2 SAMUEL 1-4: DAY 115: JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

April 25, 2023

2 SAMUEL 1-4
DAY 115: JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Click here for the reading
Focus Verses For Today: 2 Samuel 4:9-11

Today we begin our journey through 2 Samuel. David is anointed king over Judah while the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s tribe, led by Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth, rule Israel and attempt to overthrow David as King of Judah.

Take some time to ask God to impart His perfect understanding of 2 Samuel 1-4 on you. Read 2 Samuel 1-4. Let’s journey!

2 Samuel 1-4: Our journey today begins where we left off last week, with the death of King Saul, the first king of Israel. An Amalekite comes to David with Saul’s crown, bragging that he killed a dying King Saul. This was not true. The Amalekite was trying to gain favor with David. King David had the Amalekite killed for killing the anointed of the Lord and went into mourning for King Saul and Jonathan. David is then anointed King over Judah. Israel, the northern kingdom, resisted and remained loyal to Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth. War breaks out between the houses of David and Saul. Abner, commander of Ish-Boshesh’s army, killed Asahael, brother of Joab, commander of King David’s army, during battle. King David’s army soundly defeats Ish-Bosheth’s army. Joab sets his mind on killing Abner. Abner arranged a peace accord where Ish-Boshesh agrees to surrender his kingdom to King David, uniting all the people of Israel under King David. Before this can be accomplished, Joab murdered Abner. David washes his hands of Abner’s murder putting the blame entirely on Joab. Ish-Bosheth is murdered by Rekab and Baanah while sleeping in bed. They cut off his head and bring it to King David. They thought this would please King David and bring his favor to them. King David, as shown in our focus verses for today, had them killed for murdering an innocent man. (2 Samuel 1:1-4:12)

Our focus verse for today:

9 David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, 10 when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! 11 How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!”
(2 Samuel 4:9-11, NIV)

Things are a bit chaotic in Judah and Israel during this time of transition from the House of Saul to the House of David. As chaotic as things were, King David, demanded and expected justice from all sides, while tempering his actions during the transition. King David viewed Joab’s killing of Abner as murder because Asahel was killed on the battlefield. Rekab and Baanah’s killing of Ish-Bosheth was murder to gain favor with King David. King David’s response in our focus verse makes it clear that King David didn’t rely on murderers for protection but relied on God to deliver him from his troubles. Who do you rely on during times of trouble?

Godspeace!

For more information regarding how your financial support can help, please click here.