II Samuel 3-4

“There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David” (3:1). After Saul’s death, his army commander put Saul’s son Ish-bosheth on Israel’s throne, while David’s followers made him king over Judah.  The two sides indulged in violent battles and revenge-killings, ending with the murder of Ish-bosheth.  Just as when Saul was alive, David refused to see the unlawful assassination of his rival as a good thing. He knew God didn’t need the “help” of wicked men.

“As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity …” (4:9).  God wanted Israel to be different: to refuse the world’s “normal” ways and to trust His power and goodness to redeem every adversity.