2 Samuel 4 -- David Succeeds By Surrendering

Ish-Bosheth had assumed the throne when Saul and Jonathan died, but my commentary said that "he was a mere puppet in the hands of his general (Abner), and now the general was dead."  Ish-Bosheth was home in the afternoon, taking a nap when two minor officers in Abner's army entered the house under the guise of securing grain for their troops.  As Ish-Bosheth napped, the two men stabbed and killed him, then beheaded him and brought the head to David, even daring to claim that the Lord had avenged David. 

 "But David's answer made it clear that at no time in his career had he ever broken God's commandment by murdering somebody in order to accomplish his purposes ... David made it very clear that he was not involved ... At the king's command, his guards killed the two confessed murderers, cut off their hands and feet and hung their corpses up as evidence of the king's justice," my commentary said.

"Sin and death ... were reigning, but God's grace also reigned, for He protected David and overruled men's sins to accomplish His divine purposes.  'Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.'  But David reigned in life and let God control him as he faced one emergency after another.  He was a man empowered by God, and God brought him through each crisis and helped him to succeed.  In the midst of today's troubles and trials, God's people can reign in life by Jesus Christ if we will surrender to Him, wait on Him, and trust His promises."

Father, I certainly had a day like that yesterday.  I, too, want to be a man empowered by You.  I want You to bring me through each crisis.  Help me to surrender my will to Yours, to wait on You, and to trust Your promises.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford