2 Samuel 2:1-11 Securing God’s mandate through patience & obedience

2 Samuel 2:1-11

1 After this, David asked the Lord, “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?”

“Yes,” the Lord replied.

Then David asked, “Which town should I go to?”

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

2 David’s two wives were Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. So David and his wives 3 and his men and their families all moved to Judah, and they settled in the villages near Hebron. 4 Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.

When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul, 5 he sent them this message: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. 6 May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his unfailing love! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done. 7 Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah, who have anointed me as their new king.”

8 But Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had already gone to Mahanaim with Saul’s son Ishbosheth. 9 There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel.

10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king, and he ruled from Mahanaim for two years. Meanwhile, the people of Judah remained loyal to David. 11 David made Hebron his capital, and he ruled as king of Judah for seven and a half years.

Background

For a time after Saul’s death, Israel had two kings. David, who was crowned by men of Judah and Ishbosheth, whom Abner installed as king over the northern territories. David’s coronation was anointed by God and acknowledged by man. Whereas Ishbosheth was propped up solely by one man and by the legacy of a rejected dynasty. Today, we learn the importance of waiting on God and walking in obedience, and in His time, He will establish us and grant us His mandate.

Observation

Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah? – David sought divine guidance for reentry into the political scene of Israel. Having been given the go ahead, he pressed for more details concerning the place of settlement. Hebron in addition to being the most prominent city of the area is located in the Judaean hills, far away from Philistine interference. He and his men began a mass relocation to the villages near Hebron.

Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah – David’s coronation is subject to divine guidance and providence, with unanimous approval from the people. As David has been fostering good relations with the elders of Judah (1 Samuel 30:26-31), and given his clout and kingly prowess, it is most fitting for David to be crowned as Saul’s legitimate succesor. Notice the men of Judah came and crowned David out of their own accord. Concerning the men of Jabesh-gilead, he commented them for their loyalty towards Saul and appealed to them to join with the people of Judah to anoint him as king.

There he proclaimed Ishbosheth king over Gilead, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, the land of the Ashurites, and all the rest of Israel – Abner being an influential military commander single-handedly installed Ishbosheth as king over the northern territories of Israel. Ishbosheth’s coronation was beholden to Abher, and as long as Abner derived advantage in such an arrangement of which he was the principal architect. The divided kingdoms existed side-by-side with Ishbosheth presiding over the northern territories for two years leaving a gap of five and a half years before David eventually became king of the whole of Israel.

Truth

1. Do not depend on others to prop up your position, but God Himself will establish you. If your position is propped up by man without a divine mandate, your position is as sturdy as a spinning top. Experience tells us that man is basically self-seeking, fickle in his alliances where self-preservation is his only priority. Ishbosheth, the descendent of Saul and is legitimately king of Israel, but Abner is really the effective power behind the throne. As we know it, within two years Ishbosheth lost his crown because he fell out with Abner in a row concerning his father’s concubine. On the other hand, David is anointed by God, and he carries with him a divine mandate and everyone looks to him for kingly leadership. His move back to Judah is not without divine consultation as to the timing as well as the place of settlement. He does not force his kingly dominance upon the people but waited for them to exalt him. Ironically, it is David who won the allegiance of Abner that brought down the last of Saul’s remnant. We must not depend on a friend or even a trusted alliance to secure our position in our organization. Instead, we must patiently wait upon God who will exalt us to a position of greater influence in His perfect time.
2. If a man can be trusted by God, he is good enough for you. If a man is a true follower of God, he will make a faithful member of your team. In other words, if a man can be trusted by God, he can be trusted by you. The men of Jabesh-gilead by virtue of their righteous and grateful attitude gave Saul and his sons a proper burial. If the spirit of loyalty towards Saul prevails, they should have subjected themselves under Ishbosheth’s rule as opposed to responding to David’s kingly call. However, it is not too hard to acknowledge David’s kingly anointing and his legitimate claim to the throne. Thus, David did not hesitate in recruiting the men of Jabesh-gilead and declaring them as loyal subjects whom he could trust. If a man can be trusted by God, he is good enough for you.

Applications

1. Do you depend excessively on the vouch of your boss and could not stand by your own merits. It is time to shift your dependence from man and earthly resources to God in heaven. The Psalmist says,

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. Psalm 125:1

2. Do you pick your members and alliances by their display of zeal and symbols of loyalty towards you? Or their faithfulness towards God and His truths? Only those who carry virtues of integrity and faithfulness will make effective and loyal members for your team. Treasure those who do not pander to you and who are concerned enough even to oppose you.

Dear Lord, help me put my complete trust in you, for you alone will be able to help me secure my position in my career. Make me a partner with those who are true and faithful towards God and His truths. Grant me the patience to wait for your timing and the obedience to follow your route to glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.