Mar 11 (2 Sam 1-3)

2nd Samuel 1

Saul is dead, Jonathan is dead, and this man from the enemy comes to David with Saul's crown and bracelet. He lies and says that he put Saul out of his misery and saved him from torture. In reality, David knew that he was lying, and that this man only looted Saul's crown and bracelet after he was dead.

Also, here was David who had two golden opportunities to kill Saul, yet he knew that God would take care of Saul. David knew that Saul would kill himself, since his actions were against God, and his mindset was destroying himself.

2nd Samuel 2

David respected the throne, and he thanked the men of Jabesh Gilead for burying Saul. David respected the throne, and those that God anointed. However, Saul's surviving son and Saul's commander of the army thought he should be king.

This is the stuff of action movies and soap operas! There are sons, cousins and kings fighting for rule over Israel, and after a great battle, Abner wisely offers to stop fighting. It's a good thing he did, since his army was being slaughtered!

2nd Samuel 3

The men of David are fighting the surviving men of Saul, and David is winning and getting stronger, while Saul's men are losing and getting weaker. In Jon Courson's commentary, he likens this to when we are saved...as the Holy Spirit works in us, we get stronger and are more victorious, while Satan and his influence on us weakens and ultimately loses!

(v.3) David married a pagan Gentile woman, and he will live to regret it. Absalom would later challenge David for the throne, and break David's heart. When we deviate from God's commands and plans for us, we bring sorrow and hardship upon ourselves.

Even though God has anointed David to be king through Samuel's blessing, the people are watching to see if David "acts" like a king and wins.

Because the rest of the chapter is dealing with wives and concubines, we need to tread carefully with our kids here. Also, we have revenge and murder going on...so I teach my kids that bad things are happening to the people because they wanted a man to lead them, instead of God. As a result, men are fighting against each other for power.