Taking the High Ground: The City of David Text: 1 Chronicles 11:4-9
Introduction: The Geography of Redemption
In the economy of God, geography matters. Places are not arbitrary backdrops for the real action; they are part of the action. The garden, the mountain, the wilderness, the promised land, and the city, these are all theological statements. And no city on earth is freighted with more theological significance than Jerusalem. But before it was the city of the great king, it was the pagan fortress of Jebus, a defiant stronghold, a thumb in the eye of Israel, located right in the heart of the promised land.
The story of David's conquest of Jerusalem is far more than a mere military victory or a shrewd geopolitical maneuver. It is a foundational moment in the history of redemption. It establishes the central location for Israel's worship and governance for centuries to come. It is the place where God would put His name, the site of the temple, the capital of the messianic king, and ultimately, a type and shadow of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all.
The Chronicler, writing after the exile, retells this story for a specific reason. He is reminding the returned remnant of their identity and their destiny. He is pointing them back to the true foundation of their hope: the covenant God made with David. The capture of Jerusalem is the establishment of David's throne, and that throne is the throne that the Lord Jesus Christ occupies today. This is not just about real estate; it is about establishing a beachhead for the kingdom of God on earth. It is a story about how God takes that which is defiant and pagan and, through His anointed king, transforms it into the center of His earthly rule and worship.
We see in this account a pattern for all kingdom work. The world erects its strongholds, its Jebuses, and mocks the claims of Christ the King. They say, "You shall not come in here." But our David, the Lord Jesus, has already conquered. And He calls His people, His Joabs, to be bold, to scale the walls, and to take possession of what is rightfully His. This passage teaches us that the kingdom of God advances through courageous, decisive action, under the authority of the anointed king, and with the blessing of Yahweh of hosts.
The Text
Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.
Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You shall not come in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the city of David.
And David said, “Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief.
Then David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.
And he built the city all around, from the Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
And David became greater and greater, and Yahweh of hosts was with him.
(1 Chronicles 11:4-9 LSB)
The Defiant Stronghold (v. 4-5)
We begin with the target and the taunt.
"Then David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. Then the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, 'You shall not come in here.' Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, that is, the city of David." (1 Chronicles 11:4-5)
David, now king over all Israel, does not settle for the status quo. He immediately moves to establish a proper capital. He targets Jerusalem, then called Jebus. This was not some random choice. Jerusalem sat on the border between the northern and southern tribes, making it a politically neutral and unifying location. More than that, it was a formidable natural fortress, a high ground that was easy to defend. But the Jebusites, who had held this ground for centuries, were confident in their position. Their taunt, "You shall not come in here," is a statement of supreme arrogance. The parallel account in 2 Samuel tells us they believed their fortress was so secure that even the blind and the lame could defend it against David's army.
This is the posture of the world toward Christ and His kingdom. The world builds its fortified cities, its institutions, its philosophies, and from its walls, it mocks the claims of the gospel. They believe their intellectual, cultural, and political high ground is unassailable. They look at the church and see a ragtag army and sneer, "You shall not come in here." This is the defiance of unbelief, rooted in pride and a false sense of security.
But notice the simple, declarative statement of the text: "Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion." The world's taunts are no match for God's anointed. The world's defenses, however formidable they appear, are nothing before the power of God. The word "nevertheless" is a gospel word. The world says "impossible," but God says "nevertheless." David's victory was decisive. He did not just conquer Jebus; he renamed it. He took the "fortress of Zion" and made it the "city of David." This is an act of conquest and consecration. He is claiming this ground for Yahweh and establishing it as the seat of his own God-given authority.
The Audacity of Joab (v. 6)
David's method for taking the city reveals his wisdom as a leader. He creates an opportunity for valor.
"And David said, 'Whoever strikes down a Jebusite first shall be chief and commander.' Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief." (1 Chronicles 11:6)
David understands that great tasks require great courage, and he incentivizes it. He does not ask for volunteers for a suicide mission; he offers the highest position in his military to the man with the audacity to lead the charge. This is a call for a champion, a first-mover, someone willing to risk everything for the king's cause.
And who answers the call? Joab, the son of Zeruiah, David's nephew. Joab is a complicated figure throughout David's reign. He is fiercely loyal, shrewd, and brave, but also ruthless, vengeful, and willing to act outside the lines of God's law. He is, you might say, a hard man for a hard job. He is a wrong man on the right side. Here, his ambition and his courage align perfectly with David's objective. The text tells us he "went up first." The account in 2 Samuel suggests this was done by climbing up a water shaft, a daring and unexpected point of entry. Joab did not wait for a committee meeting. He saw the king's desire, heard the king's promise, and acted.
This is a standing challenge to the men of Christ's kingdom. Our King has given us a great commission, to disciple the nations. He has pointed to the strongholds of the enemy. And He still honors the courage of those who will "go up first." The kingdom does not advance by caution and consensus alone. It advances when men of valor, like Joab, are willing to take risks, to lead from the front, and to strike the first blow against the enemy's walls for the glory of their king.
Building the City (v. 7-8)
Conquest is immediately followed by construction. David takes possession and begins to build.
"Then David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. And he built the city all around, from the Millo even to the surrounding area; and Joab repaired the rest of the city." (1 Chronicles 11:7-8)
David moves in. He occupies the conquered territory. This is key. Taking ground is not enough; you must inhabit it. He makes the enemy's fortress his own home, which is the ultimate sign of dominion. And from that center, he begins to build. The kingdom of God is a construction project. It is not about ethereal feelings; it is about building tangible realities, families, churches, schools, and cultures that honor King Jesus.
David builds, and he puts his chief commander, Joab, to work as well. "Joab repaired the rest of the city." The work of the kingdom is a joint effort. The king sets the vision and leads the charge, and he delegates responsibility to his faithful, if flawed, lieutenants. The work is both new construction ("he built the city all around") and restoration ("Joab repaired"). We are called both to build new things for the kingdom and to repair the ruins of our broken culture, restoring the foundations of law, family, and worship.
This is the task of Christendom. It is not a retreat into a spiritual ghetto. It is the patient, generational work of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, which means building institutions and shaping culture from the ground up, all centered on the worship of the true God. David did not just capture a military outpost; he began to build a capital city, a center of gravity for the entire nation.
The Source of Success (v. 9)
The Chronicler concludes this section by giving us the ultimate reason for David's victory and prosperity.
"And David became greater and greater, and Yahweh of hosts was with him." (1 Chronicles 11:9)
This is the theological bedrock of the entire passage. David's success was not ultimately due to his military genius, or Joab's courage, or the strategic location of Jerusalem. David succeeded for one reason: "Yahweh of hosts was with him." The name "Yahweh of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth) is God's warrior name. It refers to Him as the commander of the armies of heaven. David was not fighting alone. The Lord of Armies was his ally.
This is the secret to all kingdom advancement. Our success is not dependent on our strategies, our resources, or our numbers. It is dependent entirely on the presence and blessing of God. When God is with us, we become "greater and greater." When we seek to build our own little kingdoms in our own strength, we diminish and we fail. But when we align ourselves with the purposes of King Jesus, when we move in obedience to His commands, we find that the Lord of Hosts is with us.
This is both a profound comfort and a solemn warning. It is a comfort because the task before us, discipling the nations, is impossible in our own strength. But with God, all things are possible. It is a warning because we must never begin to believe that our success is our own doing. The moment we take credit for the victory, the moment we begin to trust in our own strength, is the moment we forfeit the blessing of His presence. David's greatness was a derived greatness. All our strength, all our victories, are derived from Him.
The Greater David and His City
As with all things concerning David, we must lift our eyes to see the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ. David's capture of the earthly Jerusalem was a type, a foreshadowing, of Christ's victory over the ultimate stronghold of sin and death.
The world, under the dominion of Satan, was the ultimate Jebus, the defiant fortress. Humanity was held captive. The taunt of the enemy was not just "You shall not come in here," but the taunt of the cross: "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."
But our David, through the cross and resurrection, scaled the unscalable walls. He entered the strong man's house and bound him, plundering his goods. He captured the fortress of death and hell and transformed it into the foundation of His kingdom. On the cross, He struck the decisive blow. And He has been made chief and commander over all things.
And now, He is building His city. Not a city of stone and mortar, but the church, the New Jerusalem, a living temple made of living stones (1 Peter 2:5). He is taking rebellious sinners, Jebusites by nature, and transforming them into citizens of His heavenly kingdom. He is repairing the ruins of humanity. And He is becoming "greater and greater" in the world, as His gospel goes forth and His kingdom expands. Why? Because Yahweh of hosts is with Him. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me," He said. Therefore, go.
The story of David and Jebus is our story. We are called to be Joabs for the son of David. We are called to be bold, to be courageous, to take the high ground for our King. We are called to be builders, repairing the ruins and constructing a culture that confesses His name. We do this not in our own strength, but in the strength of the one who has promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age. The strongholds of this world will fall. The taunts of the enemy will be silenced. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. The city of David is destined to become the city of God.