2 Samuel 3&4
Setting up the Kingdom
It has been several years since King Saul was killed in battle and David was made king of Hebron. David is finding out that running from King Saul and running a kingdom are two different things. David is trying to set his kingdom in order but is finding out that he can’t control all that is taking place like the murders of Abner and Ish-bosheth. He thinks he must manage these politically now and distance himself from any notion that he was involved. David also takes on the practice of forming alliances through marriage. He marries Maacah the daughter of the king of Geshur. They will have a son, Absalom, who will try to take over the kingdom in the future. When Abner, Saul’s commander, meets with David to bring all the tribes of Israel under the house of Saul to David, David wants to be reunited with his wife, Michal, the daughter of Saul, who was taken from David after Saul tried to kill him. We will remember that she told Saul David threatened to kill her if she did not help him escape. It is apparent Saul made good use of that story to strengthen his fight against David. People tend to unite and support the fight against an enemy. That is why conspiracy theories are often included in sales pitches and political campaigns.
Marriage for alliance is worldly wisdom. David’s son Solomon will take and run with it to an unimaginable level which will prove to be disastrous to the unity of the twelve tribes and the nation. Unfortunately, enough “good” will come to keep the practice in place for years to come but the reality is that it is man’s wisdom not God’s.
The point of all this is that man’s wisdom is prevalent everywhere and spreading. God’s wisdom is unchanging. Man’s wisdom is often wrapped in a package called “new idea” or it appeals to the lust of the flesh but in the end it brings pain and broken hope.
God’s instruction for the king is given in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. When we read this list it is pretty much the exact opposite of what we read here and see in the world today. The king or leader is to be a man of God’s Word. He is to write a copy of it and have it with him and to practice it. The same is true for us. We all have some form of leadership role, even if it is to take the lead in how we relate to others. This is why we are doing this study today. To learn God’s Word so we can serve Him better. Wait! Did I say serve? Yes. Jesus said the way of the world is to lord it over everyone else but in the Kingdom of God we are to serve. It is clear from these verses in Deuteronomy that the world worships basically three gods; money, verse 16, sex, verse 17, and power, verses 16 and 20.
In 1 Samuel David had to deal with enemies around him. I think in 2 Samuel the enemies are mostly within. I would rather read and learn from 1 Samuel than 2 Samuel, but I think that is because I also believe that we are, quite often, our own worst enemy. That is because our heart is sick. Man’s worldly wisdom says the heart wants what the heart wants, but how often does that work out, really?
Only Jesus can make our sick heart well. Only Jesus can put our heart in order. Only Jesus can make us a new creation and give us a new start. Look to Him. Listen to Him and do what He says. You will never regret it. If we are going to be great, let’s seek to be great in God’s kingdom by serving.
Pastor Dave