Consequences
Sermon
As Newton's Third Law of Motion tells us, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This seems to be true in the field of human relationships as well as in the field of physics, although in the field of relationships sometimes the reaction may be a little more than equal. Thus there are always tragic cases in the media where those who have been spurned by their lovers murder the lovers in revenge, a reaction that seems somewhat over the top.
It is perhaps salutary to remember that every action we take has a result, a result which may be unpredictable and indeed a result which we may never know. We all know the old adage about the miniscule beat of a butterfly's wing causing a tropical storm on the other side of the world, and perhaps it is true that our own actions or words can cause a chain of events which result in unforeseen consequences. Sometimes these circumstances are entirely good, because we sent a brief prayer winging on its way at the right time. Sometimes they may not be so good.
Around 1,000 BCE after King Saul's death, Abner, the commander of Saul's forces, supported Saul's sons as automatic contenders for the throne and was prime mover in the coronation of Saul's son Ishbaal. But David still had a huge following and was an excellent general, and so the fighting which had been going on before Saul's death, continued (2 Samuel 2-5). Although he was busy at war with Abner, David was clearly also busy at home, for his six wives gave birth to sons during this period. We're told the names of his sons, but not those of his wives.
But then something happened which changed the course of history.
King Ishbaal foolishly accused Abner, the commander of his forces, of seducing one of his concubines. Abner was righteously indignant and reacted badly to the unfair accusation. He then saw the error of his ways in supporting someone who clearly wasn't fit to be king, so he took an oath before God to change allegiance and support David against Ishbaal. This was an action which led to the uniting of all the forces under David and the subsequent enthronement of David as King of Israel.
In today's reading from 2 Samuel we share the moment when the consequences of King Ishbaal's stupidity hit home. We're told that all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
Yet this wasn't the only consequence, for in a couple of brief verses we're told some fairly stupendous news: David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
Not only did David become king as Samuel had predicted so many years previously, but in a very short time he also united the Northern kingdom of Israel with the Southern kingdom of Judah. And in a quite brilliant move, he chose the then unimportant city of Jerusalem, which happened to straddle the border between the two kingdoms, as his stronghold. Jerusalem, which he named "The City of David", became the capital city of the whole region and has, of course, remained so ever since. Here in Jerusalem eleven more children were born to David from various wives and concubines, but again we're told only the names of the children while the women remain anonymous.
Many years before, when David had been only a child playing with his toys, God had instructed the old prophet Samuel to anoint him as king (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Although it seemed stupid at the time, for Israel already had a king chosen by God - Saul - and even David's brothers seemed to be far better contenders for the post than little David, Samuel obeyed God without question. It was to be years later that David was actually crowned, but that first act of Samuel's had certain consequences which made the later coronation possible.
Perhaps David believed in himself after that anointing, for it seems to have been soon afterwards that he slew Goliath, the giant Philistine, thus securing victory for Saul. After he had come to Saul's attention in such a dramatic way, David's life changed and he spent the rest of his youth growing up in the royal court. David became well versed in the work of the king and became a great general leading the troops into battle and mostly winning, so that when the right time came, he was ready for the position of king.
We are so seldom able to see the results of our actions or words, but God knows the results. God sees the big picture and is able to guide us towards our destiny. God's nudging and gentle hints may seem ridiculous or impossible at the time, but that's because we are unaware of the big picture. We don't know what our destiny might be.
The sad thing is, that if we're unable to tune into God and respond to him, then we may well miss the destiny he has in mind for us. Every tiny action we take, every casual word we utter, has a consequence in God's plan. Let's learn to tune into God so that his plan can come to fruition.
It is perhaps salutary to remember that every action we take has a result, a result which may be unpredictable and indeed a result which we may never know. We all know the old adage about the miniscule beat of a butterfly's wing causing a tropical storm on the other side of the world, and perhaps it is true that our own actions or words can cause a chain of events which result in unforeseen consequences. Sometimes these circumstances are entirely good, because we sent a brief prayer winging on its way at the right time. Sometimes they may not be so good.
Around 1,000 BCE after King Saul's death, Abner, the commander of Saul's forces, supported Saul's sons as automatic contenders for the throne and was prime mover in the coronation of Saul's son Ishbaal. But David still had a huge following and was an excellent general, and so the fighting which had been going on before Saul's death, continued (2 Samuel 2-5). Although he was busy at war with Abner, David was clearly also busy at home, for his six wives gave birth to sons during this period. We're told the names of his sons, but not those of his wives.
But then something happened which changed the course of history.
King Ishbaal foolishly accused Abner, the commander of his forces, of seducing one of his concubines. Abner was righteously indignant and reacted badly to the unfair accusation. He then saw the error of his ways in supporting someone who clearly wasn't fit to be king, so he took an oath before God to change allegiance and support David against Ishbaal. This was an action which led to the uniting of all the forces under David and the subsequent enthronement of David as King of Israel.
In today's reading from 2 Samuel we share the moment when the consequences of King Ishbaal's stupidity hit home. We're told that all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.
Yet this wasn't the only consequence, for in a couple of brief verses we're told some fairly stupendous news: David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
Not only did David become king as Samuel had predicted so many years previously, but in a very short time he also united the Northern kingdom of Israel with the Southern kingdom of Judah. And in a quite brilliant move, he chose the then unimportant city of Jerusalem, which happened to straddle the border between the two kingdoms, as his stronghold. Jerusalem, which he named "The City of David", became the capital city of the whole region and has, of course, remained so ever since. Here in Jerusalem eleven more children were born to David from various wives and concubines, but again we're told only the names of the children while the women remain anonymous.
Many years before, when David had been only a child playing with his toys, God had instructed the old prophet Samuel to anoint him as king (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Although it seemed stupid at the time, for Israel already had a king chosen by God - Saul - and even David's brothers seemed to be far better contenders for the post than little David, Samuel obeyed God without question. It was to be years later that David was actually crowned, but that first act of Samuel's had certain consequences which made the later coronation possible.
Perhaps David believed in himself after that anointing, for it seems to have been soon afterwards that he slew Goliath, the giant Philistine, thus securing victory for Saul. After he had come to Saul's attention in such a dramatic way, David's life changed and he spent the rest of his youth growing up in the royal court. David became well versed in the work of the king and became a great general leading the troops into battle and mostly winning, so that when the right time came, he was ready for the position of king.
We are so seldom able to see the results of our actions or words, but God knows the results. God sees the big picture and is able to guide us towards our destiny. God's nudging and gentle hints may seem ridiculous or impossible at the time, but that's because we are unaware of the big picture. We don't know what our destiny might be.
The sad thing is, that if we're unable to tune into God and respond to him, then we may well miss the destiny he has in mind for us. Every tiny action we take, every casual word we utter, has a consequence in God's plan. Let's learn to tune into God so that his plan can come to fruition.
