Tag: 2nd Samuel 1-4
Foolish competition
Scripture reading for March 26th: 2nd Samuel 1-4
When a leader dies or passes from the scene, there is often a struggle. The Bible declares that it is God who raises up leaders and brings them down. (Psalm 75:6-7) The flesh, however, harbors a spirit of competition. This leads to factions, murder, and war and a house divided against itself cannot stand! (Matthew 12:25)
After being anointed by Samuel years earlier, David became king over the house of Judah. David sets up his kingship in Hebron as the Lord directed him. (2nd Samuel 2:1-3) David did not try to take over all of Israel or destroy Saul’s house. He is a man of character and knew God placed him where He desired. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was made king over the rest of Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul’s army. There was competition between the two groups as each desired to have power.
This competition took a deadly turn as Joab, commander of David’s army and Abner met one day at the pool of Gibeon. A contest of hand to hand fighting resulted in the deaths of 19 of David’s men and 360 of Abner’s men! (2nd Samuel 2:30-31) The war between these two factions went on for a long time. David grew stronger and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. (2nd Samuel 3:1)
Galatians 5:19-21 describes the works of the sinful nature. Dissensions, factions, envy, and selfish ambitions are in this list. These sins cause competition and the resultant discord and evil. When we center on self, trouble is often the result. The conflict between Saul’s house and David’s caused the death of innocent people and turmoil among God’s people.
Today, examine your own life for these works of the sinful nature. Are you filled with envy over a person who seems to have a job, position, or relationship that you would like or feel you deserve? Are you involved in factions or dissension? Give these to the Lord and allow Him to search your heart and bring peace. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace! He is able to place us where we need to be to accomplish His plan for our lives! (Galatians 5:22-26)
Foolish competition!
Scripture reading for March 26: 2nd Samuel 1-4
When a leader dies, there is often a struggle for one to fill that place. The Bible declares that it is God who raises up leaders and brings them down, too. (Psalm 75:6-7) The flesh, however, harbors a spirit of competition. It wants to exalt “self” and take over power, take over position, and have it’s own way. This leads to factions, murder, and war. A house divided against itself cannot stand! (Matthew 12:25)
Years before, the Lord had anointed David to be king. David set up his kingship in Hebron as the Lord directed him. (2nd Samuel 2:1-3) David did not try and take over all of Israel or to destroy Saul’s house. He was a man of character and knew God placed him where He desired. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was made king over the rest of Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul’s army. There was competition between the two groups for power.
This competition took a deadly turn as Joab, commander of David’s army and Abner, commander of Ish-Bosheth’s army met one day at the pool of Gibeon. A contest of hand to hand fighting resulted in the deaths of 19 of David’s men and 360 of Abner’s men! (2nd Samuel 2:30-31) The war between these two factions went on for a long time. David grew stronger and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. (2nd Samuel 3:1)
Galatians 5:19-21 describes the works of the sinful nature. Some of these are dissensions, factions, envy, and selfish ambitions. These sins cause competition and the resultant discord and evil. When we center on self, as opposed to God’s will, trouble always results. In the case of David, he had already been anointed as king by Samuel. Saul’s offspring, Ish-Bosheth and his commander Abner, refused to listen to the Lord. The result was competition that caused the death of innocent people.
Today, examine your own life for these works of the sinful nature. Are you filled with envy over a person who seems to have a job, position, or relationship that you would like or feel you deserve? Do you have desires for power or position that come from an inner need for recognition? Give these to the Lord and allow Him to search your heart and bring peace. He is able to place us where we need to be to accomplish His plan for our lives! (Galatians 5:22-26)
Mourning the Lord’s Anointed
Scripture reading for March 26th: 2nd Samuel 1-4
If someone who hated you and had tried to kill you was taken in death, would you rejoice and throw a party? Would you be tempted to celebrate and judge that they had gotten their just desserts? David was tested with the death of King Saul.
David was visited by an Amalekite who came with news of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. He came in mourning attire and brought to David Saul’s crown and armband. David and his men tore their clothes and wept and fasted till evening in response to this news. David began thinking about the Amalekite finishing off King Saul and called him out. He had him executed for killing the Lord’s anointed! (2nd Samuel 1:8-16)
David had learned to respect the Lord’s authority structure. Even if those in authority are wicked and under the influence of an evil spirit, they still are where they are in the position of authority because God has placed them there. We would do well to learn this lesson quickly. This Amalekite lost his life for what he thought was an act of mercy in putting Saul out of his misery after a mortal wound!
David then composed a lament for Saul and Jonathan, his close friend, and taught this it to the men of Judah. The lament was a tribute to King Saul and his son. “Saul and Jonathan–in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.” 2nd Samuel 1:23 David makes no mention of the many times Saul tried to kill him and chased him mercilessly. He refuses to touch the Lord’s anointed even in death! What a tribute to this man’s heart of forgiveness and respect for God’s anointed!
As we look to this passage, we think about Jesus Christ, God’s anointed one! Jesus died the death of a criminal for us, taking our sins in his body on the cross. The religious leaders of Israel had no respect for their true King and ordered Him crucified. They even asked that His blood be on them and their children! (Matthew 27:25) Their King prayed for their forgiveness even as He died! Just think how many songs of remembrance have been composed about this King!
Foolish competition!
Scripture reading for March 26: 2nd Samuel 1-4
When a leader dies or passes from the scene, there is often a struggle for one to fill that place. The Bible declares that it is God who raises up leaders and brings them down, too. (Psalm 75:6-7) The flesh, however, harbors a spirit of competition. It wants to exalt “self” and take over power, take over position, and have it’s own way. This leads to factions, murder, and war. A house divided against itself cannot stand! (Matthew 12:25)
In today’s reading, David becomes king over the house of Judah. Years before, the Lord had anointed him to be king. David sets up his kingship in Hebron as the Lord directed him. (2nd Samuel 2:1-3) David does not try and take over all of Israel or to destroy Saul’s house, either. He is a man of character and knows that it will be God placing him where He desires. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was made king over the rest of Israel by Abner, the commander of Saul’s army. There was competition between the two groups. Each desired to have power.
This competition took a deadly turn as Joab, commander of David’s army and Abner, commander of Ish-Bosheth’s army met one day at the pool of Gibeon. A contest of hand to hand fighting resulted in the deaths of 19 of David’s men and 360 of Abner’s men! (2nd Samuel 2:30-31) The war between these two factions went on for a long time. David grew stronger and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. (2nd Samuel 3:1)
Galatians 5:19-21 describes the works of the sinful nature. Some of these are dissensions, factions, envy, and selfish ambitions. These sins cause competition and the resultant discord and evil. When we center on self, as opposed to God’s will, trouble always results. God’s will is usually plain, if we have ears to hear it. In the case of David, he had already been anointed as king by Samuel. Saul’s offspring, Ish-Bosheth, and the commander of Saul’s army, Abner, refused to listen or seek the Lord. The result was war and discord that caused the death of innocent people and turmoil among God’s people.
Today, examine your own life for these works of the sinful nature. Are you filled with envy over a person who seems to have a job, position, or relationship that you would like or feel you deserve? Are you involved in factions and dissention every day? Do you have desires for power or position that come from an inner need for recognition? Give these to the Lord and allow Him to search your heart and bring peace. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace! He is able to place us where we need to be to accomplish His plan for our lives! (Galatians 5:22-26)