2_Samuel_4
2 Samuel,  2014 Bible Reading

2 Samuel 4

2_Samuel_4

The Pharisees in the days of Jesus and the Apostles were very proud of their piety and the ability to memorize the whole Torah. They also had the authority to govern over the Jews in regards to religious matters with laws and traditions that they had laid down.

So when Jesus began His ministry, preaching and performing many miracles, they took offence with Him and often plotted to kill Him, thinking that they were doing God a favor in their effort to eliminate heresies and defending their faith in God.

But was that really so? Was God pleased with their actions? Did they ever stop for a moment to consider who Jesus really was, and did they ponder over His teachings and also the numerous wonderful miracles that Jesus had done?

In today’s chapter, we can see a similar mistake of 2 persons, who thought that their act of murdering David’s “enemy” would please him greatly; but what was their consequence?

Bible Passage: 2 Samuel 4

Did David ever consider Saul as his enemy? No. Even with the opportunities to eliminate Saul came to David several times, he did not lay a hand on him because in David’s eyes, Saul was the anointed king of Israel.

After the death of Abner, both Baanah and Rechab were somehow sure that Ishbosheth would not remain as king for long, so they murdered him. They thought perhaps David might even reward them handsomely for their loyalty, and maybe David would even offer them a noble position in his kingdom.

         And they brought the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the king,

         “Here is the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul your enemy, who sought your life;

         and the Lord has avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and his descendants.”

         v.8

These were the words that sealed their fate for thinking that they had done something smart and pleasing to David.

The truth was that these 2 people did not understand the heart of David, instead they broke his heart. So what was their consequence?

         How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house

         on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from

         the earth?”

            So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet,

         and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried

         it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

         v. 11 – 12

In the history of man, there are people who had done things that break the heart of the Creator of all things, our Father and true God of all.

There are people, who for their religious beliefs have killed many innocent people in the name of their (false) god, and yet they still proclaim that their religion is a religion of peace.

There are people, who for their own benefits have misled people into falsehood and hypocrisy towards God, and yet proclaim to be the holy and infallible mouthpiece of God.

There are people, who for their own ideologies and pride have corrupted the pure truth of God, and even after their faults were being pointed out, they refused to repent and go on influencing the flock of God with their corruptions.

The list can go on, and these really do break the heart of God because these people do not know His heart. They are blinded by disillusion, pride and selfish ideologies that led to the death of people’s physical and spiritual lives.

We need to seriously know God in order that we may not break His heart, which may also lead to destroying the lives of others.

         Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

            Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,

            just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,

         that they may be saved.

         1 Corinthians 10: 31 – 33

These words of Paul that came through the inspiration of God were indeed wonderful and truly worth our meditation and application.

We have to love God in the way that God accepts and pleases, and to love man in the way that they may be built up, especially to lead them to salvation, into the bosom of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our priority as Christians should be to glorify God and to bring benefits to others. In order to glorify God, we need to first know the heart of God; and the ways to truly know His heart is through digging deeper into His Word and to have a deeper relationship with our God through prayers.

May God have mercy on our weaknesses and our lack. May He continue to bless us with wisdom to know Him deeper everyday.

Shalom

 

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