A man named Sheba son of Bikri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” The woman said to Joab, “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri and threw it to Joab.
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭20‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬
Disputes recorded in the Old Testament weren’t all resolved with civility.
It was a rough time to be alive.
Religion and worship was so central to human existence it demanded payment of the ultimate price of thousands at a time, each tribe with fervent belief they were doing the bidding of the god they served.
To this day, some religious factions haven’t changed much.
Jesus Christ and his teachings were a game changer and many Christians were martyred for their faith and following while trying to persuade others of a better way.
Living for Christ not only marked a great personal transition but the transition of society to civility.
Belief became a judgment by God alone, reserved for his own timing either through resurrection or damnation, chosen by the decision of each person.
Acknowledgement that the battle is no longer against flesh and blood but in the spiritual realm against darkness and evil principalities permanently changed the playing field.
At stake are the same consequences but the building of bridges and relationships are now of primary importance in helping others to a life of faith and true righteousness.

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Remembering the love and loyalty he once enjoyed with his best friend Jonathan, now deceased, he sought out Jonathan’s remaining son:

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?””

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Like being found the long lost heir to some overseas royal fortune, Mephi asks King David how this good fortune could have possibly come upon a nobody like him.

Unaware how much his father’s friendship long ago meant to King David, this bestowment would surely be like winning a lottery he never even knew existed.

The trajectory of his life and his family’s future would be forever changed because of his bloodline and a good king who was also once a nobody in need of a loyal friend.

Takeaway: We never really know what truly remarkable blessings are just around the corner, headed your way directed by the very hand of God by way of his servants.

Accept the gift.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood.

In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns.

And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ”

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A fitting passage on the eve of this 47th US presidential inauguration.

Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I laughed aloud!

Though David was, in all seriousness, denying himself bread and food in lament over the loss of a fellow friend, shallow me found the passage stand-alone funny as I rarely deny myself food and have this body as evidence.

I’m not proud of my lack of self control.

However, I am pleased that God cared enough to initially send me an important message through my love language: humor.

Self-denial is not my strong suit.

However, under threat of God dealing with me like David “ever so severely,” my weakness quickly got real.

My health has taken a huge rap for my routine of poor diet and exercise, and while I don’t believe God has punished me for it, he has let natural consequences result in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease which together or alone are destined to take my life sooner than later without a serious change of habit.

Takeaway: God speaks to our sin in ways we understand best. For me, it was humor which quickly turned deadpan.

Today begins my four-day weekend and an excellent opportunity to start some better self-care habits.

Sounds like he might want me around here longer than I expected.

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.

The Lord said, “Go up.”

David asked, “Where shall I go?”

“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.”

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Like you, so many of my days have been spent asking for God’s direction in my life.

Praying, pining, and pleading, even creating a private decision matrix to determine if it was God answering or if I needed to spend more time on my knees for the answer.

Never have I ever simply asked and heard his answer, even moreso, including specifics as David did in this passage.

The difference?

God is good. His desire is for us to live and thrive.

David knew and acted upon this premise of prayer. He didn’t overthink or second guess himself nor God.

These days, that still small voice of the Holy Spirit is crowded out competing with the noise and distractions of this world.

David lived a simple life wholly dependent on God for his own existence and survival. Noise, distractions and interruptions were few.

The enemy is the mind’s noisemaker.

Psalm 20:4 and Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart”

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed”

And in the New Testament, Matthew 6:8: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him”

God’s will and direction is not a shell game.

Simplify, ask, and trust that God has only your best interests and intentions at heart.

God answered David: “Hebron.”

“Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For David, the formula turned out great!

I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lamenting the death of Jonathan, his close friend and son of King Saul, David’s verse highlights the profound bond they shared.

Jonathan’s love and loyalty were exceptional, even surpassing typical romantic love, reflecting the depth of their friendship with loyalty, grief, and the pain of loss.

Platonic love can be just as meaningful and impactful as romantic relationships.

Losing someone so close and devoted is a heartache familiar to many of us.

While a part of us dies amid such loss, a new part of us is born of the memories and experiences that forge us into greater maturity.

Loss is only loss if we refuse to let it transform us from the same death to the new life as they now enjoy.

“He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my Lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

While David had every reason to kill Saul, his pursuer, he chose mercy, against his basic impulse.

Seeking peace and reconciliation even in the face of danger and the advantage opportunity presents, is a much more noble act.

Vengeance and retribution have their place but that place belongs to God alone.

Daily choices against impulses must be our rule and not the exception if we are to show ourselves as followers of Christ.

From evildoers come evil deeds.

Like David, we need to think beyond our impulses and act according to our calling to the principle of cultivating peace with our enemies when opportunity presents.

It was young David who the Lord made king due to Saul’s disobedience. David killed Goliath the Philistine giant with a sling and a stone and was admired by many, most significantly Jonathan.

You’ve got a friend in me.

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You’ve got my back.

Each of us longs for such a friend.

When you come to know the character and potential of another, sometimes it’s such a rare find it compels a love and devotion that aligns and joins you together as one in spirit and purpose, not unlike a marriage.

Loyalty, fidelity, devotion, commitment, in the Bible there is no recorded model of friendship closer than that of Jonathan and David.

Jonathan risked his all and saved David from his jealous father’s sword many times and did so at deeply personal sacrifice. The dialogue between the two is immensely powerful throughout the book. I encourage you to read it yourself.

Each time I have encountered this story it has resonated with me across the spectrum of my own life.

I have always desperately wanted a Jonathan. I think I would have become a much different man than I am today.

Perhaps some day.

Saul rationalized why he didn’t heed the very specific instructions of the Lord:

But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When the Lord gives orders it’s no time to cherrypick which parts to obey.

But…but…but…

Saul explains he thought he was doing the right thing by taking plunder from battle, sounding remarkably familiar to many of us who too often think we know what’s best.

We invite God’s direction in our lives but then resist walking the path he sets before us.

Life in Christ is all or nothing.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.—Jeremiah 29:11

No if’s, ands, or buts.