"Fighting Over Power Not Yours To Control"

Scripture Passage

2 Samuel 3:6-4:3; 2 Samuel 4:5-12

Scripture Focus

Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.” (2 Samuel 3:12 NLT)

Observation

I confess again today—today’s reading doesn’t exactly flow like a river loaded chock-full of devotional doodads. Honestly, it’s difficult reading—not unlike the last few chapters of Judges, I think—because of all the political manipulating and even bloodshed that goes on in the process of securing the kingdom for David. Indeed, I’ve scrambled for a “scripture focus” and only quote the verse above because it’s indicative of the whole passage and of the kinds of political maneuverings and manipulations that go on throughout.

To be sure, David’s kingship is God’s will. And—at least by the cultural standards of the day—the foundations for David’s succession to full kingship over all of Israel are made secure today through no direct bloodshed on David’s part. But it’s still not pretty…there’s nothing neat and tidy about it…and I’m thinking again today about how ugly things can get when people battle over power instead of accepting and releasing authority under God’s direction.

Bottom line, power works differently in God’s Kingdom than it does in the kingdoms of this world. Jesus said to his disciples, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you” (Matthew 20:25-26 NIV). That’s a great phrase—“Not so with you!” Philippians 2:6-11 describes how, because Jesus completely humbled himself and emptied himself of power, God “exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9 NIV).

Those verses—indeed, all of Scripture and the example of Jesus Christ himself—tells me that power ought to be acquired and released differently in God’s kingdom than it is anywhere else—that only those living under God’s authority ever have any real authority anyway—and that He, then, can be trusted to supply what power might be needed for any leadership challenge…and that I don’t need to fight my way to it.

Besides, when I battle for what’s really not mine, anyway, it just gets too bloody for my tastes.