days
The life of David is naturally divided into epochs, of which we may avail ourselves for the more ready arrangement of our material. These are--his early years up to his escape from the court of Saul, his exile, the prosperous beginning of his reign, his sin and penitence, his flight before Absalom's rebellion, and the darkened end. We have but faint incidental traces of his life up to his anointing by Samuel, with which the narrative in the historical books opens. But perhaps the fact that the story …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David God's Strange Work
'That He may do His work, His strange work; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.'--ISAIAH xxviii. 21. How the great events of one generation fall dead to another! There is something very pathetic in the oblivion that swallows up world- resounding deeds. Here the prophet selects two instances which to him are solemn and singular examples of divine judgment, and we have difficulty in finding out to what he refers. To him they seemed the most luminous illustrations he could find of the principle …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The King.
We have now to turn and see the sudden change of fortune which lifted the exile to a throne. The heavy cloud which had brooded so long over the doomed king broke in lightning crash on the disastrous field of Gilboa. Where is there a sadder and more solemn story of the fate of a soul which makes shipwreck "of faith and of a good conscience," than that awful page which tells how, godless, wretched, mad with despair and measureless pride, he flung himself on his bloody sword, and died a suicide's death, …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers. …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Samuel 5:2 NIV2 Samuel 5:2 NLT2 Samuel 5:2 ESV2 Samuel 5:2 NASB2 Samuel 5:2 KJV
2 Samuel 5:2 Commentaries
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