Reading: II Samuel 1-2
But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months(II Sam. 2:8-11).
Saul was dead. David grieved the man whom he had once loved as a father and revered as God’s anointed king, but he also must have been filled with unimaginable joy. At the direction of God, he was going home! And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron (II Sam. 2:1). David had spent nearly a decade running for his life, and now, suddenly, that curse had been taken from him. Not only that, but his tribe had accepted him as Saul’s successor. In practically the same breath, he went from fugitive to king. It was a lot to take in. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul (2:4).
David was crowned king over the tribe of Judah almost immediately following the death of Saul, but things progressed less smoothly for the remainder of the Israelites. There was a five-year gap between Saul’s death in the battle with the Philistines and the time when Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Directly after the battle, Ish-bosheth assumed leadership over an internally divided and battle-weary Israel. The deaths of his elder brothers alongside his father in battle had ensured his position as Saul’s heir, but he ascended to the throne through the machinations of man, not the blessings of God. As time went on, this fact grew increasingly apparent. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker (3:1).
Civil war had come to Israel, and the reality was brutal. Already weakened from a prolonged campaign to subdue the Philistines, Ish-bosheth’s army met defeat at every turn. And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David (2:17). The men who were loyal to Saul’s son fought for king and country; David’s men fought for the man God had chosen to lead. The fighting for territory would continue for the entirety of Ish-bosheth’s reign, but David remained patient and unhurried. He knew that the throne of Israel was God’s to fill, and he would not take it by force.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power(Acts 1:6-7).
Thought For TodayWe observe and abide by God’s will, not with patience, but with faith.
Word Studies1:2 did obeisance = bowed in honor; 1:9 anguish = extreme pain; 1:18 use of the bow = song of the bow; 2:6 requite = repay; 2:14 play before us = hold a contest as to which side has the best soldiers.
Christ Revealed:In David’s sorrowful poem (II Sam. 1:17-27). He did not dwell upon all his years of suffering at the hand of Saul but dwelt only upon the pleasant things.
Pray For Country:Kenya (44,037,656) in Eastern Af rica • Major Languages: English, Swahili • Religious Freedom • 47.4% Protestant; 23.3% Roman Catholic; 11.8% Other Christian; 11.1% Muslim; 1.6% Traditionalists; 1.7% Other; 2.4% None; 0.7% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord for wisdom as you read His Word, and it will be given to you (James 1:5).
Optional Reading:Acts 12