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DAVID’S RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER
SATURDAY, JULY 11
2 Samuel 4

Matthew 5:20-26

 

“…whosoever shall kill

shall be in danger of the judgment.”

 

DAVID’S RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER
 
Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth (Saul’s grandson). When news of the death of Saul and Jonathan came, the nurse of five-year-old Mephibosheth took him up and fled. In the confusion, he fell and became lame (2 Sam 4:4). He stood out here as the only surviving son of Jonathan: he was saved, but was injured in the process.
 
David was now set to be king of all Israel and he had a covenant of friendship with Jonathan. He had a character of godliness and, behind the scenes of these narratives, he was a man who walked closely with God. His deep thoughts are contained in the many psalms that he composed. He was a godly man and his close friends knew his character. He did not go against the principles that he had asserted in his writings. It was because of this that he was able to have a patient spirit when he was under persecution by Saul. He looked to heaven, not to man, as he was assured of God’s promises. People who did not know him were in for surprises when they engaged him.
 
There were two men who were captains of the bands, Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon of the tribe of Benjamin. They had seen the direction where the leadership of Israel was heading and they wanted to seek favour from David. They had assumed that Ishbosheth was an enemy of David. In their ambition, they sought means to get into David’s good books and to receive a financial reward at the same time.
 
They went to the house of Ishbosheth and beheaded him in his bedchamber. They took his head and carried it all night to David in Hebron. Their main aim was to get a reward from David. They assumed that their victim was guilty and that they were doing the right thing to get rid of him. They could not, however, trump up any charges against him except that he was a son of Saul and was the designated king as per the order of monarchy. On the other hand, they broke the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” They coveted a reward from David. That was not to be because David dealt with the matter righteously.
 
THOUGHT: The first principle of righteousness is to keep God’s Law.

PRAYER: Father, let me always hide Thy word in my heart.

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