2 Samuel 20

There is an interesting parallel between this chapter and 2 Samuel 8. Both contain a list of David’s officials. The list in 2 Samuel 8 comes after David has advanced to the throne, subdued the enemies of Israel, and returned the ark of God to Jerusalem. In other words, he has followed God’s leading all the way to victory for Israel. The second list (in this chapter) comes after the mess David created for himself with Bathsheba, Uriah, and the ensuing family chaos. See if you can spot the difference between the two lists:

"David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests." (8:15-18)

"Joab was over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; Adoniram was in charge of forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest." (20: 23-26)

The biggest and most interesting difference I see is in the very first line. The list from chapter 8 begins with David. He was the most powerful man in Israel at the time—reigning over everyone, doing what was just and right for all his people. I think this last part was the true key to David’s power and authority, and it’s also the true key to God’s power and authority. David was a called a man after God’s own heart because he ruled his people the way God rules His people. With justice and righteousness. Any person who behaves in such a way has true power.

Unfortunately, by the time the second list was written, David had been removed from the list! He was still king of Israel—having outlived the attempted coup by his son Absalom. However, David had tarnished his powerful position by abusing his power (in the case of Bathsheba and Uriah) and neglecting matters of justice (in the case of Amnon and Tamar). I think this opened the door for Joab, head of his army, to seize a more powerful position by the use of force.

David wasn’t happy with Joab—he kept murdering people, even when David specifically told him not to—but David couldn’t deal with him. He needed Joab, but he couldn’t control him. As a result, David no longer held the esteemed position he once had in the minds of the Israelites.

If David had wanted to remain great and powerful, he should have continued to exercise true power, doing what was just and right for all his people. This is how God remains the most powerful Being in the universe—not that He secures His position by force, but He uses His authority and power to benefit His creation. True power comes from strength of character, not use of force. That’s a lesson David learned the hard way.