The book of 2 Samuel is a historical account of the life and reign of King David, one of the most prominent figures in the Bible. But more than that, it is also a revelation of the character of God, who chose, anointed, blessed, disciplined, and restored David as his servant. In this article, we will explore some of the attributes and characteristics of God that are displayed in the book of 2 Samuel, and how they relate to us today.
Some of the attributes and characteristics of God that we can learn from the book of 2 Samuel are:
– God is sovereign. He rules over all things and accomplishes his purposes according to his will. He is the one who established David as king over Israel and gave him victory over his enemies (2 Samuel 5:10, 12). He is also the one who allowed David to fall into sin and suffer the consequences of his actions (2 Samuel 12:10-12). He is the one who raised up and put down kings and nations according to his plan (2 Samuel 7:8-16; 24:1-25).
– God is faithful. He keeps his promises and does not change his mind. He made a covenant with David to establish his throne and his kingdom forever, and he did not revoke it even when David sinned against him (2 Samuel 7:12-16; 23:5). He also fulfilled his promise to give David a son who would build a house for his name, and who would be the ancestor of the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:12-13; 12:24-25; Luke 1:31-33).
– God is righteous. He is holy and just, and he hates sin and evil. He does not overlook or condone the wickedness of his people, but he judges them and disciplines them according to their deeds. He exposed and condemned David’s sin of adultery and murder, and he sent a prophet to rebuke him and announce his punishment (2 Samuel 12:1-14). He also executed justice on those who rebelled against him and his anointed, such as Saul, Absalom, and Sheba (2 Samuel 1:14-16; 18:9-15; 20:21-22).
– God is merciful. He is compassionate and gracious, and he forgives and restores those who repent and seek his face. He accepted David’s confession and contrition, and he spared his life and forgave his sin (2 Samuel 12:13). He also showed kindness and generosity to those who were loyal and humble before him, such as Abigail, Mephibosheth, and Barzillai (2 Samuel 25:32-35; 9:1-13; 19:31-39).
– God is relational. He is not distant or impersonal, but he desires to have a close and intimate relationship with his people. He revealed himself to David as his Lord, his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his shield, his horn, his stronghold, his refuge, his savior, his shepherd, and his friend (2 Samuel 22:2-4, 29-31, 36, 47-51; 23:1-5; 24:14). He also communicated with David through his word, his Spirit, his prophets, and his providence (2 Samuel 7:4-17; 23:2; 12:1-25; 24:11-25).
These are just some of the aspects of the character of God that we can discover in the book of 2 Samuel. As we read and study this book, we can learn more about who God is and what he has done for us. We can also reflect on how we can respond to him in faith, obedience, worship, and love. May we, like David, be able to say, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” (2 Samuel 22:2-4)
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