Articles
Jerusalem - the City of David - 2 Sam. 5
Jerusalem the City of David - 2 Sam. 5
We encountered the city of Jerusalem clear back in the days of Abraham for Melchizedek was king of Salem (the ancient name of Jerusalem) [cp. Gen. 14:18). Sometime after that the city was taken over by the Jebusites and named Jebus (cp. 1 Chron. 11:4, Judg. 19:10-11).
The Jebusites were descended from Canaan (Gen. 10:16). The land / city was part of the promise of God to Israel (cp. (Ex 3:8; 13:5; 23:23; 33:2; 34:11; Nm 13:29; Dt 7:1; 20:17).
Judges tell us that "the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it" (Judges 1:18), but it also tells us that "the Benjaminites "failed to dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites" (Judges 2:21).
The city stayed under the control of these Canaanites thru the period of conquest under Joshua, the period of the judges, and the kingship of Saul. David's childhood home was in / near Bethlehem (1Sam. 16:1). Jerusalem was a city controlled by the Jebusites as David grew up. After becoming the king, David conquered it and chose Jerusalem to be his capital and thus it became "the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David" (2 Sam. 5:7).
Concerning the area where Jerusalem is situated, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible states: "Immediately north of Zion lies the temple hill, dominated today by the sacred rock on which rests the Muslim Dome of the Rock mosque. Some believe this to be the location of Araunah’s threshing floor (2 Sm 24:18–25); others aver it to be the site of Moriah (Gn 22:2; 2 Chr 3:1)."
It was known as the 'city of God' and the temple of God was built there. This was the place that God had 'placed His name' and it was here that the people went to worship. God had promised to choose a place for His name to dwell and there they were to bring their offerings and sacrifices. God now reveals that Jerusalem is that place and Solomon has built the temple where the offerings and sacrifices were to be made (cp. 1 King. 8:20-21, 29).
Today, things have changed. Jesus predicted concerning Jerusalem that "a day was coming when neither in this mountain [i.e., Mt. Gerizim, the center of the Samaritans worship] nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father" (John 4:21-24). The material city of Jerusalem has been replaced by the heavenly Jerusalem: "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22–24).
Thus, wherever a Christian is, he can worship God acceptably because of what Jesus has provided for us: a new covenant and the blood of forgiveness. Greater than Jerusalem is here, are you part of it? Hugh DeLong
