Dynasty
One Year Bible (May 22)
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
“DYNASTY”
There is a nighttime TV soap opera series called “Dynasty” that was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best TV Drama Series every year from 1981 to 1986. It has now come out again with a reboot for this show. It has an all-new cast and crew and the same “Steamy” content.
How did the original series end? Well, I read that it ended with the Dynasty father (an oil tycoon) being shot by a corrupt policeman, his beloved wife being in an off-screen coma, and his conniving ex-wife plunging from a balcony. (Wow! Not sorry I missed all of that!)
Today, we will look at the plot leading up to the big finale for Saul. It will be even more tragic than any TV series can allude to…
Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue.” (I Sam. 13:13-14)
We have known this time was coming for quite some time and now the time has come, but REALITY overshadows any RELIEF for David, the hunted man in the kingdom.
After the death of Saul… ((2 Samuel 1:1) These words will gradually bring in a new era, and it will be a painful one.
Here is a short summary of this painful transition. The war for who will be king may be over, but the battles will continue for quite some time. Look at the description of how this plays out in the transition to David’s Dynasty.
David has once again consulted the Lord God, his advisor. “Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah? Which town should I go to?” (2:1-3) God instructs him to go to Hebron. So, David takes his family, his men, and livestock and moves there.
The storyline here is so ANTICLIMACTIC!!
“Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.” (2:4)
After all of the suffering at the hand of Saul, look at what the newly anointed king is doing.
There is no mention of a big ol’ Dynasty-style party with glitz and glam! None. Nada. Zilch.
Instead, David, the newly anointed king, is still watching out for his arch-enemy Saul.
The atmosphere is like a president being sworn in after the assassination of his predecessor. The life and joy have been sucked away.
David hears about the men who recovered Saul’s body from his enemies for burial and he sends them a message, “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial. May the Lord be loyal to you in return and reward you with his UNFAILING LOVE! And I, too, will reward you for what you have done.” ( 2 Sam. 2: 5-6).
David is speaking a blessing over those who rescued Saul’s dead body from humiliation and buried his body with respect.
David is also blessing God and speaking of “HIS UNFAILING LOVE”.
This long journey of transition from the “Dynasty of Saul” to the promised “City of David” has certainly been a long, painful journey.
Friends, I hate to say this, but the soap operas of our day are not just lived out on TV. They are played out daily in our homes, workplaces, and churches. Probably much more than ever before. Why is this?
Have you noticed the key elements in soap operas?
Everyone wants what someone else has and they feel that if they get it they will become magically happy! The plots are filled with suspense, conflict, and often demise.
They did it “Their Way” (in the words of an old song). Unfortunately, that song is still playing over, and over, and over… The consequences remain the same.
Saul’s Dynasty was built upon these very words, “I did it my way!”
David instead talks daily with God. He leaves the things of God to God and only does the things that God instructs him to do.
The Psalms of David reflect his struggles but always end with God’s Sovereignty.
What kind of DYNASTY do you desire to be part of and which path will you choose this day?
