“The men of Israel answered the men of Y’hudah, ‘We have ten shares in the king; also, we have more right in David than you. So why did you despise us? Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing our king back?” But the men of Y’hudah spoke more vehemently than the men of Israel.”-2 Samuel 19:44
In the closing verses of 2nd Samuel Chapter 19, we have Israel (meaning the northern tribes) quarreling with Judah like two kids fighting over the last piece of pizza at a birthday party.
The northern tribes were enraged that David hadn’t invited them to his “restoration-to-the-throne” ceremony following Absalom’s death.
But seriously, how can we blame him?
These were the very homies who had sided with Absalom in the rebellion against King David.
Nevertheless, when representatives from the North and South showed up, a huge scuffle broke out because Israel (referring to the North) felt like they were being treated as second-class citizens.
Their argument was…
“We have 10 shares in David.
That makes us more important than you, Judah, with your measly 2 parts.”
Judah retorted by saying…
“David’s our flesh and blood, man!
Of course, we’re the homies he should feel the closest to.”
Judah responded by saying…
“Well, we asked for David’s restoration before you did.
Tribal blood ties aren’t everything.”
Both sides just wouldn’t quit.
They kept berating each other.
The situation kept intensifying…
Until things finally reached the boiling point.
The only result was big trouble.
We’ll get into that next time.
But for now, let’s switch over to the takeaway.
David didn’t cling to Judah just because of blood ties.
He stuck with the people who stuck with him.
One could argue that they supported him because he was from their tribe.
But my point still stands.
At the end of the day, this Son of God favored those who favored him.
And it will be the same with the return of the Messiah.
On the final day, you won’t be measured by family background, status, or empty claims.
He’ll look at who stood by Him, who followed Him, and who honored Him when it mattered most.
When the King comes back, the line separating the sheep from the goats will be crystal clear:
Those who stood with Him…and those who didn’t.
Ya feel me?
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Whoever acknowledges me
in the presence of others
I will also acknowledge in
the presence of my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before others
I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 10:32-33
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN 2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 20.
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