The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
2 Samuel 3:1 (NIV)

I recently watched a documentary on the history of the Mafia and its “Five Families” in America. As a long-time admirer of The Godfather trilogy, it was fascinating to learn some of the actual history behind Mario Puzo’s legendary story-telling.

One of the things that makes the Godfather trilogy so compelling for me is the human intrigue. The Corleones sit atop of a criminal organization with all of the wealth and power that comes with it. They are also a family, which adds a entire layer of complexity to the equation. I have long observed that whenever the unholy trinity of wealth, power, and family converge in any kind of human system, it becomes a perfect storm of sin and intrigue.

The American Mafia and Five Families are relatively new history. Just a hundred years old. For most of human history, the perfect storm of wealth, power, and family can be found in the stories of royal houses.

Today’s chapter is Exhibit A.

With Saul and Jonathan dead, a power vacuum was created and the proverbial “game of thrones” begins. Today’s chapter is dripping with intrigue as both the house of David and the house of Saul scramble for power. In both houses there is a powerful general and right-hand man seeking to shore up their own position within the system.

The house of Saul technically has Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth, on the throne. Reading between the lines, it’s obvious that Ish-bosheth is a puppet. It’s Saul’s general, Abner, who is the real center of power. He’s the one calling the shots. In fact, Abner confesses that he knows God’s promise to David and that David will become King of all Israel. He’s just been standing in the way for his own personal gain. When Ish-bosheth insults him, it’s Abner who decides to hand the kingdom to David.

The house of David has the powerful warrior and general, Joab. Joab and his brothers are skilled and renowned on the battlefield, but they are emotional loose cannons. That’s dangerous in positions of power. Even David recognizes that Joab and his brother may be operating from stronger positions of power within his kingdom than he is.

What’s most fascinating about the intrigue within the game of thrones in today’s chapter, is that David refuses to play the game. At least, he refuses to play the game the way this world plays it. In this, David is much like Jesus.

Early Christians often saw David here as foreshadowing Christ.

David refuses to seize the throne.
Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage” (Php 2:6) and left His throne in heaven to become human.

David wins enemies through patience.
Jesus wins enemies through love.

David publicly mourns the death of his enemies.
Jesus prays: “Father, forgive them.”

God’s kingdom grows differently than the human game of thrones. Not by grasping, force, and scheming. By surrender.

And that’s a spiritual principle for me to chew on.

God’s kingdom often grows so slowly that I mistake it for stagnation. I expect fireworks while God plants seeds. I expect revolutions while God grows oak trees.

David has now waited roughly twenty years since Samuel anointed him. At this point, he still rules only one tribe. His enemies are still alive. His own commander is uncontrollable. The kingdom is divided. On the surface, nothing appears to be falling into place.

And yet— God’s promise has never been more certain.

Because God’s promises don’t depend on appearances. Through David’s patience, humility, and faith, the kingdom is already germinating, putting down roots, and advancing beneath the surface.

Almost every major character in this chapter is scrambling for power and revenge like characters in The Godfather. Abner manipulates. Ish-Bosheth accuses. Joab avenges. Even David occasionally maneuvers politically. Yet one force quietly moves from beginning to end without hurry or panic: the purpose of God.

Perhaps that’s why the chapter begins with a simple sentence: “David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.”

The narrator doesn’t tell me to admire David’s strategy or Abner’s diplomacy. He simply tells me what God has been doing all along: Growing up and strengthening David to become the leader he is supposed to be.

Faithfulness is rarely dramatic. Most of God’s kingdom advances one ordinary day at a time, one act of obedience at a time, one quiet season of trust after another. While the world often measures our lives by visible victories, God is measuring steady growth.

In the quiet this morning, I look back at my own life journey and realize that His work in me is less like a lightning strike and more like the dawn. At first the darkness seems unchanged. Then, almost imperceptibly, the horizon begins to glow. Before long, I discover that the night has been losing ground all along.

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