United and Delivered by the Chosen

2 Samuel 5:1-25
    1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the LORD said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.
    6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, “You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you,” thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 7 Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).  8 Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David's soul), he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
    9 Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David. And David built all around from the Millo and inward. 10 So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.  11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters and masons. And they built David a house. 12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
    13 And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
    17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”  And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”  20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.
    22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. 24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25 And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

Israel was finally united by the one chosen by the LORD after the last of Saul’s house was gone and the people who had followed him remembered David’s victories in battle under Saul.  They realized David was of the same people who were God’s, and that the LORD had called and chosen him to lead His people as their shepherd.  Therefore the elders made him king in a covenant with the LORD who had chosen him.  He took Jerusalem as his city and center of rule in spite of being taunted that the blind and lame would repel Israel’s forces; they were easily defeated and a byword was formed about the blind and lame not coming into the house to mock the memory of those assuming their little might was stronger than that of God’s people in His might.  Since God was with King David, he was able to build up and fortify his city on the hill and know it was a kingdom glorified to glorify Him through His chosen one, David.  He repeatedly defeated his enemies the Philistines by God’s work and might as he sought direction and authority of counsel to attack, knowing that if the LORD promised victory, it would be granted.  This shows is that God chooses us as His people in Christ, the chosen and anointed Messiah who is the deliverer, the Savior, of all His people.  We fight the good fight for the souls of the lost under certain judgement to condemnation, knowing in His strength and counsel we will be victorious with the words of life (Acts 5:20) that give the victory of deliverance from sin’s due and certain penalty.  In Christ we attack the enemy’s lies of doubting God’s word with the freeing truth of trusting the living Word (John 1:1, 8:31-32) to believe in and receiving for that salvation (John 1:12) which cannot be returned or lost (John 10:28-29).  This is the gospel of Jesus the Christ and we are His chosen people who fight against hidden forces of darkness (Ephesians 3:10, 6:12) to open dungeon doors and flood the hopeless with the light of life (John 8:12), bringing them out of darkness (Acts 26:18).  This is the victory in Christ, His salvation through the grace of the gospel.  We are delivered and united by the Chosen.