THE HIDDEN AGENDA – 2 Samuel 2:1-4; 5:1-3

  by Bonnie Ricks

    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.

    So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel .  David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns.  Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah . 2 Samuel 2:1-4 NIV

 

    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 compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel . 2 Samuel 5:1-3 NIV

 

Without confirmation of any sort, David followed what He thought God wanted him to do, packed up his entire nation and moved to Hebron . The events that followed were filled with intrigue, deceit, murder, and other acts of violence.  To put it mildly, the circumstances were less than ideal.  But God accomplished His purpose anyway. 

 

In our lives, it is rare that we function in what could be considered ideal circumstances.  As a matter of fact, there are times that we wish we could just get through one day without a problem of some sort.  We complain and fret, wishing we had things better.  We notice other people whose lives seem to run smoothly, and we envy them.  We argue with God that He should bless us more.  All the while, He is blessing us.  But we are so busy worrying about the circumstances that we fail to see His work. 

 

Through our adversity, He strengthens us.  Through our trials, our faith grows.  Even in the midst of impossible circumstances, He is there.  In the midst of all the mayhem of our lives, we can trust God to continue to work to bring about His will.

 

“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13 NIV