2 Samuel 8
by Pastor David Groendyk

2 Samuel 7 is certainly one of the most important chapters in the Bible that points forward to Jesus Christ and what he will do and be like. David himself though would receive his own fulfillments to God’s covenant promises. Chapter 8 already shows us how God is fulfilling his promises in David.

God had promised in 2 Samuel 7:9–11 that he would make David a great name on the earth and that he would give his people Israel rest from all the enemies that disturb and afflict them. In verses 1–14 of today’s chapter, we see an immediate fulfillment of those covenant promises. In order, David defeats the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, with other references to defeating the Ammonites and Amalekites. All of these nations surrounded Israel and continually plagued them throughout their history, and here we have David subduing them all, expanding the kingdom, and giving his own people rest. And much like in chapter 5, we have some foreign enemies being conquered while others are willingly submitting themselves and bringing gifts and tributes to the king.

The kingdom of God under the rule of the anointed king of God expands and grows. As the Lord gave salvation to his people (translated as “victory” in vv. 6 and 14), God’s kingdom grew. This is the way with Christ today. Our tools are no longer like David’s, because God’s people are no longer a nation. We don’t use weapons, armies, politics, borders, and presidents to further God’s kingdom. But wherever the Lord provides salvation, there the kingdom is growing. As we go out, share the gospel, turn hearts to worship and bow down to the Lord, and show them how to bring the whole of their lives under submission to God, the kingdom of God grows. We proclaim the gospel, evangelize, and bring people into the church. That is the mission of the church, and wherever the church is carrying out that mission, God’s name is being recognized and glorified, and more and more people are submitting to his reign and rule more fully.

David also points forward to Christ in this chapter in verses 15–18. One way David exemplifies the work of Christ is that he administers justice and equity to all his people and he puts everything in order. Whether it was in matters of wisdom and judgment or in setting up the captain of the army, the recorder, the secretary, or the priests, there was much decency and order in the kingdom. David ably and skillfully judged and ruled his people, and so does Christ. We must trust that the means and methods of governing and growing the church which Christ has put into place (namely, elders and deacons, his Word, his sacraments, prayer, corporate worship, etc.) are the good and wise ways of governing and growing the church. More than that, in a more personal sense, we must trust that in whatever circumstances we endure as God’s people, Christ is ruling justly and ably. Nothing that Christ does is ever unfair or a mistake. We should have confidence that God is caring for us and loving us no matter what he does in our lives. Christ is the perfect, good, wise, and just king, and he knows how to rule. Let us trust his judgments, his commands, and his promises, and let us get to work bringing the good news of his salvation, reign, and rule to more people.