This chapter gives an account of the message of Hiram king of Tyre to David, and of David's taking him more wives, with the names of his children by them; and of two battles he fought with the Philistines, in which he had the victory over them; the same are recorded in #2Sa 5:11-25 see the notes there; See Gill on "2Sa 5:11". See Gill on "2Sa 5:12". See Gill on "2Sa 5:13". See Gill on "2Sa 5:14". See Gill on "2Sa 5:15". See Gill on "2Sa 5:16". See Gill on "2Sa 5:17". See Gill on "2Sa 5:18". See Gill on "2Sa 5:19". See Gill on "2Sa 5:20". See Gill on "2Sa 5:21". See Gill on "2Sa 5:22". See Gill on "2Sa 5:23". See Gill on "2Sa 5:24". See Gill on "2Sa 5:25", and the chapter is concluded with observing, that the fame of David, on account of his victories, was spread in all countries, and they were struck with a panic from the Lord, and were in dread of him. (Gill)
V. 2, there was one thing things that showed David that the Lord is the one who established him as king – his kingdom was exalted. The reason his kingdom was exalted was because of his people Israel.
2. his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel—This is an important truth, that sovereigns are invested with royal honor and authority, not for their own sakes so much as for that of their people. But while it is true of all kings, it was especially applicable to the monarchs of Israel, and even David was made to know that all his glory and greatness were given only to fit him, as the minister of God, to execute the divine purposes towards the chosen people. (JFB)
David and his kingdom was lifted on high because of his people Israel.
Because:
1) all of the people united behind David, and made him king.
Or
2) the people loved the Lord, and wanted a godly king, so God gave them David.
Or
3) the Lord loved His people, and gave them David, a king after His own heart. (1 Kings 10:9, 2 Chronicles 2:11.)
Any of the three understandings above require the Lord working in the hearts of the people toward David, with #2 being the most unlikely because of the sinful nature of man (though the Lord can overrule that nature). He alone can give people the desire to have a righteous kingdom and ruler over them. Scripture supports 3, because God loved his people, he gave them a godly king.
Of course, this idea can be developed — because the Lord wants to judge His people, He gives them ungodly leaders.
V. 4, David "loved" women, and took many wives and concubines to himself. (2 Samuel 5:13.) His major area of weakness was women. Though a strong king who could justly rule an army and a kingdom, he could not rule his own spirit. God strictly forbad His rulers from multiplying wives to himself. The warning is that they will turn his heart away from serving the Lord. (Deuteronomy 17:17.)
From my notes in 2 Samuel 5:13-15.
Of course we must condemn David for more than one wife. God never meant it to be that way, but He permitted it. This shows to us David's weakness, women. Women caused him to fall, cost him his family and Solomon the kingdom.Notice that he took more without checking with the Lord about it.
Psalms 127:5 As Matthew Henry says: "Happy is the man that has his quiver full of these arrows but one vine by the side of the house with the blessings of God, may send boughs to the sea, and branches to the river."
David's many vines (wives) and arrows (children) got him in a barrel of trouble. (2 Samuel 5:13-16, 11:27.)
They led to his downfall, and destroyed his united kingdom, as Solomon followed in his father's footsteps, and greatly multiplied wives to himself. Israel was of oriental, and it seems to be a desire of the orientals to have many wives.
Vv. 6-17, David's wars.
The Philistines heard of David's advancement to king over all Israel, so they united together to try to overthrow him. They gathered in the valley of Rephaim to make war against David. David enquired of the Lord as to whether or not to go against the Philistines. David went, and the Lord gave him a great victory.
David's victory was so overwhelming that the Philistines left their gods they had taken into battle with them on the field. David burned them.
The Philistines were still determined to make war against David, so they tried again. David again checked with the Lord, and this time, the Lord gave David different instructions as to how to wage this battle. Again, there was a mighty victory, and David's fame spread, and the Lord brought the fear of David upon all nations.
(Again, I have a study of this account in 2 Samuel.)
Observe:
Both times, David enquired of the Lord when confronted with the enemy. However, he refused to enquire of the Lord when confronted with the enemy within–his own uncontrolled lusts for more women. If he would have entered into those relationships with the same care as he entered into battle, things would have been a lot different.
However, we cannot look down at David in this area, for we are so much like him. We also have the same sinful nature that presses ahead in areas controlled by our lusts. There is probably more on the subject of dying to our lusts than any other one subject in the New Testament:
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
1 Timothy 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
V. 3 here is an interesting verse, for which I have no answer. Consider what Nathan told David:
2 Samuel 12:8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
Nathan apparently told David there that if David lusted after more women, if he would have asked God, the Lord would have given him more women.
1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Though David is identified as a man after God's own heart, he had such a problem with lust that it resulted in murder and a divided kingdom.