October 29 -- "A Turbulent Transition"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 2

"A Turbulent Transition"

After the death of Saul, David “inquired of the Lord” (2 Samuel 2:1). He didn’t simply waltz into king Saul’s throne room and take over – even though God had chosen him for this assignment. He “inquired” of the Lord first. This was a common practice in David’s life. In this case, David sought God’s guidance about the where, when, and how the transfer of power should take place. David knew that when we seek the counsel of God, He gives us inside information and insight on every situation we may encounter  or find ourselves in. David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord directed him to go to the town of Hebron where he would be inaugurated as the next king of Israel.

Verse 4 says, “And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.” This is actually the second time David was anointed as king. It was Samuel the prophet who first anointed him as king at God’s direction – even though Saul was still on the throne (1 Samuel 10:1). God’s intention was to replace Saul with David as the new king of Israel. But not everyone in Israel was submitted to that intention.

It is noteworthy that verse 4 doesn’t say the “house of Israel.” This is the first sign of a political division in the nation. David was anointed as king of “Judah.” Meanwhile, Abner (the commander of Saul’s army) had other plans. He took Saul’s son Ishbosheth and anointed him as king. The house of Judah followed David, while many other tribes followed Ishbosheth. So the kingdom was divided.

This political division led to a turbulent transition for king David. Abner and his men fought with Joab (the commander of David’s army). First in hand-to-hand combat, which escalated into all out war between the factions. There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. It was a turbulent transfer of power caused by two groups of people with conflicting political ideologies.

This is what happens when the peoples of a nation don’t share a common purpose or political agenda or moral values. In this case, those who “inquired of the Lord” and sought to follow His will, sided with David. Those who chose to ignore God’s intentions and implement their own humanistic government, sided with Abner and Ishbosheth. With two differing views of the future and two political ideologies, it is common for one faction to begin to battle with the other. The “United Tribes” of Israel became the “Divided Tribes.” At this point, the patriotism which led to a common cause get polarized into tribal rivalries that sow resentment and hatred and violence toward one another.

The only solution is for the nation to humbly pray, seek God’s forgiveness, and return to His ways.