Now take the concept of the marriage covenant. None of us signs a contract with a spouse, do we? Instead; we mutually pledge ourselves to agree to, to abide by, and to hold ourselves accountable to each other by a covenant we call marriage. Covenants are expressions of confidence in each other. Covenants are expressions of mutual trust. Covenants are designed to be a blessing to both parties. That’s why I call this the blessing of the covenant.
And what’s really intriguing about this whole covenant-making idea is this. You’ll always see people sharing a meal when they make a covenant. You sit down together, eat, fellowship, and simply enjoy one another at the covenant meal.
1. The Israelites declare their submission to their new king.
2. The blessing of the covenant.
3. We live our lives in the sight of the LORD. Look again at verse three. (3) “So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league [covenant] with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.”
More than any other thing that these Israelites can do when setting David on their throne is this. They did so before the LORD. You see, it’s one thing to carry on your life before the eyes of man. It’s quite another to recognize that your attitudes, actions, and words are being observed by the LORD Himself.
Folks, the eyes of the LORD are everywhere. Here’s what the Scriptures say. Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 13:18 “When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
I Samuel 26:24 “And, behold, as thy life was much set by [greatly esteemed] this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set [greatly esteemed] by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.” Even in the throes of the challenges David faced with King Saul’s hatred, he knew that the eyes that really mattered weren’t King Saul’s, but God’s.
Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Proverbs 5:21 “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
Whatever you do, you do before His eyes. Whatever you are, you are before His eyes. All that you think and all that you feel and all that you believe and all that makes you you is before His eyes. He’s fully aware of every single thing. So, when this covenant was cut between Israel and David, both parties knew that they were binding themselves, yes, before each other; but more so, before the LORD of Heaven and Earth. And has anything changed? Are you not right now living beneath His powerful eyes? His faithful eyes? His righteous eyes? His pure eyes? His loving and tender eyes?
Things haven’t changed when it comes to God. He’s the same today as He was on this page of your Bible.
1. The Israelites declare their submission to their new king.
2. The blessing of the covenant.
3. We live our lives in the sight of the LORD.
Now, how will you live this week in light of II Samuel 5:1-6? First, have you declared your submission to God? As you know, the very first matter that God wants you to settle with Him is your salvation. It might be that you have never become one of His children. And so; you aren’t able to do what He says in these passages we’ve studied today. Here’s how the LORD views you if you’ve never come to His Son for His free offer of Salvation. It’s your sin that separates you from Him. Here’s what He says about that.
Isaiah 59:2 says this. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” So, here’s what the LORD sees. He gave us His Only Begotten Son to die to pay the penalty for your sins. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And, today, if you will repent of your sins and put your trust on Christ for eternal life, you will immediately become a child of God. You will receive the Free Gift of eternal life.
Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” The Scriptures teach that Today is the Day of Salvation. Why not right now pray the salvation prayer?
Here’s that wonderful prayer. “I admit to You that I am a sinner and deserve Your justice for my sins. I now see that you are a God of grace and that by grace I can be saved. Here is a simple and a wonderful salvation prayer. You only need to pray it once and the LORD forgives you forever and you become His child. “I admit to You that I am a sinner and deserve Your justice for my sins. I now see that you are a God of grace and that by grace I can be saved. Please forgive me of my sins. I receive Jesus Your Son as my Savior and LORD. Amen.”
And finally, have you surrendered your life into His hands – just for today? Knowing that He’s got tomorrow and all your tomorrows well in hand? Are you daily praying the Prayer of Surrender? It’s both a conviction and a confirmation in your heart. Either you truly want Him to work His will upon you. Or, you are insisting on your way being better than His.
Here’s the prayer.
"LORD, I submit all that I am to you; my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your will upon me today." As you know, it’s always best to apply the principles of the Bible to your circumstances. Is this your prayer? If not, why not.
And what’s really intriguing about this whole covenant-making idea is this. You’ll always see people sharing a meal when they make a covenant. You sit down together, eat, fellowship, and simply enjoy one another at the covenant meal.
1. The Israelites declare their submission to their new king.
2. The blessing of the covenant.
3. We live our lives in the sight of the LORD. Look again at verse three. (3) “So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league [covenant] with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.”
More than any other thing that these Israelites can do when setting David on their throne is this. They did so before the LORD. You see, it’s one thing to carry on your life before the eyes of man. It’s quite another to recognize that your attitudes, actions, and words are being observed by the LORD Himself.
Folks, the eyes of the LORD are everywhere. Here’s what the Scriptures say. Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 13:18 “When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
I Samuel 26:24 “And, behold, as thy life was much set by [greatly esteemed] this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set [greatly esteemed] by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.” Even in the throes of the challenges David faced with King Saul’s hatred, he knew that the eyes that really mattered weren’t King Saul’s, but God’s.
Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Proverbs 5:21 “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
Whatever you do, you do before His eyes. Whatever you are, you are before His eyes. All that you think and all that you feel and all that you believe and all that makes you you is before His eyes. He’s fully aware of every single thing. So, when this covenant was cut between Israel and David, both parties knew that they were binding themselves, yes, before each other; but more so, before the LORD of Heaven and Earth. And has anything changed? Are you not right now living beneath His powerful eyes? His faithful eyes? His righteous eyes? His pure eyes? His loving and tender eyes?
Things haven’t changed when it comes to God. He’s the same today as He was on this page of your Bible.
1. The Israelites declare their submission to their new king.
2. The blessing of the covenant.
3. We live our lives in the sight of the LORD.
Now, how will you live this week in light of II Samuel 5:1-6? First, have you declared your submission to God? As you know, the very first matter that God wants you to settle with Him is your salvation. It might be that you have never become one of His children. And so; you aren’t able to do what He says in these passages we’ve studied today. Here’s how the LORD views you if you’ve never come to His Son for His free offer of Salvation. It’s your sin that separates you from Him. Here’s what He says about that.
Isaiah 59:2 says this. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” So, here’s what the LORD sees. He gave us His Only Begotten Son to die to pay the penalty for your sins. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And, today, if you will repent of your sins and put your trust on Christ for eternal life, you will immediately become a child of God. You will receive the Free Gift of eternal life.
Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” The Scriptures teach that Today is the Day of Salvation. Why not right now pray the salvation prayer?
Here’s that wonderful prayer. “I admit to You that I am a sinner and deserve Your justice for my sins. I now see that you are a God of grace and that by grace I can be saved. Here is a simple and a wonderful salvation prayer. You only need to pray it once and the LORD forgives you forever and you become His child. “I admit to You that I am a sinner and deserve Your justice for my sins. I now see that you are a God of grace and that by grace I can be saved. Please forgive me of my sins. I receive Jesus Your Son as my Savior and LORD. Amen.”
And finally, have you surrendered your life into His hands – just for today? Knowing that He’s got tomorrow and all your tomorrows well in hand? Are you daily praying the Prayer of Surrender? It’s both a conviction and a confirmation in your heart. Either you truly want Him to work His will upon you. Or, you are insisting on your way being better than His.
Here’s the prayer.
"LORD, I submit all that I am to you; my spirit, my soul, and my body. Do with me what is most pleasing to you. Work out Your will upon me today." As you know, it’s always best to apply the principles of the Bible to your circumstances. Is this your prayer? If not, why not.
The end