For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night. And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed. And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? (2 Sam. 4:7-11)
The son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul was lamed when he was five and his mother heard of their deaths. He had nothing to do with the kingdom and was no threat to David, yet two of Saul’s men who sought favor from David went in unto Ishbosheth and killed him in his bed. When they brought his head to David, David reminded them of what happened to the Amalekite who sought favor of David for the tidings of killing Saul. These two who slew an innocent for a reward received a just punishment from the king.
Two men of Saul sought to gain from killing Saul’s lineage, but the victim had nothing to do with the events and because of his malformity and lameness, though caused by an accident, made him unfit for the throne. These two assassinated an easy and vulnerable innocent victim to make themselves look good in David’s eyes and David saw right through them and exacted a right and fitting punishment by putting them to death for their murder of Ishbosheth. David was not looking for revenge nor did he want any deaths attributed to him to gain the kingdom. God had given it to him and David was content to wait upon the Lord and not take action himself. Sadly, others in Israel were not so patient or obedient to God’s plan for Israel and the kingdom.
Christians ought to always wait upon the Lord and His timing, even with those who oppose us, treat us wrongfully, or spitefully use us. We pray for them and leave the results to God, unless He specifically moves us to action. When we honor Him in our ministry and let Him take care of our enemies, He will work all things for good and to bring people to the light of the Gospel. The salvation of lost people should be the highest priority and purpose of our missions, ministry, and the discipling of those who are in Christ for that is the work of the Church, the members of His body. He will take care of us and empower us, if we focus on Him and not on ourselves, and the same God who handles the big problems will handle all our little problems as well. He is our strength and our life and we can trust in Him as we reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach His Word. May we be faithful in giving Him the glory and not seeking approval from man, especially the world which will not receive us until they have repented of their sins and received Him by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary unto Salvation.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Two men of Saul sought to gain from killing Saul’s lineage, but the victim had nothing to do with the events and because of his malformity and lameness, though caused by an accident, made him unfit for the throne. These two assassinated an easy and vulnerable innocent victim to make themselves look good in David’s eyes and David saw right through them and exacted a right and fitting punishment by putting them to death for their murder of Ishbosheth. David was not looking for revenge nor did he want any deaths attributed to him to gain the kingdom. God had given it to him and David was content to wait upon the Lord and not take action himself. Sadly, others in Israel were not so patient or obedient to God’s plan for Israel and the kingdom.
Christians ought to always wait upon the Lord and His timing, even with those who oppose us, treat us wrongfully, or spitefully use us. We pray for them and leave the results to God, unless He specifically moves us to action. When we honor Him in our ministry and let Him take care of our enemies, He will work all things for good and to bring people to the light of the Gospel. The salvation of lost people should be the highest priority and purpose of our missions, ministry, and the discipling of those who are in Christ for that is the work of the Church, the members of His body. He will take care of us and empower us, if we focus on Him and not on ourselves, and the same God who handles the big problems will handle all our little problems as well. He is our strength and our life and we can trust in Him as we reach the lost, teach the nations, and preach His Word. May we be faithful in giving Him the glory and not seeking approval from man, especially the world which will not receive us until they have repented of their sins and received Him by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary unto Salvation.
Until that day, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
RSS Feed