The King Who Reigns: Five Ways God Established David’s Kingdom and What It Means for Us

Thoughts from 2 Samuel 5

The world is full of men who reject the rightful King. They build their own little kingdoms, they set up their own rule, and they pretend they are in charge. But history tells a different story. Every false kingdom falls. Every rebel king is crushed. In the end, there is only one King who remains.

David was God’s anointed king. But for seven years, Israel resisted him. They clung to the ruins of Saul’s failed rule. They delayed the inevitable. Yet, God patiently worked, and in time, He established David as king over all Israel.

And through David’s story, we see the greater reality of Christ’s reign. David was a shadow, a mere glimpse of the King to come. In the ways God established David, we see how He has already established His Son, Jesus Christ. And if we belong to Christ, these truths shape how we live under His rule today.

1. God Gave David a Crown

David didn’t take the throne by force. God gave it to him. He was anointed long before he sat on the throne. For years, he waited while Saul’s broken kingdom dragged on. But when the time came, David didn’t have to seize power—God placed it in his hands.

And so it is with Christ. His kingship was not given by men, nor did He have to fight for it. God the Father crowned Him King from the beginning. The world may resist, but their resistance changes nothing. Christ reigns now. His rule is not up for debate.

Application: You don’t make Jesus King—He already is. Your choice is simple: submit or rebel. Faith is not about making Christ Lord of your life. He already is Lord. Faith is about recognizing what is already true and trust in your King!

2. God Gave David a City

A king must have a kingdom. When David was crowned, he still needed a capital—a place from which to rule. Jerusalem was that city. But the Jebusites stood in the way. They mocked him. They thought they were untouchable. Yet, David took the city. He made it his stronghold.

This is a picture of Christ’s kingdom. The world laughs at the idea of Christ’s reign. The nations rage. But Psalm 2 tells us that God laughs at their rebellion. Christ is already seated on His throne, and His kingdom is advancing. It is not an earthly city—it is the Church. The true Jerusalem is not built by human hands. It is a spiritual kingdom, and it cannot be shaken.

Application: Are you living as a citizen of Christ’s kingdom or the kingdom of man? The city of man is full of rebellion, sin, and fleeting pleasures. The city of God stands forever. If you belong to Christ, then live as one of His people—holy, set apart, and loyal to your true King.

3. God Gave David a House

A king with a throne and a city still needs a dwelling place. God provided that too. He moved the heart of Hiram, king of Tyre, to build a house for David. It was not David’s own doing—it was a gift.

And here’s the greater truth: Christ is building His house. But His house is not made of cedar and stone. His house is His people. The Church is the dwelling place of God. Every believer is a living stone, fitted together for His glory.

Application: Are you building the house of God, or are you only focused on your own? Haggai warned Israel about neglecting God’s house while they built up their own homes. How many Christians today give all their time, energy, and resources to personal success, while the work of the Church is neglected? Seek first the Kingdom. Christ is building His house—be a part of it.

4. God Gave David a Family

A kingdom is more than buildings and battles—it’s about people. God gave David a family. Sons and daughters to secure his line, to continue his reign. But here, we also see David’s imperfections. He took multiple wives. He grasped when he should have waited.

This reminds us that David was not the final King. The true King, Jesus Christ, has been given a family too. But unlike David, Christ’s family is not through earthly marriage. It is a spiritual family—the redeemed people of God. And He is not ashamed to call us brothers.

Application: If you are in Christ, you belong to the family of God. You are not an outsider. You are not alone. Your true identity is not found in your past sins but in your adoption as a child of God. Live as part of the household of faith—love your brothers, serve the Church, and stand together under the rule of your King.

5. God Gave David Victory Over His Enemies

No king reigns without opposition. The moment David was crowned, the Philistines attacked. They heard of his reign and came to fight. The enemy always resists when God’s anointed takes the throne.

The same is true of Christ. When He reigns in a life, the enemy fights back. The world, the flesh, and the devil do not surrender easily. But the victory belongs to the King. Just as God went before David and struck down his enemies, so Christ fights for His people. He has already defeated sin, death, and the grave.

Application: Expect opposition, but don’t fear it. The moment you submit to Christ, you will face battle. Temptation, persecution, spiritual warfare—they will come. But take heart. The King fights for you. Stand firm. March forward. The gates of hell will not prevail.

Conclusion: The King Reigns—Are You With Him?

God gave David a crown. A city. A house. A family. Victory. But David was only a foreshadowing of the greater King to come. Jesus Christ reigns now. His kingdom is established. His people are secured. And He is marching toward final victory.

The question is not whether Christ reigns. The question is whether you will stand with Him or against Him. Will you cling to your own failing kingdom? Or will you bow before the King of kings and live as a citizen of His unshakable Kingdom?

“The Guard dies, but it does not surrender”-that’s what Napoleon’s elite warriors said at Waterloo as their empire fell. They fought to the last man for a dying kingdom.

But you do not serve a dying king. You serve the risen Christ. His empire is not crumbling. His reign is not fading. One day, He will return to finish what He started—to put every enemy under His feet and to bring His people into eternal glory.

So stand firm. Fight in faith. Live in obedience. Your King is on the throne. And He is bringing you home.