Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20020818.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part XLI: Handling Unjust Opposition As A God-Appointed Leader With A Rightful Following
(2 Samuel 5:4-25)
  1. Introduction
    1. When God establishes a leader in a marriage, family, church, business, etc., and the subordinates come to follow his lead, even then can ungodly opposition arise from parties outside the unified group.
    2. David exampled what was to occur to handle unjust opposition when he was in such a situation:
  2. Handling Unjust Opposition As A God-Appointed Leader With A Rightful Following, 2 Sam. 5:4-25.
    1. As we learned in the last lesson, David's God-ordained leadership was finally accepted by Israel, 5:1-3.
    2. Yet, following this unity came unjust opposition to David, and David revealed how to handle it in 5:4-25:
      1. Realizing his appointment as king was for the nation's welfare as GOD viewed it, David involved his subordinates in addressing the unjust opposition he faced so as to edify THEM, 2 Samuel 5:4-9:
        1. After describing David's tenure first as king over Hebron for seven years and then over all Israel for thirty-three years, the author of 2 Samuel noted opposition arose against DAVID'S leadership: (a) Though the author of 2 Samuel noted David enjoyed blessing in ruling first Judah and then all Israel (2 Samuel 5:4-5), he also relayed the Canaanites who had always dwelt in the impregnable fortress of Jebus (now Jerusalem) mocked David's rule, 2 Samuel 5:6: they claimed unless David could overcome the blind and lame in their impregnable fortress, he would not be able to enter their city! (b) Thus, though David enjoyed unity in Israel, some in the land still personally opposed him!
        2. However, David saw his oversight was PURPOSED by GOD for ISRAEL'S welfare rather than for any PERSONAL concerns, 5:12. Hence, David involved his men to handle this threat, promising his subordinates a reward for responsible leadership: he offered the man who led an attack to destroy the Jebus fortress the role of commander of his military forces, 2 Samuel 5:8.
        3. David suggested the plan for someone to take the city in 2 Samuel 5:8.
        4. We know that David's people took the Jebus stronghold to convert it into the city of Jerusalem, and that Joab led the assault by way of the city's water tunnel, cf. 2 Samuel 5:9; 8:15-16.
        5. Though David had publicly humiliated Joab for his murder of Abner, David JUSTLY rewarded him for heeding David's suggestion to conquer the fort, cf. 2 Sam. 3:30-31; 8:16.
        6. When Joab and his men conquered the fort, David supported their success, (a) making the city his capital, (b) fortifying it, (c) building his palace there and (d) expanding his family in it, 5:9, 10-11.
      2. As David's anointing became known so the Philistines tried to oppose him, since David knew God had the nation's welfare at heart in his leadership (5:12), David involved the Lord to address the enemy:
        1. David's anointing as king over Israel attracted the displeasure of the Philistines, cf. 2 Samuel 5:17a.
        2. Apparently assuming they could conquer David easily as they had Saul in 1 Samuel 31, they amassed their forces in the valley of Rephaim, the most direct approach to Jerusalem, 2 Sam. 5:18.
        3. David responded by involving his men in moving into position to confront the enemy, and also by looking to the Lord for guidance, 2 Samuel 5:17b, 19a.
        4. When God promised him victory, David's forces pierced the Philistine line to defeat them, 5:19b-21
        5. Thinking they could defeat David by making a different approach in the same location, the Philistines advanced a second time into the valley of Rephaim, 2 Samuel 5:22.
        6. David wisely did not assume victory in his own power, but sought God's advice in this repeat conflict; God then directed him in a rear attack where God signaled He was leading the battle, 5:23f.
        7. When David obeyed, God gave him the victory and dominance over Philistine territory, 2 Sam. 5:25
Lesson: In God-ordained oversight, the overseer must realize his role is NOT for PERSONAL advantage, and thus must NOT view opposition to his leadership as a PERSONAL vendetta, but see GOD'S interest in the GROUP'S welfare in his very appointment. As such, the overseer must let GOD and the GROUP he leads get MUTUALLY involved in addressing unjust opposition to his leadership!

Application: May we who lead in marriages, families, churches, businesses, etc. as God's rightfully-ordained leaders never carry personal vendettas if unjustly opposed, but identify with GOD and our SUBORDINATES as BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP is to be innately SELFLESS!