Evil in Hopes of Good

Day two hundred fifty-six

I woke this morning knowing that I need to make the most of this day.  It is the only day I have off for the rest of the week and there is so much to accomplish.  So my prayer included a plea to please keep me on track today.  Help me to discern the important things from those that can wait.  And please give me the strength to get everything done!

2 Samuel 4

I really struggled with this chapter.  It took me a while to grasp why David would have the two men who killed Ish-bosheth, his enemy, killed as a punishment.  Why would he call his enemy righteous? And what does this have to do with me? Here are some of my thoughts on this chapter:

Verses 1-4  Why the interjection of information on Mephibosheth?
There is a short digressions in our assassination plot, regarding Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who becomes crippled when he is accidently dropped by his nurse as she flees fromt he Philistines.  

One thought is that this history is inserted to help us understand the reasoning behind the upcoming plot to kill Ish-bosheth.  Saul's family was now reduced to a low ebb; and if Ish-bosheth was dispatched, there would be none left, but a lame child, who was altogether unfit to manage the kingdom.  Therefore the crown must necessarily come to David by their act and deed and surely he would reward them.

Whatever the purpose for this little blurb, we will meet Mephibosheth again in chapter 9.

Verses 5-7 Cold blooded murder
The details of the murder found in these verses lead to a story of treachery and assassination.  There is nothing good in the way Rechab and Bannah conduct themselves and their motives become clear in the next few verses.

Verses 8-12 The Avenging
The 2 brothers bring the severed head of Ish-bosheth to David, hoping to be rewarded.  What terrible things people do in the name of the Lord, thinking to please Him!  They got it backwards:  God’s people do not do evil that good may come (Rom.3:8); Rather, we are to overcome evil with good (Rom.12:21).

I wonder if we ever seek to be rewarded for doing the wrong thing? Sure we do.  Have you ever gossiped before? Anytime we gossip to one friend about another, we are hoping to win their deeper friendship. It is a negative action that we hope will bring a positive result.  It is backwards thinking.

David has no choice but to punish the two brothers for their actions, he cannot condone such behavior in his kingdom.  The punishment for the crime is execution.  It seems harsh, but it was necessary.  Out of such decisions David's wisdom and goodness will finally unite the tribes into one kingdom loyal to him.

I don't know if anyone else has had difficulty with this chapter, but for just 12 verses there was a lot of thinking going on in my head.  I guess that is a good thing.