A Change of Heart

Reading of the Day: 2 Samuel 1-3

2 Samuel 3:36: And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

Thankfully, we are seeing a turn for the better in these chapters. The repercussions of the reign of Saul are coming to light & being resolved, and slowly but surely David is establishing his reign. But, this did not happen all at once. David first was accepted as king among the tribe of Judah, but those who were previously loyal to Saul before his death raised up Saul's son Ish-bosheth to be king over the rest of the tribes. So, David was partially king for a time. The man who raised up Saul's son was Abner, and he is a critical person in these chapters because he reflects the change of heart taking place in Israel after David starts to take the throne. Abner starts out loyal to those serving under Saul's son. He even kills someone loyal & close to David! But later, Abner is wrongfully accused by king Ish-bosheth of being with his father's concubine. This hurtful accusation cut deep for Abner, and he changes his position! He decides to go serve David instead, and more than that, to get all the rest of the tribes of Israel to turn themselves over to David as their king instead of Ish-bosheth! That way, David would reign over all Israel, as he was anointed to do way back when Samuel first came to visit him as a child! Abner followed the example of David, having a courageous heart, willing to do what is right! Unfortunately, the brothers of the one Abner killed way back when he was loyal to Saul were upset that Abner & David were now close friends. So, sadly, they killed Abner. David laments & fasts for his death, and that's where the above Scripture comes in. The people take notice of this behavior. They are pleased to see a king whose heart cares so deeply & loves so much. This was what they were missing when Saul was king. Abner courageously followed after this behavior by having a change of heart, and everyone was starting to embrace David & trust him & have a change of heart also! It reminds me of the book Narnia, where the White Witch starts to lose power & the icy, cold exterior and snow starts to melt away...there's finally hope! When we let the hardness of our hearts be turned & softened by our King, we allow God to work in us and through us in ways we never thought possible! And just like Israel, a new Kingdom awaits us! We just have to be willing to have a change of heart. We must allow the layers built up over time to fall away, and be open & vulnerable in the hands of our God!

Isaiah 64:8: "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."

Jeremiah 18:4: "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."