Bible in 365 Days

2 Samuel 1-3                    

2 Samuel 1

The second Book of Samuel deals largely with the story of David, and presents the picture of the theocratic monarchy. The first movement records the progress of David to the position which God had appointed for him. While the supreme element manifest throughout this section is that of the divine progress toward accomplishment of the purpose, it is impossible to study it without being impressed with the greatness of David. Neither is it necessary to think of all the actions by which he won the favor of Israel as being dictated merely by policy. Rather they reveal the true character of the man-upright, generous, and of great heart.

At times it would appear as though he acted contrary to his merely political interests, and yet, as events moved on, they prove that there is no policy so powerful as that of integrity and abiding in the will of God.

The story of the death of Saul as told by the Amalekite was evidently a fabrication. There is no doubt he found the dead body of the king and despoiled it in the hope of winning favor with David. For this he paid the severest penalty.

The lamentation of David is full of beauty. Over Saul and Jonathan it is stately and digni6ed, and merges into extreme tenderness when he sings of his friend Jonathan only.

2 Samuel 2

The first act of David was to inquire of God what he should do. Without hesitation, his own tribe crowned him king. His attitude toward the men of Jabesh-gilead was in the highest sense politic, and yet was in keeping with his attitude toward the house of Saul.

The spirit of Saul, which was antagonistic to David, was perpetuated in Abner, Saul's cousin and captain of the host. He at once set himself to consolidate the house of Israel around the house of Saul. Ish-bosheth was merely a puppet in his hands. While it may be true that Abner did not desire the kingship for himself, it must be remembered that it would have been poor policy on his part to seek for that position. It was easier to gather the people around a son of the dead king.

Thus the kingdom was not actually David's. It had to be gained, and seven years passed before his crowning over the whole nation.

Two remarkable men headed opposing factions in the nation. Joab was a strange and rugged character, at once fierce and faithful. His relation to David forms a strange picture of a troublesome friendship. He was a perpetual source of anxiety, and yet his rugged steadfastness naturally appealed to the king. On the other hand, Abner was strong, resourceful, and courageous. As will be seen later, by his own confession, he had fought through all the years against the howledge of the purpose of God; and yet in some respects he was more admirable than Joab. Here we have the account of the first battle under these leaders, in which Joab was victorious, but his brother Asahel was slain. Asahel's death entered like iron into the soul of Joab, who never rested until his vengeance was satisfied on Abner.

2 Samuel 3

The long warfare continued, and the progress of it is declared in the opening verse of this chapter: "And David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker."

At last matters in the kingdom of Israel were hastened to a crisis by a quarrel between Abner and Ishbosheth. The latter seems to have charged the former with a peculiar sin against his rights, a charge without foundation. This would explain Abner's fierce rejoinder. As a result of this he made overtures to David, during which he revealed his knowledge of God's purpose that David should occupy the throne. This is a revelation of the reason of his weakness. No man can hope successfully to bring any purpose to final issue when his own will power is weakened by an inward conviction that he is fighting against God.

Joab took advantage of this opportunity to wreak his vengeance on Abner by slaying him. David was at great pains to disavow all connection with the bloody act. His lamentation was the sincere regret of an upright man that anything should be done to aid an unjust cause.

His action was declared to be pleasing to the people. Thus he was steadily gaining his way into that respect and love which is the greatest element of power for a king.