R³ Devotional - Day 111
R³ Devotional - Day 111 2 Samuel, Chapters 1-4
By: Paul Hicks
The purpose of 2 Samuel is to (1) record the history of David’s reign; (2) demonstrate effective leadership under God; (3) to reveal that one person can make a difference; (4) to show the personal qualities that please God; (5) and finally, to depict David as an ideal leader of an imperfect kingdom, and to foreshadow Christ, who will be the ideal leader of a new and perfect kingdom.
The author of this book is unknown; however, some have suggested that Nathan’s son Zabud may have been the author. The book also includes the writings of Nathan and Gad.
The audience in the book is the people of Israel and is set in the land Israel under David’s rule. The timeframe, when written, seems to be 930 B.C.; and written soon after David’s reign, 1010-970 B.C.
This book was named after the prophet who anointed David and guided him in living for God. Among all the godly role models mentioned in the Bible, probably no one stands out more than King David. Born halfway between Abraham and Jesus, he became God’s leader for all of Israel and the ancestor of the Messiah. David was “a man loyal to Him [God].” What are the personal qualities that David possessed that pleased God?
The book of 2 Samuel tells David’s story. As you read, you will be filled with excitement as he is crowned king over Judah and then king over all of Israel, praising God as he brings the ark of the covenant back to the tabernacle and exulting as he leads his armies to victory over all their enemies and completes the conquest of the Promised Land begun by Joshua. David accomplished much.
In Chapter 1-4 we see that after years of running from Saul, he dies, and David was finally crowned king over the tribe of Judah. The rest of Israel, however, followed Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son. David did not attempt to take the tribes by force but placed the matter in God’s hands. After a few years Ish-bosheth was assassinated, and the rest of the tribes finally put their support behind David. David moved the capital to Jerusalem, defeated the surrounding nations, and even showed kindness to Saul’s family. We may not understand why God seems to move slowly at times, but we must trust Him and be faithful with what He has given us.
David took the fractured kingdom that Saul had left behind and built a strong, united power. Forty years later, David would turn this kingdom over to his son Solomon. David had a heart for God. He was a king who governed God’s people by God’s principles, and God blessed him greatly. We may not have David’s earthly success, but following God is, ultimately, the most successful decision we can make.
Under David’s leadership, Israel’s kingdom grew rapidly. With the growth came many changes: from tribal independence to centralized government, from the leadership of judges to a monarchy, from decentralized worship to worship at Jerusalem.
No matter how much growth or how many changes we experience, God provides for us if we love Him and highly regard His principles. God’s work done in God’s way never lacks God’s supply of wisdom and energy.
David’s popularity and influence increased greatly. He realized that the Lord was behind his success because he wanted to pour out his kindness on Israel. David regarded God’s interests as more important than his own.
God graciously pours out His favor on us because of what Christ has done. God does not regard personal greatness as something to be used selfishly, but as an instrument to carry out His work among His people. The greatness we should desire is to love others as God loves us.
King David showed justice, mercy, and fairness to Saul’s family, enemies, rebels, allies, and close friends alike. His just rule was grounded in his faith in and knowledge of God. God’s perfect moral nature is the standard for justice.
Although David was the most just of all Israel’s kings, he was still imperfect. His use of justice offered hope for a heavenly, ideal kingdom. This hope will never be satisfied in our hearts until Christ, the Son of David, comes to rule in perfect justice forever.
When David confronted the Amalekite who had allegedly killed Saul he knew the man was probably unaware that David had confrontations with the Amalekites. This action by the man incurred David’s wrath by posing as an enemy of Israel and claiming to have killed God’s chosen king. Well David had the man killed.
Why would David consider it a crime to kill the king, even though Saul was his enemy? David believed that God anointed Saul, and only God could remove him from office. If it became casual or commonplace to assassinate the king, the whole society would become chaotic. It was God’s job, not David’s, to judge Saul’s sins (Leviticus 19: 18). We must realize that God has placed rulers in authority over us, and we should respect their positions (Romans 13: 1-5).
Chapter 2 relates the story of Abner and David becoming king of Judah. The honest compliments of an opponent are often the best measure of someone’s greatness. Although Abner and David frequently saw each other across battle lines, the Bible gives a glimpse of the respect they had for each other. As a young man, David had served under Abner. But later, Saul’s campaign to kill David was carried out by Abner. After Saul’s death, Abner temporarily upheld the power of the king’s family. But the struggle between Abner and Saul’s heir, Ish-bosheth, brought about Abner’s decision to support David’s claim to the throne. It was during his efforts to unite the kingdom that Abner was murdered by Joab.
Several years earlier, in a battle between Ish-bosheth’s army under Abner and David’s forces under Joab, Abner fled and was pursued by Joab’s brother, Asahel. Abner told Asahel twice to stop following him. But the eager young soldier refused, so Abner killed him. Joab was determined to avenge his brother.
Abner realized Saul’s family was doomed to defeat and that David would be the next king, so he decided to change sides. He hoped that in exchange for his delivering Saul’s kingdom, David would make him commander in chief of his army. David’s willingness to accept his proposal was probably another reason for Joab’s action. Abner lived by his wits and his will. To him, God was someone with whom he would cooperate if it suited his plans. Otherwise he did what seemed best for him at the time. We can identify with Abner’s tendency to give God conditional cooperation. Obedience is easy when the instructions in God’s Word fit in with our plans. But our allegiance to God is tested when His plans are contrary to ours. What action should you take today in obedience to God’s Word?
The battles continue in Chapters 3 and 4 with Abner being murdered and Ish-bosheth also being assassinated. Ish-bosheth was a man who took his courage from another man (Abner) rather than from God. When Abner died, Ish-bosheth was left with nothing. In crisis and under pressure, he collapsed in fear. Fear can paralyze us, but faith and trust in God can overcome fear (2 Timothy 1: 6-8; Hebrews 13: 6). If we trust in God, we will be free to respond boldly to the events around us.
David called Ish-bosheth a “righteous man.” As Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth had reason to think he was in line for the throne. He was not wicked for wanting to be king; rather, he was simply too weak to stand against injustice. Although David knew Ish-bosheth was not the strong leader needed to unite Israel, he had no intention of killing him. God had promised the kingdom to David, and he knew that God would fulfill His promise.
When David learned of Ish-bosheth’s death, he was angry. He had never harmed Saul, and he thought the assassin’s method was cowardly. David wanted to unite Israel, not drive a permanent wedge between him and Ish-bosheth’s supporters. To show that he had nothing to do with the extermination of Saul’s royal line, he ordered the assassins killed and gave Ish-bosheth a proper burial. All the tribes of Israel, recognizing in David the strong leader they needed, pledged their loyalty to him. No doubt the Philistine threat and David’s military reputation (1 Samuel 18: 7) also helped unify the people.
So, now we see David becoming king over Israel, in Chapter 5.
The author of this book is unknown; however, some have suggested that Nathan’s son Zabud may have been the author. The book also includes the writings of Nathan and Gad.
The audience in the book is the people of Israel and is set in the land Israel under David’s rule. The timeframe, when written, seems to be 930 B.C.; and written soon after David’s reign, 1010-970 B.C.
This book was named after the prophet who anointed David and guided him in living for God. Among all the godly role models mentioned in the Bible, probably no one stands out more than King David. Born halfway between Abraham and Jesus, he became God’s leader for all of Israel and the ancestor of the Messiah. David was “a man loyal to Him [God].” What are the personal qualities that David possessed that pleased God?
The book of 2 Samuel tells David’s story. As you read, you will be filled with excitement as he is crowned king over Judah and then king over all of Israel, praising God as he brings the ark of the covenant back to the tabernacle and exulting as he leads his armies to victory over all their enemies and completes the conquest of the Promised Land begun by Joshua. David accomplished much.
In Chapter 1-4 we see that after years of running from Saul, he dies, and David was finally crowned king over the tribe of Judah. The rest of Israel, however, followed Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son. David did not attempt to take the tribes by force but placed the matter in God’s hands. After a few years Ish-bosheth was assassinated, and the rest of the tribes finally put their support behind David. David moved the capital to Jerusalem, defeated the surrounding nations, and even showed kindness to Saul’s family. We may not understand why God seems to move slowly at times, but we must trust Him and be faithful with what He has given us.
David took the fractured kingdom that Saul had left behind and built a strong, united power. Forty years later, David would turn this kingdom over to his son Solomon. David had a heart for God. He was a king who governed God’s people by God’s principles, and God blessed him greatly. We may not have David’s earthly success, but following God is, ultimately, the most successful decision we can make.
Under David’s leadership, Israel’s kingdom grew rapidly. With the growth came many changes: from tribal independence to centralized government, from the leadership of judges to a monarchy, from decentralized worship to worship at Jerusalem.
No matter how much growth or how many changes we experience, God provides for us if we love Him and highly regard His principles. God’s work done in God’s way never lacks God’s supply of wisdom and energy.
David’s popularity and influence increased greatly. He realized that the Lord was behind his success because he wanted to pour out his kindness on Israel. David regarded God’s interests as more important than his own.
God graciously pours out His favor on us because of what Christ has done. God does not regard personal greatness as something to be used selfishly, but as an instrument to carry out His work among His people. The greatness we should desire is to love others as God loves us.
King David showed justice, mercy, and fairness to Saul’s family, enemies, rebels, allies, and close friends alike. His just rule was grounded in his faith in and knowledge of God. God’s perfect moral nature is the standard for justice.
Although David was the most just of all Israel’s kings, he was still imperfect. His use of justice offered hope for a heavenly, ideal kingdom. This hope will never be satisfied in our hearts until Christ, the Son of David, comes to rule in perfect justice forever.
When David confronted the Amalekite who had allegedly killed Saul he knew the man was probably unaware that David had confrontations with the Amalekites. This action by the man incurred David’s wrath by posing as an enemy of Israel and claiming to have killed God’s chosen king. Well David had the man killed.
Why would David consider it a crime to kill the king, even though Saul was his enemy? David believed that God anointed Saul, and only God could remove him from office. If it became casual or commonplace to assassinate the king, the whole society would become chaotic. It was God’s job, not David’s, to judge Saul’s sins (Leviticus 19: 18). We must realize that God has placed rulers in authority over us, and we should respect their positions (Romans 13: 1-5).
Chapter 2 relates the story of Abner and David becoming king of Judah. The honest compliments of an opponent are often the best measure of someone’s greatness. Although Abner and David frequently saw each other across battle lines, the Bible gives a glimpse of the respect they had for each other. As a young man, David had served under Abner. But later, Saul’s campaign to kill David was carried out by Abner. After Saul’s death, Abner temporarily upheld the power of the king’s family. But the struggle between Abner and Saul’s heir, Ish-bosheth, brought about Abner’s decision to support David’s claim to the throne. It was during his efforts to unite the kingdom that Abner was murdered by Joab.
Several years earlier, in a battle between Ish-bosheth’s army under Abner and David’s forces under Joab, Abner fled and was pursued by Joab’s brother, Asahel. Abner told Asahel twice to stop following him. But the eager young soldier refused, so Abner killed him. Joab was determined to avenge his brother.
Abner realized Saul’s family was doomed to defeat and that David would be the next king, so he decided to change sides. He hoped that in exchange for his delivering Saul’s kingdom, David would make him commander in chief of his army. David’s willingness to accept his proposal was probably another reason for Joab’s action. Abner lived by his wits and his will. To him, God was someone with whom he would cooperate if it suited his plans. Otherwise he did what seemed best for him at the time. We can identify with Abner’s tendency to give God conditional cooperation. Obedience is easy when the instructions in God’s Word fit in with our plans. But our allegiance to God is tested when His plans are contrary to ours. What action should you take today in obedience to God’s Word?
The battles continue in Chapters 3 and 4 with Abner being murdered and Ish-bosheth also being assassinated. Ish-bosheth was a man who took his courage from another man (Abner) rather than from God. When Abner died, Ish-bosheth was left with nothing. In crisis and under pressure, he collapsed in fear. Fear can paralyze us, but faith and trust in God can overcome fear (2 Timothy 1: 6-8; Hebrews 13: 6). If we trust in God, we will be free to respond boldly to the events around us.
David called Ish-bosheth a “righteous man.” As Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth had reason to think he was in line for the throne. He was not wicked for wanting to be king; rather, he was simply too weak to stand against injustice. Although David knew Ish-bosheth was not the strong leader needed to unite Israel, he had no intention of killing him. God had promised the kingdom to David, and he knew that God would fulfill His promise.
When David learned of Ish-bosheth’s death, he was angry. He had never harmed Saul, and he thought the assassin’s method was cowardly. David wanted to unite Israel, not drive a permanent wedge between him and Ish-bosheth’s supporters. To show that he had nothing to do with the extermination of Saul’s royal line, he ordered the assassins killed and gave Ish-bosheth a proper burial. All the tribes of Israel, recognizing in David the strong leader they needed, pledged their loyalty to him. No doubt the Philistine threat and David’s military reputation (1 Samuel 18: 7) also helped unify the people.
So, now we see David becoming king over Israel, in Chapter 5.
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