Wed.’s Devo - Unity Comes With a Price

Read: 2 Sam. 3:6-4:3
Today’s reading is full of twists and surprise endings. The kingdoms are being united but it comes with a price. Abner deflects to David’s side when accused of having sex with one of Saul’s concubines. David promises to accept Abner only if he brings his wife, Michal with him. Michal was Saul’s wife that he owed 100 foreskins but paid 200. She had been given to another man named Palti. Palti means “deliverance of God”. David had to deliver his wife first, then he could deliver the nation. That is a picture of the end. We, like Michal, have been purchased by Jesus and are waiting his return for us. Jesus will come for his bride first, then deliver the nation.
Abner brings Michal and his men to feast with David in Hebron.
Joab, who was David’s commander and bitter enemy of Abner’s, has been out fighting and comes home to find David and Abner uniting as friends. He is jealous and revengeful because Abner killed his brother, Asahel. He deceitfully goes after Abner and brings him back to the gate where he kills Abner.
David is furious and curses Joab’s family tree with leprosy, crippling, death by the sword and poverty. Then he gave Joab and his brother, Abishai, over to the Lord to punish for what they had done.
David was not as easy on Baanah and Recab. They were brothers who lived in Israel. They rose up and killed Ishbosheth thinking they would be rewarded by David. David was not happy about anyone taking matters into their own hands. He wanted the Lord to run the show. When Baanah and Recab presented Ishbosheth’s head to him, David had them killed.
We can learn much about how God feels about manipulation. He hates it when we try to help him. God has his perfect timing and it is all for a reason. When we get ahead of him we are moving into the next season before we are adequately prepared. It is like landing in Alaska still wearing our shorts. It is so much better to let God bring the next season because he clothes us with the proper clothing so we are ready.
Lord, help us to wait on you for our next season.