Today, we turn to 2 Samuel. In the first chapter David learns of Saul’s death. The account of Saul’s death is slightly different than we read it in 1 Samuel. An Amalekite came and told David. He said he had killed Saul at Saul’s request, because Saul was mortally wounded, but hadn’t died. David responded to the report by mourning, having the Amalekite killed for killing Saul, and then pronouncing a poem of praise in memory of Saul and Jonathan. We see David’s honor once again. He didn’t gloat at the death of the man who had attempted to kill him on numerous occasions, and hunted him as if he were a wild animal. Instead, he carried out justice against Saul’s “killer,” and honored the memory of Saul and Jonathan.
In 2 Samuel 2, David was anointed King of Judah, but Abner, King Saul’s body guard proclaimed Ish-Bosheth one of Saul’s son as king over the remainder of Israel. The two armies went out against each other, and twelve men were selected from each side to battle in hand-to-hand combat. With one move each man killed his opponent, so all twelve were dead. This led to more fighting and at one point Asahel, one of three brothers who were David’s right hand men: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, chased after Abner. Abner told him to turn aside from chasing him, but Asahel would not, so Abner killed him. Then Joab and Abishai chased after Joab. Finally, Joab called for a “cease fire,” and everyone went home. This would not be the end of the conflict, as God had Samuel anoint David as king over Israel many years before, and that anointing meant one day David would rule over the entire nation.
In 2 Samuel 3 Abner saw the LORD was with David and decided to go over to his side. David welcomed the gesture, but when Joab heard about it, he called Abner to a private meeting and killed him in retribution for killing Asahel. David made it clear to everyone that Joab had acted on his own, and mourned for Abner. This pleased all the people of Israel and made David’s positions King secure. In 2 Samuel 4 two men decided to do David a “favor,” and killed Ish-Bosheth. When they brought his dead body to David, David responded by pointing out he had avenged Saul’s death, and how much more would he avenge the death of an “innocent” man. So, he had his men kill Ish-Bosheth’s murderers. As we read through these chapters, we see much killing both in the battles with foreign nations, and through infighting among the Israelites themselves. Many see this as an indication that the “God” of the Old Testament is a different God than that of the New Testament, that we see through Jesus. It is not a different God. There is only one, true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we have pointed out on a number of occasions, thus far. God was establishing a nation. It was to be a holy nation. While some of the killing we see was not God’s justice, and some of it was and would be condemned by God, we cannot miss the truth that sometimes people died because of God’s judgment on their lives.
As we return again to Mark 8, remember this is the turning point in this gospel. It starts with the record of Jesus feeding the 4,000. Then it moves to a confrontation with the Pharisees–nothing new there. This time it was over the Pharisees wanting Jesus to show them a sign. He had just fed thousands of people with a small amount of food. What was that? Then Jesus healed a blind man. The turning point comes when Jesus asks His disciples who the crowds said He was? After they responded to that question, Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?” That is the question, isn’t it? Who do you and I say Jesus is? Peter got the right answer and immediately after that Jesus told the disciples He was going to be handed over to the religious leaders and be crucified, but He would rise again. Peter took Jesus on over that statement. He didn’t expect the Messiah to die. His plans didn’t include it, and undoubtedly he had grown used to Jesus’ supernatural powers and presence in his life. Jesus made it clear Peter’s plans were not from God, but from Satan. He then turned to the crowd and reminded them (and us!) of the cost of following Him. From this point forward in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem and His appointment with His destiny-dying on the cross to pay the penalty for human sin, and rising again to show He had conquered sin and death.