2 Samuel 5:12
ESV
And David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
NIV
Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
NASB
And David realized that the Lord had appointed him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
CSB
Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
NLT
And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
KJV
And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
NKJV
So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
What does 2 Samuel 5:12 mean?
David grows greater and more powerful because the Lord is with him (2 Samuel 5:10). David understands clearly that his success does not come from him and is not for him. Hew knew that it was the Lord who had established his kingdom, and he understood that the Lord had done so for the good of His people Israel. Every believer should be challenged to view our own lives with such humility. We, too, can know that every good thing we have comes from the Lord (James 1:17) and that our purpose is not to serve ourselves but to be used by God to accomplish the good works He has prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).David's Song of Deliverance, the spoken version of the song Psalm 18, proves David relies only on God for his deliverance and his victories. The poem ends:
"The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,
the God who gave me vengeance
and brought down peoples under me,
who brought me out from my enemies;
you exalted me above those who rose against me;
you delivered me from men of violence.
"For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,
and sing praises to your name.
Great salvation he brings to his king,
and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
to David and his offspring forever."
2 Samuel 22:47–51
