Division Is The Fabric Of Our Hearts - 2 Samuel 15-19

2 Samuel 19:41-43 (ESV)

Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?” All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?” And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

To understand the context of the above we have to recall the proceeding events.   David was run out of Jerusalem by his son, Absolom.  Absalom became the king of Israel as a result.  However, when he came to the wilderness to kill his father, Absalom was killed instead.  David would now be returned to the throne.  However, the ten tribes of Israel and the two tribes of Judah began to dispute who played the greater role in bringing back the king.  Although Judah had the original idea to bring David back to the throne, the ten tribes of Israel wanted to flex their muscles about this decision.  It was no longer a celebration that David had returned.  It quickly turned into a who gets the glory for the decision moment.  Like most men in power, these men wanted to claim the victory.   We still do this today.   When things are bad we point to the other political party.  When things go right we point to our own political party.  This division between Israel and Judah will last for years.  Finally, after the death of David’s other son, Solomon, the kingdom will split along these Israel/Judah lines.   This will not be resolved.   Instead of rejoicing that David is safe and sitting on the throne, their is stress between everyone for who gets the credit.   Division in the lives of mankind is woven into the fabric of their hearts.  Mankind will have division.   It is the result of the fall of man in garden of Eden.  Division and fighting is their chief end.  It is only through the peace of God provided by the cross of Christ that we have lasting peace (Romans 5:1).