The Way
The Fortress of Zion
The city no one could get into
Story
David and his soldiers left Hebron and stood before the city of the Jebusites. On a narrow ridge ringed on three sides by deep valleys, the fortress of Zion held firm. From the top of the wall the Jebusites jeered, “You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could drive you off.” It was their way of saying David would never set foot in the city.
That day David told his soldiers, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, go up by the water shaft.” And the city no one could get into fell. David captured the fortress of Zion and went to live there. People called it the City of David. David built the city up all around, from the Millo inward. Because the Lord God of hosts was with him, David grew stronger and stronger.
From Tyre on the northern coast, King Hiram sent envoys. Cedar timber came with them, and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. As the sound of hammers echoed through the fortress, David came to understand that the Lord had firmly established him as king over Israel, and that he had raised up the kingdom not for David's sake alone but for the sake of his people Israel.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
Whoever would strike the Jebusites, go up by the water shaft and strike them.
You will never get in here. Even the blind and the lame could drive you away.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 2 Sam 5:6–12
Background
The City of David lay south of today's Old City of Jerusalem, on a narrow ridge above the Kidron Valley. Some think the vertical shaft once used to draw water up into the city was the water shaft David's men climbed, but this is not certain.
Pause and Reflect
When people say it's impossible, who do I look to?