2 Samuel 19:9

2 Samuel 19:9 says, And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.  The people of Israel were at strife about what to do after Absalom was killed.   David had been a successful leader before, but they had turned to Absalom as king.  Though he had been successful in saving them from their enemies in the past, David who could have returned to Jerusalem in peace and safety and reclaimed the city seemed to be in no hurry to do so.  We cannot be content with past successes, but must continue to move ahead by faith if we are to be successful as Christians today.  Verse ten adds, And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?  They also pointed out that Absalom, whom the people had anointed king, though God did not, was dead, and asked why they weren't speaking at all about bringing David the true king back.  If we are Christians, we must follow Christ alone and should never allow anyone or anything to become mote important than Him in our life.  Verse eleven continues, And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.  David then sent Zadok and Abiathar the priests to the people of Judah to ask why they were the last to call for the king to come back to his house.  Judah was David’s own tribe, and Matthew Henry says that they should have been the first to call for David’s return, but they hadn't done so.  If we as Christians have allowed someone else to become our lord instead of Jesus Christ Himself, we need to repent individually and as a group if necessary and ask for Him to return as our Lord.  Verse twelve states, Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?  David pointed out that they were his kinsmen and asked why they had not called for his return.  We need to remember that as followers of Christ we are His kinsmen by adoption into the family of God and if we have strayed away from Him, He is going to be asking us why.  Verse thirteen adds, And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.  David told the priests to ask Amasa if he were not a relative of David, even if he had been the head of Absalom’s army.  We need to remember that we are all a part of the family of God as Christians and if we have been having a dispute with each other, we need to remember that we are all still a part of the same family and make sure that we keep Jesus Christ on the throne as Lord of our life.  Matthew Henry points out that David didn't do Amasa any favor by pointing out his plan to replace Joab, who was becoming increasingly hauty, with him.  This would lead Joab to kill Amasa later.  Verse fourteen continues, And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.  All the people of Judah called for David to return as King.  We as Christians should always be united in keeping Jesus Christ as our King and should let the world know that He is.  Verse fifteen concludes, So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.  David returned to the Jordan and the people of Jordan met him there to lead him back over.  One day, our King, Jesus Christ, is going to return, but it won't be so we can lead Him back into a position of authority, but so that He can lead us, as His followers into His everlasting kingdom.