Category: 2 Samuel

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Judah and Simeon (Simeon had its territory in the midst of Judah) anoint David king. In the fight at the pool, you begin to see what God thinks about us vying for position and status, about hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy in His church. Galatians 5:20,21

SJA Notes

* Dear God, we give thanks to You, O God – We give thanks, for Your Name is near.

“But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army …”

Right from the beginning of David’s reign there was internal discord.

God’s people were split.

While we have seen David’s integrity and faithfulness with respect to Saul, this wasn’t enough for Abner.

We read of the politicking and power-plays bringing much pain and bloodshed between the tribes.

Abner and Joab wrestling out for dominance. Benjamin facing off against Judah. Asahel looking for battle glory.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 20 are very clear,

“So the last will be first, and the first last.”

And further down in that passage,

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, …”

When we let pride and vanity, jealousy and unrighteousness take the reins, all sort of badness comes in.

How good is it then that we have a King whose reign is without question, His power never weakened by in-fighting or politicking.

Jesus’ power and supremacy are without doubt.

We can be encouraged in this, and convicted in our behaviour.

God tells us what He looks for, in us, in Isaiah 66,

“But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

* Almighty God,

Oh that we would tremble at Your word today!

That our spirits would be contrite, humility marking our day.

Lord please sink us in our selves that we might rise in Thee!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The Christ of God’s choice never uses murder to gain or sustain power. David’s lament is published to proclaim this fact about David, as well as express his real grief. Saul died at the Lord’s hands, not his. David executes justice for Saul on his proclaimed murderer.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, how long is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile Your Name forever?

“And David said to him, ‘Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, “I have killed the LORD’s anointed.”‘”

We have seen over and over David’s rock-solid trust in God’s sovereignty. Both in taking care of David, and in dealing with Saul.

David trusted in the operating of God’s hand at work, better by far than his own, to take care of what was happening.

This was not just head knowledge for David. Even as a strong conviction, David FELT.

His grieving for both Saul and Jonathan in the song is clear and evident.

David’s strong grasp of what it meant that the Lord anointed someone, the prince of Israel, meant that their death brought much sorrow.

Even when that person had repeatedly tried to kill him.

Do we have such a trust as David did, in God’s sovereignty at work for His people?

Even when God’s people themselves might be mistreating us.

Even when we suffer ridicule and rejection and worse from brothers and sisters in the church.

Do we hold to the same trust with a conviction such as David displays here?

Deeper still, we see the choice of Jesus on a far bigger and terrible scale, a cup that dwarfed even what David went through.

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Are we following our King in this?

* Holy God,

Yours is the glory. Not ours.

Your will be done. Not ours.

Please help us to be humble, having a contrite spirit and a reverent fear so that we tremble at Your word – the things You look for.

Amen.