David's heart (2 Samuel 4)
Read 📖
Today’s reading is the whole of 2 Samuel 4
But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, when one told me, ‘Behold, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?”
2 Samuel 4:9-11 (ESV)
Reflect ❤️
Today we continue to see the contrast between those who take matters into their own hands and those who trust in God. Rechab and Baanah murdered David’s key rival, the son of Saul, Ish-bosheth. And they do this to gain favour with the incoming King. However, instead of rewarding them for their execution, David has them executed. What went wrong?
They fundamentally misunderstood David’s heart.
These two murderous men assumed that David was just another king, like the kings of the surrounding nations. They assumed that David would happily use violence to see all challengers removed. But King David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:11). David, instead, trusted that God. Trusted that God would give him the kingdom in his time. Trusted that God would ensure the stability of his reign. David’s heart was to trust in God, rather than taking things into his own hands.
Pray 🙏
We have a God who we can trust. We have a God who is caring for our lives. Let us trust his timings, and his plans in all of life.
Lord Jesus, thank you that your heart is not like our heart. Help us to trust your goodness, your power, your reign. Please Lord align our hearts with yours. Amen