2 Samuel 5:6-10 – Don’t dwell on the negative

David had finally become king and united Israel under his rulership. He then set out to acquire Jerusalem to make it the capital of Israel. The reason is obvious. Hebron, where he had been dwelling and ruling from, was too far south to be strategic. Moving further up north and a more central place would be more strategic and easier to manage the whole nation. So he set out to take the city of Jerusalem, located at the border of Judah and the northern tribes.

Jerusalem, possessed by the Jebusites, was previously known as Jebus. Joshua, during the period of the conquest, had conquered the Jebusites. Judges 1:8 tells us that the people of Israel had captured Jerusalem. Although the city was captured, the people of Israel did not possess it but instead set it on fire and left it uninhabited. The neglected city was re-taken by the Jebusites again. Its location on the steep hill made it difficult to penetrate. That was why the Jebusites were so arrogant. They had the gall to defy David saying, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” They had under-estimated David who challenged his men to take that city via the water shaft. The Jebusites did not anticipate that David’s men would reach them via the water shaft. But David’s men managed to reach the city, overran, captured, and fortified it. It was renamed the city of David. And the king’s fame grew greater. How could David not prosper with God on his side? So verse 10 makes it clear the reason for his success i.e. because of the LORD, the God of hosts who was with him.  

David was not only patient but was also strategic and inspirational. He knew that to be effective, he needed a more central place to operate from. Jerusalem would not only be central but also well-fortified. Despite the negative comments and insults, the Jebusites hurled at him, he did not let them restrict him. Instead, he used it to positively challenge the people and made them even bolder. So they took the city. Unwittingly, we are people who are often susceptible to negative comments and are often thwarted by them. This is where we need to take a lesson from David. Two things seemed obvious in David’s life. Firstly, he relied on his God. And secondly, he resiliently explored solutions despite the limitations. Don’t dwell on what we can’t do. Learn to assert our minds and explore ways that we can do. Best of all, look to Jesus and our limitations will go strangely dim. Take heart. God is on our side!