2 Samuel Ch2/ Mark Ch10
Stop Seeking Vanity, Obey God’s Commands And Leave Everything To Follow Jesus
2 Samuel 2/ Mark 10
2 Samuel 2 told us how David began his ruling over the Israel. He faithfully obeyed God’s commands to the end to love his enemy; and humbly followed God’s will step by step. In Mark 10 Jesus told the disciples how to enter His Kingdom. It is to be as pure and obedient as the little children, to leave everything to follow Jesus, and to be servant of all.
2 Samuel 2, V. 1-7
Now Saul was dead, finally it was time for David to rule over the Israelites. But David humbled himself before God and did not do anything by himself. He asked God whether he should go up to one of the towns of Judah. God answered him that he should go. David asked further where to go? God told him, “Hebron.” Then David went up to Hebron with his two wives. He also took those who were with him and their families. At the end, the men of Judah went to Hebron to anoint David to be king.
When David heard that the men of Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul, he sent messengers to comfort them. David told them that God would bless them for the kindness they showed to Saul. David also would give them favor for it. David also encouraged them to be strong and brave to fight for this country.
Mark 10, V. 1-11
As soon as Jesus finished preaching, he left there and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Jesus kept on obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit to preach and to teach people. Some Pharisees came to test Jesus by asking the issue of divorce. Jesus replied that divorce was permitted as in Moses commands, and divorce was not desired by God. Jesus led people to obey God’s words and to walk according to God’s mind. He told his disciples, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.”(V.11)
COMPARISON:
When there was a good chance for David to sit on the throne, he did not do it. He would rather wait for the exact right time when God wanted him to sit on the throne. Though David had the freedom to do whatever he liked, he would rather ask God for guidance in everything. David honored God as his King. He also led everyone who followed him to do the same. Therefore, David helped his followers to advance in the spirit to a higher level. When Saul, who had searched for his life, died, David cried and fast for him. David even blessed the men of Jabesh Gilead when they showed kindness to his enemy Saul. The spiritual condition of David at this time was truly on the top of Hebron. He became a close friend of God. He fully obeyed God’s commands. (John 15: 14) He regarded God as the highest guidance in everything he did. David loved his enemy and loved those who were nice to his enemy. He was completely united to God.
Jesus was even more closely united himself to God than David. He and God were one. God was his head in everything Jesus did. He asked Father for every detail, including where he should go, when to go, what to say, and how to say. Jesus led those who came to test him to pay attention to what was written in the Bible. He pointed out that the laws permitted a man to divorce his wife because men’s hearts were hard. It was not God’s original intention. Jesus led everyone to understand the mind of God and to obey God’s commands. Jesus taught us to walk according to God’s mind, and do not sin.
2 Samuel 2, V. 8-11
Abner the commander of Saul had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul over to the east side of Jordan River. And there Abner made him king over the Israel. He was king for two years. At the same time David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah for seven years and six months.
Mark 10, V. 12-18
The disciples rebuked those who brought little children to Jesus. Jesus was angry and surprised that they did it. He said, “Let the little children come to me,… for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (V.14) And he took the children in his arms and blessed them.
COMPARISON:
Abner did not seek for God’s will. He made decisions by himself and set up Ish-Bosheth as a king. Ish-Bosheth was like a little child in the spirit. Abner did not bring this little child to God nor helped him to do God’s will. Abner flattered him and put him in a high position as a king. It was because Abner wanted to be a king by himself. Ish-Bosheth was only a puppet of his ruling. This was not the way of God’s love. Abner was destroying Ish-Bosheth, he did not build him up in God.
David humbled himself as a child before God. He stayed where God wanted him to stay, and waited upon God’s instruction quietly. He did not fight for himself to rule over the whole Israelites. He rest in faith until God fulfilled His promise to him. At the end, he received blessings from God and everything was made ready for his ruling when God’s words came true.
2 Samuel 2, V. 12-17
Abner and his men met Joab and his men. These two commanders agreed to let their men fought one another for them to see. In fact, this was a fight for greatness between two of them at the price of other’s lives. The battle was very bad on that day. The men from both sides fought against one another to death.
Mark 10, V. 19-27
A man came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. He answered that he had kept all of them. Jesus then said, “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (V. 21) This man left sad. Jesus told the disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” And Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (V. 23 & 27)
COMPARISON:
Abner and Joab fought for power and fame. Both of them ran after pride of the world. They did not understand God’s mind. Our heavenly Father has never expected us to do any great or impressive things of the world. God only desires us to love Him and love people by keeping His commandments in Jesus Christ.
Abner and Joab were also the rich of the world. They were rich in power and skill. But they misused their wealth. They used their power and skill to gain fame and pride of the world by sacrificing others’ lives. They should have sold everything they had, and they would have treasure in heaven. Then, they should have walked with God. For example, Paul was a man of knowledge and skill. But he completely confessed his sins and repented, and he turned to Jesus. He had sold everything he had in this world and followed the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel far and wide. He was willing to humble himself before the Lord, he was completely changed to a new creation by the power of God.
2 Samuel 2, V. 18-23
Asahel a brother of Joab could run as fast as a wild deer. How pity that he did not use it for attacking the enemies. He used it to be against his own brother Abner. He was running after Abner neither to the right nor to the left. And he refused to listen Abner’s advice to stop running after him. Finally, Asahel was killed.
Mark 10, V. 28-37
Jesus taught the disciples that God did not want them to do anything for Him by their own ability. God only wanted them to leave everything to follow Jesus to preach the gospel and save people. Jesus said, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this prsent age (home, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (V. 29-31)
Jesus led the way to Jerusalem. He knew that he would be humiliated and persecuted there for God’s will. He would be nailed to the cross and died for the sins of everyone. Three days later he would rise. Then, two brothers among the disciples came to Jesus and pleaded to have a chance to sit at His right and left in His glory.
COMPARISON:
Asahel could run as fast as a wild deer. But he used it for a wrong goal. We God’s children should run as fast as we can to the goal posted by the scriptures we read everyday. We should run after the goals in the Bible, neither to the left or to the right. We are to win the prize that God has called us to receive in Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches us to seek righteousness and humility so that we can shelter in the Lord when troubles come. God’s words tell us to seek to understand the Truth earnestly. The Bible tells us to desire eagerly the way of God’s love, the greatest gift among all. If we have the love of God, we will leave everything to follow Jesus happily to go to the whole world to preach the gospel.
How sad that we usually run after pride of the world just like Asahel. We always want to show how smart we are or how sucessful we are. Many times we are just like those two brothers who wanted to be higher in heaven than the other disciples. Therefore, we struggle for power and self-interests, or even fight for the most important position at churches or in God’s house. It is all because we have not fixed our eyes on the goal posted by God in the Bible. Therefore, we usually are tempted by the world or the false teachings, so that we turn to the left or to the right from God’s words. That is why many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Asahel ran after the wrong goal so that he fell and died. He became a stumbling block for others. Every man stopped when he saw Asahel fell and died. Our Lord, Jesus bravely obeyed God’s will that he willingly endured sufferings and laid down his life for us. Three days later, he rose up from the dead Jesus has become the best example for those who follow Him. He truly pressed on toward the goal set by God to the end without turning to the left or to the right. Jesus sacrificed all things to love God and men. It turns out that he has gained all things. He is the greatest encouragement to all who follow His steps.
2 Samuel 2, V. 24-28
Abner and Joab, these two commanders, regarded their own fame more important than the lives of their soldiers. They spent the whole day fighting for who was the strongest. Now finally they stopped fighting and stopped running after the lives of their own brothers.
Mark 10,V. 38-45
Jesus told these two disciples who asked to be great in heaven, “You don’t know what you are asking.” Even if they would drink the bitter cup that Jesus drank and would go through the baptism that Jesus was baptised with, they still would not be sure whether they could sit on the left or the rright of Jesus in His glory. These places belong to those for whom God has prepared. It is written in the Bible, “No eye has seen, no ear has hear, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2: 9) Therefore, just press on to love your God.
The ten disciples were angry at these two brothers when they knew about it. Then Jesus taught all of his disciples, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (V. 43-44)
COMPARISON:
Abner and Joab fought for the position of great. They sacrificed others for their desire. We God’s children should listen to Jesus’ teachings and sacrifice ourselves to love others and to be servants of all.
2 Samuel 2, V. 29-32
Abner worked hard and risked his life all that day and all that night. But he ended up to be a loser and lost three hundred and sixty men. It was the same with Joab. He fought at the risk of his life all that day and all that night. Though he was the winner, he lost nineteen men and one of his brothers. Asahel, a warrior of David died for him. Both sides lost many lives for the desire of these two commanders that they wanted to be great.
Mark 10, V. 46-52
When Jesus was leaving Jericob, a beggar who was a blind man heard that it was Jesus. He shouted for God’s mercy. Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Have mercy on me.” Jesus stopped when he heard this. This blind man threw his cloak aside and jumped to his feet. He came to Jesus and told him that he would want to see. Jesus said, “your faith has healed you. “ At once he could see and followed Jesus.
COMPARISON:
These two commanders fought with each other for fame and gains of the world. It turned out both of them lost a lot. They were just like the blind beggar. They were so blind that they fought for things of the world. They should have prayed eagerly to God for mercy to open their eyes. Then, they could see the wonderful and great eternal glory in heaven. They would leave everything on the earth to follow the Lord willingly so that they would receive eternal and true blessings from above.
We pray that we will fight for nothing from the world but press on to leave everything to follow Jesus to enter His eternal kingdom. Amen!