Transitions

Just because Saul was now dead, didn’t make his life easy. Saul had pursued him, tried to kill him on several occasions, and made David public enemy number one. David had spent time in Saul’s court, lived in the wilderness among a band of disgruntled men, and even fought with the Philistines for a short time. So the ascent to the throne would seem to be a welcomed change. It too, would prove to be a difficult transition. 

Then came the trouble with moving the ark. It had been gone for years. Israel had lost it in a battle with Philistia in the days of Eli. It was the battle that his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, had carried it into and they had not returned. Upon hearing the news Eli had fallen and broken his neck. When the wife of Phinehas received all the news—her husband, the ark, her father-in-law—she went into labor. The baby survived but she didn’t. The baby’s name would bear the mark of the day: Ichabod—“the glory has departed from Israel.” 

The ark didn’t stay in Philistia long because everywhere it went in the camp of the ungodly it wreaked havoc. Their gods would be toppled mysteriously during the night, their people would be smitten with “emerods.” Depending upon the commentator and translation these were either tumors, boils, or a bad case of hemorrhoids. Many of their cities died so they moved it and until they finally decided to return it into the land of Israel. But it didn’t make it back until David decided that it was time. 

Not many royal lineages give up without a fight. Although God had Samuel anoint David as the new king years before (1 Samuel 16), those who had worked with Saul were not willing to let his legacy die with him and Jonathan on the battle field. Abner appointed another of Saul’s sons, Ishbosheth and for a time he ruled in Israel while David ruled in Judah (2 Samuel 2:8-11). Civil war, which came with plenty of bloodshed, ensued and eventually Ishbosheth is ambushed and killed. Those who killed him believed they had done a favor to the house of David. Yet, just as he had been with the death of Saul, he was with Ishbosheth—and the bearers of the bad news were punished for their deeds (2 Samuel 4:9-12). 

While David did not approve of their actions, they had finally brought unity to the kingdom and David became the one king over all of Israel. The leaders of all the land came to him and gave their allegiance, recognizing him as their shepherd (2 Samuel 5:1-5). Then David, triumphantly marched into Zion, aka Jerusalem, and easily defeated the Jebusites that inhabited the city. Loyal servants would build him a house. The Lord would establish him as King. His family would grow and the city of Jerusalem would come to be known as the city of David (2 Samuel 5:6-16). The transition wasn’t easy, but on the other side was a blessing for David and all God’s people. 

Many years from that time another King would march triumphantly into the same city and be hailed as the King (Matthew 21:1-11). He would defeat the powers of Satan through his own suffering and death (Colossians 2:13-15). His loyal servants would build him a house—a group of devoted family that would grow not just in Jerusalem but throughout the world (1 Peter 2:4-5). 

The transition Jesus made from heaven to earth and to the cross wasn’t easy, but on the other side was a blessing for Jesus and all God’s people who follow Him.

Ben