Daily Devotional for Wednesday, August 23

The Triumph of David

“And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, 
and the men of Israel, before the servants of David,” 2 Samuel 2:17.

Saul’s death brought about the first divided kingdom. David reached out to Jabesh-gilead in the northern part of the country after Judah had made him king, but Saul’s family still had political clout in various parts of the land. The commander, Ner, set up Saul’s grandson, Ish-bosheth, and God acknowledged his rule for two years. He was a king set up by men and allowed for a time by God. God sets up the governments of men and tears them down as it suits His purpose (Daniel 2:21). A season of this and a period of that, but all moving toward the triumph of His chosen king.

Men fought and men died during the season of division. Some were young men, valiant in battle, sent out to their deaths by the elders who cared not for their lives. Others were experienced warriors forged in the fires of war, bound in camaraderie by common suffering. Some were reluctant to engage, and others pursued with a singleness of purpose driven by a goal of reunification under God’s king. Regardless of how and why they fought, the end of their strife would be bitter.

The triumph of David in a unified kingdom was assured on this day of battle. Twenty of David’s own and three hundred and sixty Israelites died. David’s power would continue to grow as God raised him up to unite His people once more.

Today, we engage in a great struggle as each passing moment propels us toward the great triumph of King Jesus. The triumph is assured, and even while “men wax worse and worse” (2 Timothy 3:13), the Creator has promised that soon, “every knee shall bow” (Romans 14:11) to the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).

THOUGHT: The struggle is bitter, but Jesus will triumph, and the adversary will only rule for a season.

David Thompson