Gospel Reflections #1149: Fixated solely on our own superiority

2 Samuel 19:41 ‘Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and made the king, his household, and all the men who follow David cross the Jordan?”’

This is a significant passage depicting the beginning of a fierce conflict between Israel (the ten northern tribes) and Judah (the southern tribe from which David hailed) that occurred whilst King David was returning to the royal palace in Jerusalem after the rebellion led by his son Absalom had been quelled.

After Absalom’s rebellion had failed and he had been killed in battle, discussions had begun amongst the tribes of Israel regarding how to welcome David back as king (and bring him back to Jerusalem).

However, David urged ‘the men of Judah’—his own tribe—saying, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? Why then are you delaying in bringing the king back?’ Consequently, the tribe of Judah took the lead and came as far as the River Jordan to welcome David.

And so, the tribe of Judah alone ferried King David and his family across to the other side of the river.

The tribes of Israel (the ten tribes other than Judah), who arrived later, were furious that the tribe of Judah had, without consulting them or reaching an agreement, ‘monopolised’ David and taken him away, ferrying him across the River Jordan on their own.

To them, David was supposed to be the king of all Israel.

Underlying this protest was a clash of political pride over which tribe would take the lead (and claim the credit) in King David’s restoration.

The people of Israel argued, ‘We have ten times the right to the king (because there are ten tribes)’, whilst the people of Judah retorted, ‘It is because the king is our close relative (family).’

David’s return—an event that should, in principle, have been a cause for joy throughout the entire nation—became a source of fresh division due to a conflict over human ‘pride’ and ‘face’.

It vividly depicts human frailty: how, in the wake of a crisis, human arrogance and rivalry over credit re-emerge, transforming a precious opportunity for peace and unity into a crisis that once again divides the nation.

We, too, sometimes find our minds fixated solely on our own superiority.

Yet we never even consider that this might lead to divisions and conflicts we could never have imagined.

Jealousy and conflict are self-centred emotions.

With God’s help, let us calmly choose to let go of them.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.