2 Samuel is a continuation of 1 Samuel and it all centers on one man -- David. Let us look at Chapters 1 to 4 today and trace the road leading to dominion by David before his reign as king only over the tribe of Judah and was crowned as king over all twelve tribes of Judah and Israel.
2 Samuel 1
After fighting and defeating some of the Amalekites, David was back home in Ziglag when he heard that Saul was dead. An Amalekite living among the Israelites took advantage of the situation to tell David and his men how Saul had died. He revised the story, saying that Saul’s attempt at suicide had only left him wounded, and the Amalekite had finished him off at Saul’s own request. Whether this is true or not we do not know, what we know is that the Amalekite man had hoped for David to reward him, by saying that he killed the Lord’s anointed because he had shown contempt for the Lord. David, however, had the Amalekite killed.
David then wrote a lament for the deaths of Saul and his son Jonathan.
2 Samuel 2
After a while, David inquired of the Lord if he should move to one of the towns of Judah. The Lord told him to move with his wives and all his men to Hebron where soon after, he was anointed king of Judah.
Remember that it is always wise to inquire of the Lord before making your decisions and plans. A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (Prov 16:9) He is a wonderful counselor and guide who will direct you unto the best path you can ever set your feet onto in any given situation of your life.
Saul’s commander, Abner, who believed Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, to be the rightful heir to the throne, encouraged the people to recognize Ish-Bosheth as king (2 Samuel 2:8-10). On the other hand, Joab, David’s commander, one cruel and dangerous man, found himself to be at cross-purposes with Abner (2 Samuel 2:18-32), even though Abner later goes over to David’s side.
2 Samuel 3
The transition of power from King Saul to King David was not smooth. David was busy in Hebron with his six wives (they began having quite a number of children then) and also the affairs of the state.
Abner had a falling out over a woman with Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son and temporary successor. So Abner sent word to David that they would make an agreement. David agreed to meet Abner, so long he brought David’s first wife, Michal back to him. Michal’s father Saul had actually annulled their marriage and married her to Paltiel, son of Laish instead. When Abner took Michal away from Paltiel, he followed in tears till Abner commanded him to go home.
Abner was sent off in peace later by David to present the agreement for David to become king of Israel to the people when David’s men with Joab returned from a successful raid. Joab, however could not rest until he has put Abner out of the way (2 Samuel 3:27). He hated Abner for killing his brother. He went after Abner and had him killed.
When David heard about Joab’s blood revenge, he cursed Joab and his family, but allowed Joab to live and be part of the burial ceremony. David fasted until sun set, and the word spread that David had no part in killing Abner. David told his men that Joab and his brothers were too strong but David trusted that the Lord would repay them.
2 Samuel 4
Rather than taking revenge on David, Ish-Bosheth and all Israel became afraid. Two of Ish-Bosheth’s own raiding party leaders came into his bedroom and killed him. The two men anticipated David’s pleasure when they brought him Ish-Bosheth’s head (this scenario is similar to what the Amalekite man did earlier in Chapter 1) but David had them killed for murdering Saul’s son.
Saul had then, only one surviving son left, who had been crippled since he was five when his nurse dropped him while rushing him to get him into hiding when Saul and Jonathan died at Jezreel.
The story of David is like a picture for us of what happens in a Christian's life as he gives it to God -- a place of dominion and reign. Every Christian is offered a kingdom, just as David was offered a kingdom. That kingdom is the kingdom of your own life and is exactly like the kingdom of Israel. There may be enemies threatening it from outside or from within to undermine it. Take heart to fight on, overcome because just as we see David being brought by God to the place of reigning over his kingdom, we will see how the Holy Spirit is working in our lives to bring us to the place of reigning in life by Christ Jesus.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
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