“There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.”
2 Samuel 3:1
David grows stronger and stronger. The house of Saul becomes weaker and weaker. We expected this to be so. We have longed for this to be so. But, why is it so? How is it so? The answer is not only surprising. It is shocking. Don’t fail to connect this opening summary with what follows as an explanation thereof.
The house of David grows stronger by growing bigger. David has children, takes more wives, and has more children.
The house of Saul grows weaker as Abner grows stronger. A strong Abner grows tired of a weak Ish-bosheth.
The house of David grows stronger as Abner works to deliver Israel over to David.
Joab murders Abner, but the people see David’s reaction and are pleased by it, understanding that he had nothing to do with his death. Even this works so that David grows stronger.
How is it that David grows stronger and stronger and Saul’s house grows weaker and weaker? The answer is as surprising as it shocking. It happens through sin, by sinners, and for sinners. This is not a tale of how good any man is, but how good God is to sinful man. What a mess. What grace. There is a Savior who is sovereign over sinners for their salvation.
David grows stronger and stronger and the house of Saul grows weaker and weaker, not because David is good and Saul is bad. No, all this happens because God is holy and God is gracious. He is Yahweh, “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:6–7).
The house of David grows stronger not because of the plans of Abner or the plots of Joab or the righteousness of David, but the faithfulness of God. Abner’s plan turns against him. Joab’s plot is wicked and cursed. David’s righteousness falls short. But God’s faithfulness does not fail. The Sovereign God uses the surprising, even the shocking. He uses sinners to bring His salvation. Yes, David gets many sons by many wives, but one of those sons will be the son of David.
We see something of the doctrine of concurrence here. That doctrine is best summarized by Joseph when he tells his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:20). “You meant.” “God meant.” Both meants are meaningful. They are both true.
The doctrine of concurrence basically tells us that though men are responsible, God is sovereign. It explains that God’s providence rules over all things, even the sinful actions of men, but in such a way that God does not sin while men do. Men sin. And God is sovereign. And here is the most surprising and shocking thing of all. He is sovereign over sinners and through sinners for the salvation of sinners. By His sovereign rule, over even the sins of men, the house of David grows stronger and stronger and the kingdoms of this world grow weaker and weaker.
Desperate sinner, behold the sovereign salvation of the Savior and do not fear that your sins are bigger than His grace. It is surprising and shocking, but the kingdom of Jesus is seen to grow stronger as He is sovereign over sinners and saves sinners through sinners. Behold Christ on the cross and hear the true and better Joseph declare, “You meant evil against me, but I meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
No Other Boast 