And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. (2 Sam. 2:3-7)
After Saul’s death, David enquired of the Lord who sent him to Hebron. In Hebron David was once more anointed as king of Israel. David sent out to the men of Saul who had been valiant in recovering Saul’s body from the Philistines and intreated them to come over and join him. David desired these mighty men and a unified kingdom. The battle which soon followed because Abner installed a lesser son of Saul and provoked war in Israel would not go well for the men of Saul nor for the nation of Israel.
David did not want his kingdom to start with war between him and the men of Saul. He sought their support and a unified kingdom, not one divided by petty allegiances of whose man they followed, but following God and God’s man on the throne. David knew that if the men of Saul continued following the house of Saul despite God’s judgment that war and strife would continue as it had under Saul while he pursued David. David as a man of God was seeking reconciliation and restoration, not revenge or retaliation. Abner instigated a bloody coup after setting up one of the sons of Saul as ‘king’ and the battle did not go well for those loyal to Saul.
When there is a change of leadership within a church, or when we have someone over us we may disagree with, Christians are not to be disagreeable when adjusting to the new leadership or disruptive in interacting but submitting to the authorities placed over them. We are to be kind one to another, submitting to one another in the church as servants of the living God. We are not to cause division, foment strife, or bicker and rebel, but seek the LORD and live as examples of His grace and mercy. God has a plan and a purpose for the people He puts into a place, and He will correct that which is wrong, including us, as we grow in Him and He instills His Word in us. IF our disagreements spill over into rebellion, we are not being disruptive to the leadership, but fighting against God, and He will purge and chastise that which is contrary to His commands. We are not here for ourselves but are called and commissioned to reach the lost with the Good News of faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, to teach all nations all things whatsoever He has commanded, and to preach His Word in season and out, until He is done with us.
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
David did not want his kingdom to start with war between him and the men of Saul. He sought their support and a unified kingdom, not one divided by petty allegiances of whose man they followed, but following God and God’s man on the throne. David knew that if the men of Saul continued following the house of Saul despite God’s judgment that war and strife would continue as it had under Saul while he pursued David. David as a man of God was seeking reconciliation and restoration, not revenge or retaliation. Abner instigated a bloody coup after setting up one of the sons of Saul as ‘king’ and the battle did not go well for those loyal to Saul.
When there is a change of leadership within a church, or when we have someone over us we may disagree with, Christians are not to be disagreeable when adjusting to the new leadership or disruptive in interacting but submitting to the authorities placed over them. We are to be kind one to another, submitting to one another in the church as servants of the living God. We are not to cause division, foment strife, or bicker and rebel, but seek the LORD and live as examples of His grace and mercy. God has a plan and a purpose for the people He puts into a place, and He will correct that which is wrong, including us, as we grow in Him and He instills His Word in us. IF our disagreements spill over into rebellion, we are not being disruptive to the leadership, but fighting against God, and He will purge and chastise that which is contrary to His commands. We are not here for ourselves but are called and commissioned to reach the lost with the Good News of faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, to teach all nations all things whatsoever He has commanded, and to preach His Word in season and out, until He is done with us.
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
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