Today’s passage: 2 Samuel 8
Helpful thoughts:
- The kingdom of Israel extended to the north, south, east and west during David’s reign.
- When Toi sent his son to bless David and bring gifts, this was an act of voluntary submission. Toi could not defeat Hedadezer, therefore he was happy to become loyal to David peacefully.
- Psalm 60 was written along with these events from 2 Samuel 8.
- Verse 15 is a picture of what will be done with complete perfection only when Christ rules and reigns.
- David’s sons did not serve as priests in the same way Zadok and Ahimelech did. They were “ministers” in the king’s court. Think “ministers” in the political sense, not the spiritual. (See 1 Chronicles 18:17 for the translation of the parallel passage)
Questions to consider:
- How would people look at David’s actions today? If someone did today what David accomplished in this chapter, what would the world think? Would it be right or wrong? What makes David and the nation of Israel in the OT different than any king or political leader today?
- What does it mean that David ruled over all Israel with justice and equity for all his people? What makes this task so hard to fulfill in this world as it is? Why will Jesus be the only one who can truly fulfill the task?
- How will the kingdom of God under King Jesus look different perhaps than the kingdom of Israel under David? Where will the people come from? What will be the core foundation of our allegiance? What will be our bond of unity? In what ways should that bond already be shared in all Christ followers now?