But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned. (II Samuel 3:16 ESV)
A Good King
We need Godly national leadership. (As well as state, county, and city…)
This episode in II Samuel reads like an afternoon soap opera, but more terrible because it is history.
This verse describes a sorrowful effect of unGodly leadership. God had replaced wicked King Saul with King David. Saul did not like this, and eventually kicked David out of Israel. Further, Saul unlawfully took back Saul’s daughter, Michal, from his rival, David.
It probably broke David’s heart. David responded, trying to find solace and political allies by unrighteously marrying a bunch of other women, related to neighboring kings and leaders. One unrighteousness led wrongly to more unrighteousness.
Then, when David won the civil war, he demanded to have his previous wife, Michal restored. And General Abner, previously working for Saul and his family, agreed. So Michal, after marriage to Phaltiel for nine years, was again ripped from a family, and returned to David. And her husband grieved.
Unrighteousness, in kings as well as in us, leads to grief.
And Michal is now pushed into remarriage to David. Whom she does not know anymore. In competition with a group of women.
More sorrow.
All caused by a series of unrighteous acts by Israel’s leadership.
And this points us to our need for a true leader. Not a king like other nations have. Not a king who is mighty. Not a king who we like.
But a righteous, reliable, Godly leader.
And that is Jesus Christ… and Him alone.
Everything else will lead to a husband weeping. Everything else will lead to a lot of grief. Everything else will lead to disaster.
Proclaim our true King, Jesus!