Changing is Hard
Saul and Jonathan are dead. David's line to the throne should be clean right? Nope. It's going to take years. There's a LOT of political allegiances in the way and many people with special interests are going to do almost anything to keep the status quo and fight back David's ascension to power.
Sounds like the American government...
David is a threat to everyone who followed Saul to death. He's unpredictable. What will he do with those who supported a man out to kill him all those years? Surely, it can't be good.
In haste, Ish-Bosheth is MADE king by Abner, the commander of Saul's troops. Abner had been with Saul at least since the Goliath event. He brought David to Saul after Goliath was dead. He was rebuked for not protecting Saul by David when he had the opportunity to kill him. You have to know that Abner had a vested interest in Saul's lineage keeping the kingdom. So he takes the fourth son of Saul and makes him king as soon as Saul and Jonathan die.
What's interesting that Ish-Bosheth's name is different in Chronicles. It's actually, "Eshbaal". Which translated, means, “man of Baal,” or “Baal exists"!
1 Chronicles 8:33 (ESV) Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal;
This betrays the distance Saul had fallen from grace. To name his fourth son in honor of the false god of the Canaanite's worship is shameful. But Saul's sin became entrenched in his life. Ish-Bosheth is a given name the Jews perhaps assigned to Esh-Baal out of shame of this history. In fact, THAT name means, “man of shame.” Sin always brings shame. There's no getting around it.
What we are learning is that old habits die hard. Saul's men are not about to let David just come in and rule. Likewise, David is not going to simply destroy all his enemies in vengeance. And while the men standing in his way to the throne perish, David never approves.
The whole moment points to our spiritual development. We have entrenched desires, opinions, and habits that will not die easily. We need change but change is hard. Everyone is born into a status-quo like existence where it just seems easier to keep things the same. Change does not come easy. We hate our shame, but then we fight against the Lord to protect ourselves!
Does your spiritual growth seem like a battle? This is what David's men experienced against Ish-Bosheth. The good news is this: it's not your fight. It's handled by the true David of your soul. He comes to destroy those remnants of your old life. But it will not be easy.
2 Samuel 2:17 (ESV) And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
The other good news is, our true David will grow stronger in us as God works His will into our hearts. Consider how 2 Samuel 3 opens:
2 Samuel 3:1 (ESV) There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
Now we are not without responsibility here. We have to fight the good fight. We have to take captive our thoughts (2 Corinthians 10). We have to offer ourselves and our bodies to God regularly (Romans 6:12-14). We have to pray and seek the Kingdom of God first (Matthew 6:33). We have to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). But God is at work in us and through these things.
Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Change is a challenge. But Christ is up to it.
Sounds like the American government...
David is a threat to everyone who followed Saul to death. He's unpredictable. What will he do with those who supported a man out to kill him all those years? Surely, it can't be good.
In haste, Ish-Bosheth is MADE king by Abner, the commander of Saul's troops. Abner had been with Saul at least since the Goliath event. He brought David to Saul after Goliath was dead. He was rebuked for not protecting Saul by David when he had the opportunity to kill him. You have to know that Abner had a vested interest in Saul's lineage keeping the kingdom. So he takes the fourth son of Saul and makes him king as soon as Saul and Jonathan die.
What's interesting that Ish-Bosheth's name is different in Chronicles. It's actually, "Eshbaal". Which translated, means, “man of Baal,” or “Baal exists"!
1 Chronicles 8:33 (ESV) Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal;
This betrays the distance Saul had fallen from grace. To name his fourth son in honor of the false god of the Canaanite's worship is shameful. But Saul's sin became entrenched in his life. Ish-Bosheth is a given name the Jews perhaps assigned to Esh-Baal out of shame of this history. In fact, THAT name means, “man of shame.” Sin always brings shame. There's no getting around it.
What we are learning is that old habits die hard. Saul's men are not about to let David just come in and rule. Likewise, David is not going to simply destroy all his enemies in vengeance. And while the men standing in his way to the throne perish, David never approves.
The whole moment points to our spiritual development. We have entrenched desires, opinions, and habits that will not die easily. We need change but change is hard. Everyone is born into a status-quo like existence where it just seems easier to keep things the same. Change does not come easy. We hate our shame, but then we fight against the Lord to protect ourselves!
Does your spiritual growth seem like a battle? This is what David's men experienced against Ish-Bosheth. The good news is this: it's not your fight. It's handled by the true David of your soul. He comes to destroy those remnants of your old life. But it will not be easy.
2 Samuel 2:17 (ESV) And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.
The other good news is, our true David will grow stronger in us as God works His will into our hearts. Consider how 2 Samuel 3 opens:
2 Samuel 3:1 (ESV) There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.
Now we are not without responsibility here. We have to fight the good fight. We have to take captive our thoughts (2 Corinthians 10). We have to offer ourselves and our bodies to God regularly (Romans 6:12-14). We have to pray and seek the Kingdom of God first (Matthew 6:33). We have to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). But God is at work in us and through these things.
Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Change is a challenge. But Christ is up to it.
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