2Sa 8:17 | KingComments | STEP | These verses give a picture of the kingdom of peace under the reign of the Lord Jesus. David reigns over all Israel. The whole people are safe under his protection and share in the fruits of his good reign. He is impartial and fair in lawsuit. He has never twisted the law out of favor or predilection. In his legal proceedings he proceeds without regard to the person. In this he is a type of Christ, Who is faithful and true and “in righteousness He judges and wages war” ( ; ). With a steady hand he exercises justice and righteousness among all the people, without doing wrong to someone or denial of right to anyone. It shows that the people have easy access to him and that he is prepared to listen to those who want to ask him something or appeal to him. David also has good officials at his court. He is the first leader of God’s people to have an established government. He also sees that he needs people who can manage well. He has two military officers, Joab and Benaiah. Joab is over the army in view of hostile forces outside of Israel. Benaiah is over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the bodyguard of David, and ensures the maintenance of internal order. He also has two priests for religious matters, Zadok and Ahimelech. The joint mention of Zadok and Ahimelech as priests indicates the transition that takes place in the priestly service. Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, is a descendant of Eli, the son of Ithamar, the son of Aaron. This line of the priesthood will end, as Samuel said to Eli ( ). Zadok is a descendant of Aaron via Eleazar, the other remaining son of Aaron ( ). Via Zadok the line of the priesthood is continued from the reign of Solomon ( ). Finally, there are two civil servants, Jehoshaphat and Seraiah. Jehoshaphat is recorder. He brings the important issues to David’s attention to deal with them. Seraiah is a secretary of state. He sets public order and keeps records of decisions and court rulings. We can learn spiritual lessons from David’s concern for internal peace by maintaining the law. He provides a good army, because he realizes that, all his enemies having been defeated, a threat from them continues to emanate. The army is not only there to maintain peace toward the peoples around them, it is also used to maintain peace among the members of the people themselves. Also internally there must be no outbreak of revolt. If we apply this to the life of the church, the lesson is that also when there are tensions between them, the true David is ready to restore peace and quiet. He has an ‘army’, His gifts to the church, who give clues that can make the tension disappear. In Acts 6, we have an example of such tensions. A group of believers feels disadvantaged. These believers feel that, compared to others, they get too little. If this grumble does not disappear quickly, it will have a devastating effect on the church. The ‘army’ of the Lord Jesus, the apostles, comes up with the solution, by which the grumbling stops. This solution does not lie in the use of violence, but in meeting the complainants wherever possible ( ). Such a solution requires a spiritual mind, the mind of the Lord Jesus. We also have a responsibility to ensure that we uphold His rights in our own lives and in the church of God. This means, that what He says in His Word is obeyed. This cannot happen by force or violence, but by the Spirit Who works in leaders whom the Lord has given. These leaders are not officially appointed persons. There is no such thing in the Bible. They are servants trained and formed by the Lord in the school of life. We are exhorted to be obedient and submissive to them ( ).

‏ 2 Samuel 8:17

Reign of David

These verses give a picture of the kingdom of peace under the reign of the Lord Jesus. David reigns over all Israel. The whole people are safe under his protection and share in the fruits of his good reign. He is impartial and fair in lawsuit. He has never twisted the law out of favor or predilection. In his legal proceedings he proceeds without regard to the person. In this he is a type of Christ, Who is faithful and true and “in righteousness He judges and wages war” (Rev 19:11; Psa 72:1-2).

With a steady hand he exercises justice and righteousness among all the people, without doing wrong to someone or denial of right to anyone. It shows that the people have easy access to him and that he is prepared to listen to those who want to ask him something or appeal to him.

David also has good officials at his court. He is the first leader of God’s people to have an established government. He also sees that he needs people who can manage well. He has two military officers, Joab and Benaiah. Joab is over the army in view of hostile forces outside of Israel. Benaiah is over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the bodyguard of David, and ensures the maintenance of internal order.

He also has two priests for religious matters, Zadok and Ahimelech. The joint mention of Zadok and Ahimelech as priests indicates the transition that takes place in the priestly service. Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, is a descendant of Eli, the son of Ithamar, the son of Aaron. This line of the priesthood will end, as Samuel said to Eli (1Sam 3:10-14). Zadok is a descendant of Aaron via Eleazar, the other remaining son of Aaron (1Chr 6:3-8). Via Zadok the line of the priesthood is continued from the reign of Solomon (1Kgs 2:35).

Finally, there are two civil servants, Jehoshaphat and Seraiah. Jehoshaphat is recorder. He brings the important issues to David’s attention to deal with them. Seraiah is a secretary of state. He sets public order and keeps records of decisions and court rulings.

We can learn spiritual lessons from David’s concern for internal peace by maintaining the law. He provides a good army, because he realizes that, all his enemies having been defeated, a threat from them continues to emanate. The army is not only there to maintain peace toward the peoples around them, it is also used to maintain peace among the members of the people themselves. Also internally there must be no outbreak of revolt.

If we apply this to the life of the church, the lesson is that also when there are tensions between them, the true David is ready to restore peace and quiet. He has an ‘army’, His gifts to the church, who give clues that can make the tension disappear.

In Acts 6, we have an example of such tensions. A group of believers feels disadvantaged. These believers feel that, compared to others, they get too little. If this grumble does not disappear quickly, it will have a devastating effect on the church. The ‘army’ of the Lord Jesus, the apostles, comes up with the solution, by which the grumbling stops. This solution does not lie in the use of violence, but in meeting the complainants wherever possible (Acts 6:1-6). Such a solution requires a spiritual mind, the mind of the Lord Jesus.

We also have a responsibility to ensure that we uphold His rights in our own lives and in the church of God. This means, that what He says in His Word is obeyed. This cannot happen by force or violence, but by the Spirit Who works in leaders whom the Lord has given. These leaders are not officially appointed persons. There is no such thing in the Bible. They are servants trained and formed by the Lord in the school of life. We are exhorted to be obedient and submissive to them (Heb 13:17a).