BESTIR THYSELF
B.R.: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; 5:17-25
TEXT: 2Sa 5:24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
INTRODUCTION: In the first 3 verses of 2 Samuel 5, we find some compelling events.
When the representatives of all the tribes gathered to ask David to be their king, they had three compelling reasons.
First, they were family. In the larger sense they were all children of Jacob. To be specific, David was Saul’s son-in-law. It didn’t make sense for people who were family to continue to be at war with each other.
In essence, we are the family of God. Sons and daughters of the king. It would behoove us not to be at odds with each other. That’s all the enemy of your soul wants.
Rev. 12:10 says:…. Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
The devil is the one who accuses each one of us. Most of the time, the devils lies are mixed in with some truth to make it believable.
Second, David was already a proven leader of Israel.
The people remembered the times when David had led Saul’s army into battle and defeated their enemies. Saul’s jealousy had been fed by the people’s love for David and a fear that they would turn to him as their king.
Third, they felt that the Lord had chosen David.
Some may have known of Samuel’s anointing of David (1Sa_16:13) but more of them probably witnessed God’s blessings upon David and accepted that as a sign of God’s anointing. Everything seemed right in their request.
There was a very simple principle at work in the logic of the elders. They turned their back on all of their differences and focused on the things they had in common, the things that could unite them.
The cause of Christ’s kingdom would be helped if Christians could learn to come together rather than arguing over differences.
David made a covenant with the elders that stipulated the nature of the kingship. There were two aspects of David’s covenant with the elders that are key to understanding this story and which apply to us today.
First, it was a covenant that laid out the obligations of both parties. While there may have been things that David wanted the people to agree concerning their commitments to him, there were also his obligations to the people.
A wise attorney once said that both parties win in any good agreement.
There are too many people in the world today who have forgotten the mutual aspect of covenant relationships and this continually undermines businesses, international relationships, and relationships between people.
The second element in David’s covenant with the elders was that it was made as verse 3 says "before the LORD".
They made a religious ceremony out of the agreement. This was a serious commitment.
It acknowledged God’s part in bringing them together.
It sought God’s continued leadership in the affairs of Israel.
Our lives are given their meaning by the covenants we make and keep.
Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ means entering into a covenant with God. It is a relationship with obligations not only on God’s part, but also ours.
Getting married is entering into a sacred covenant.
All of us need to learn to see the covenants that we make as "before God" and to find resources in God for keeping those covenants.
David’s anointing as king was probably done by a priest— although none is mentioned—at the instruction of the elders of Israel.
That ceremony brought to fruition what had been anticipated when Samuel had visited the house of Jesse and anointed David while he was just a kid in the presence of his brothers.
This should be a reminder to us that there is a great distance between the beginning of a dream and its fulfillment.
From the first day to tonights church service, his dream of building a church in this city is being fulfilled.
Paul said in 1Co_3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
There must have been times when David doubted that he was God’s anointed because of the trials he went through as a fugitive and an exile.
We live in a society that is obsessed with instant everything.
This mentality has also affected how we view the Christian life.
We often want now what it takes God time to create.
The Fruit of the Spirit don’t come from a hurried-up, crash course on Christian living.
You remember Joseph. The dream that he had as a youth took almost twenty years to fulfill. It included abuse, slavery, temptation, prison, and betrayal.
Most of the time, we only think of the destination that God has for us and forget the journey.
David’s journey had included both praise and persecution, deep friendships and enemies, but through it all, God was moving David’s life forward toward the goal that He had for his life and those that followed Him.
When the Philistines "heard that they had anointed David king over Israel" (2Sa_5:17) they decided to attack.
As long as the two rival groups of Israelite tribes were fighting with each other they were no threat to anyone. Now that they were unified, the Philistines were concerned and moved against David before he had time to consolidate his resources.
Christians ought to learn from this lesson. As long as we use up our energy competing with each other, the world isn’t going to worry about us.
This is probably why the world tends to be so patronizing of the church. When God’s children join their considerable resources to do God’s work, they always get a reaction from the world that operates with different values and goals.
When you are only a so called “casual Christian”, the world will not take you seriously because you aren’t serious about your walk with God.
But when you allow the Spirit of God to move you and guide you, the world around you will take note that you have been with Jesus.
When a man or a woman come face to face with the Master, things begin to change.
David made 2 moves on the Philistines but he did not make a move against them without consulting God.
Knowing what questions to ask God is a part of spiritual wisdom. In the first battle, David’s request was if he should engage the Philistines.
In his second inquiry, the questions related to strategy. One battle called for a frontal attack and the other for a flanking movement.
The capturing of the Philistine’s idols was an answer to the Philistines capturing the ark of the covenant In both cases it was God’s battle and that God was going before them into battle.
Often God’s children make the mistake of thinking that the work is theirs and that it must be done in their own strength.
2 Chronicles 20:15 says: …Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
If God isn’t in it, it will not come to pass. The battle will be lost. Oh yes, we have unsuccessful attempts, but God makes up the difference.
Paul made mention in 1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
The point of the whole chapter is summarized by verse 10:
"So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him."
David owed all his dependence on God for victory. The assurance God has given us of victory over our spiritual enemies, should encourage us in our spiritual conflicts.
David waited till God moved; he stirred then, but not till then. When God told David to moved!
He was trained in dependence on God and his providence.
God performed his promise, and David failed not to improve his advantages.
As New Testament Christians, God is setting up his kingdom. How is he doing that preacher? He is doing it through those that he calls.
God calls all. The bible says that “all are called, but few are chosen.” God is setting up His kingdom through His people. For the bible says in 1Co_4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
God told David to BESTIR THYSELF when you hear the sounds of the mulberry trees moving in the tops.
Just like the moving of the mulberry trees, when the kingdom of God was set up, the apostles, who were to beat down the devil’s kingdom, was not even suppose to attempt any thing till they received the promise of the Spirit; who came with a sound from heaven, as of a sound of a rushing, mighty wind, Act_2:2.
It’s the same today, God is still moving by His Spirit. Can you hear the trees moving? The Spirit is wanting you to BESTIR THYSELF….MOVE!!!
Move in the direction that the Spirit of the Lord wants you to go.
