Bent Oak Church

We have been surprised by David's kindness. In chapter ten, his kindness stretches even to his enemies, the Ammonites. But that kindness is rejected—thrown back at him as a humiliating insult. The limits of David's love is put to the test. The Bible holds no naive or sentimental ideas about love. Love always leaves us vulnerable and often makes our lives far more complicated. But in the midst of the complexities we are given a word of courage—faith.

God was giving David victory wherever he went. It got David thinking about a promise he had made years ago. David had promised never to forget his friend Jonathan. So David went looking for someone from Jonathan’s house to whom he could show kindness. David’s kindness is an important word in the Hebrew bible—hesed. David is in a unique position to help us better understand this word, both by his kindness and by the kindness he has received from God.

David has come a long way from hiding in caves in the wilderness of En Gedi. Now he sets in a palace of cedar. But that got him thinking. David lives in a palace, but the ark is in a tent. David has an idea. He will build a house for God, a temple as impressive as his palace. There is one problem with his plan; God won't allow what David is doing to obscure what God is doing.

The ark's return to public worship was a monumental event in Israel's history. For too long it had been in hiding. David was determined to give it a place of honor in his new city of Jerusalem. The parade that day must have been awe-inspiring. 30,000 of David's finest troops worshiping and singing as the ark rolled along guided by Uzzah and Ahio. Everything was going so well until the ox stumbled and Uzzah reached up to steady the ark. Immediately he was struck dead.

David was finally crowned king. His first move was to secure a new capital city, Jerusalem. The chapter moves from success to success—captured cities and military conquest, children and royal palaces. But subtly another story is developing beneath the surface. David's life and motives are more complicated than we initially realize.

As Israel's civil war drags on across years, David faces a test, patience. Everywhere he is surrounded by desperate and determined men. Betrayal, deception, manipulation, assassination, politics, bartering over the lives of women and concubines, trials and judgments, death sentences and executions. It is into this complicated moment David is called to follow and to wait on the Lord.

Israel is without a king. It doesn't take long for conflict to break out. Abner and Joab find themselves jockeying for power. Their angling and scheming suggest something profound about competition. Our tendency to compare ourselves to others often leads to competition that too frequently turns violent.

Saul is dead. David receives the news. We would expect him to quickly seize the throne. Now was finally his moment. His advisors must have urged him to act quickly. But David does something unexpected. David writes a poem; he writes a poem in honor of Saul and Jonathan. David teaches Israel to lament.

Linda Bates shares her story of how God revealed himself through faithfulness and healing.

Ron Replogle shares his story of how God revealed himself through faithfulness.