Family Feuds

607 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, "Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David's men with him across the Jordan?" 42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?" 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, "We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us-were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?" Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. Some petty jealousy has broken out among the people. Half of the ten tribes that made up what is called Israel were left out of the triumphant procession celebrating the return of David. They were hurt by this and let the people of Judah know about it. Quick reminder for all of us to beware of hurting the feelings of others by not including them, and at the same time a reminder to those who are left out to not take it as the end of the world. You will survive this social snub. When we exclude others unnecessarily, or overreact to being excluded, we set the table for future problems that flow from hard and unforgiving hearts. Look what happened here. Unloving words were exchanged between the two parties and it led to serious trouble. The exchange of words escalated to the point that Judah's words were described as “fierce.” The Hebrew meaning of the term is cruel. Cruel, harmful words, spoken to souls that matter to God because neither side could drop it. My brothers, my sisters, don't let similar circumstances snowball in your own life. Remember the words of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Ro 12:18, “ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” And in ALL circumstances seek to bridle that tongue that James says is capable of kindling roaring fires. Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

Seek To Settle Before It Gets Messy

418 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 2Sa 2:8-17, “But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 12 Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men now arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise." 15 So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. 17 So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.” Things are about to get very messy. They usually do in power struggles. David has been anointed king over Judah, and has made overtures to the men of Jabesh-Gilead.....then we read, “but Abner.” That word “but” tells us that there is about to be some trouble. Abner who was the commander of Saul's troops and in Saul's family tree as a first cousin decides to take measures to keep the line of kings in Saul's family. So he appoints Ishbosheth, a son of Saul as the new king of Israel. Well, you can't have two kings and conflict is inevitable. So Joab, (David's commander) and Abner (Ishbosheth's commander) gather the troops and meet at the pool of Gibeon. Abner proposes that the fight be decided by 12 of his best men against 12 of Joab's best men. In a bizarre outcome the twelve men on both sides die in the contest! It's a draw, and the draw sets off the battle between David's men and Abner's men and David's men win. Power struggles occur very often in our world and even in the church, but here's what the Holy Spirit tells us about power struggles, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Rom 12:18) If it is possible, without sacrificing biblical truth, seek to settle the matter in love and peace before it gets messy.