One thing I notice about David when I read II Samuel is the amount of
compassion and heart he has for others. Just consider a few of the
examples we read about today.
He did not seek revenge or harm on those who might have been his enemy
or caused him shame. When the Amelekite came to tell David of Saul's
death, thinking that he would be over-joyed, he did not rejoice but
instead mourned for the death of Saul. This is a man who often times
sought to kill David. That did not matter to him. And neither did
Abner's offense. He did not seek revenge on Abner for killing Joab's
brother but sent him away in peace. And he did not celebrate Abner's
death when Joab caught him and killed him. Neither did he celebrate
when Ishosheth, and enemy to his kingly rule, died at the hands of
Rechab and Baanah.
We can further see the pure heart and inner motives of David when he
restores Mephibosheth to a place of honor, even giving him all of his
fathers lands and setting him a lasting place at the kings table. He
desired to show the "kindness of God" to him for Jonathan's sake.
How often do we find ourselves wishing harm on our enemies. How often
do we find ourselves as Michal who despised David in her heart for his
foolishness? I believe David demonstrates what is told to us in the
new testament "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This
is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
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