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This chapter has a lot going on. And I’ve wrestled with how to preach it for a while now. There is a partial transition of power from Saul to David. David will only be over Judah while Saul’s son Ishbosheth will take the rest of Israel for a brief time. There are several people who complicate God’s will. Namely Abner and Joab. There is a competition that turns deadly because of the hostility between the house of David and the house of Saul. And if you’re a person who easily feels out of control you’ll get frustrated with David who doesn’t address everything going on. You’d probably think David is acting carelessly.
In fact, if some of you were around David at this time, you would disagree vehemently with how he handles his business. You would want to see more aggression and more assertiveness. You’d be frustrated with what he allows to go on. Because upon Saul’s death, Abner, Saul’s cousin and chief of the Israeli army, immediately installs the last of Saul’s sons on Israel’s throne as a rival to David.
David’s kind response
- David continues to be kind to people who oppose him. As he was with Saul, so he’ll be with Saul’s family and Saul loyalists.
- You might say this is a political move by David.
- If you mean political as a bad word and that David is only doing this for optics? Or David is showing kindness because he wants something like the Proverb says, The desire of a man is his kindness. Or David is only doing this to appear charitable to Saul’s house that will prove to be false.
- If you mean political in the sense that it is going to be policy of the new administration you’d be right.
- One thing David has little to no concern for is what men think about him.
- But why is David kind to people who hate him? Why is David kind to people who are opposed to the will of God? Why is David kind to people who are willing to hinder the will of God? Perhaps the question is what allows David to be kind?
- Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. David is practicing this a thousand years before Paul, who said this, was born.
Confidence comes from God’s clearly revealed will
- David has known he is supposed to be the king of Israel for over 12 years. He has patiently waited for God to remove Saul, but David has refused to remove Saul himself. In fact, David has been good to Saul and David will be good to Saul’s family even after David gets on the throne.
- David’s attitude is the right attitude and spirit every child of God should have. He is confidently kind.
- At this point, David is only king over Judah because the rest of Israel is not on board with David being their king. The royal family is Saul’s family as far as Israel is concerned. Abner has wasted no time in replacing Saul with Saul’s last son Ishbosheth
- God’s words on the matter are David’s advantage.
Objections to kindness
- People will make it difficult to do good by instigating contention.
- Friends will make it difficult to do good when their feelings are hurt and they think you should respond a certain way.
- People will say you must show strength otherwise you’ll be taken advantage of.
- In leadership, David is pressured to squash any sign of rebellion. How long do I let this go on and allow the nation to live outside of God’s will?
Application
- You won’t be kind because you’re afraid someone won’t get what they deserve. Luke 6:32-35 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. By such actions you’re a partaker of the divine nature Peter would say.
- You won’t be kind because you’re afraid you might get hurt in the process.
- Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
- What you learn in this is that shewing kindness is an act that justifies your faith. Your kindness says I trust God to sort out these things that scare me. I may be afraid they’re not going to get what they deserve; I may be afraid that I’m going to get hurt in the process, but I’m going to trust God to sort all that out. I’ve got the guts to show kindness and let the LORD Jesus Christ figure the rest of it out.
