1. The name Zeruiah may not be very familiar but it’s mentioned several times in the Bible. It’s actually the name of David’s sister. David had two sisters – Zeruiah and Abigail. #Illuminare

2. Profiling Zeruiah I’d say she’s a strong woman - very assertive, insistent and controlling. That becomes apparent as you study her children. #Illuminare

3. Being the first girl in the family she probably asserted dominance. Eliab the first born doesn’t come across as assertive. He couldn’t even control David the last born.1 Samuel 17:28-29. #Illuminare

4. Every family has a Zeruiah – that aunt who’s dominant, insists on having her way, tells everyone what to do, is insistent and has a romance with stubbornness. They’re often resistant to opposing views, the way a West Africa mosquito strain resists drugs. #Illuminare

5. Even when they seem to agree with you, you quickly discover they didn’t change their position. They just won’t gree! Now, it’s not as if they’re bad people. They can be quite loving and sacrificial actually. #Illuminare

6. This is how you know Zeruiah was strong. Ancient Israel was a patrilineal society - you trace your lineage through your father, you’re known by your dad’s name. Not Zeruiah’s children. They were known by their mum’s name. #Illuminare

7. David constantly referred to his nephews as “sons of Zeruiah.” And in that one phrase he expressed his frustration with their mother. They were atypical of her. #Illuminare

8. Their father’s name was Seraiah but we don’t hear much about him. 1 Chronicles 4:13-14. The children were always called “sons of Zeruiah.” #Illuminare

9. Zeruiah had three sons. It would seem their mum transferred her traits to them. Those children were willful and difficult. Their names are Joab, Abishai and Asahel. They were all in the army. Of course Joab was the army commander. Had to be. #Illuminare

10. He became army commander after he won a battle field challenge. 1 Chronicles 11:6-7. And he eliminated everyone nominated to take over his position, including his first cousin Amasa. That’s his aunt’s son. 2 Samuel 18:11-13. #Illuminare

11. But the three kids were loyal to David. Only they irritated David no end. They seemed to have a one-track mind – everything can be solved by cutting off someone’s head. They weren’t sensitive to circumstances. Call them blunt force instruments. #Illuminare

12. When Absalom organized the coup against his dad and David had to flee Jerusalem, a guy named Shimei Gera from Saul’s family hurled abuses at him. He felt God was paying David back for all the bloodshed against Saul’s clan. #Illuminare

13. There was that long war of attrition between the house of David and the house of Saul. #Illuminare

14. The guy felt David stole the throne, actually called David a butcher and a murderer. Guess the solution proposed by Abishai? Cut off the guy’s head! “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.” Blunt force instrument. #Illuminare

15. It was David who saved that guy’s neck, and his argument was simple. What was Shimei’s insult compared to the tragedy of his son wanting to kill him? #Illuminare

16. David was so irritated with Abishai - “Why are you sons of Zeruiah always interfering and getting in the way? If he’s cursing, it’s because God told him, ‘Curse David.’ So who dares raise questions?” #Illuminare

17. In other words, David was trying to figure out the God angle in all the crisis but those three nephews of his could never see the bigger picture. Blunt force instruments. #Illuminare

18. Then there was that instance David finally brokered a deal for a unified kingdom with the commander of the Israeli army, General Abner. #Illuminare

19. At the time David was in control of Judah but the other ten tribes didn’t accept his government. Abner was the backbone of Saul’s lineage. If he changed allegiance David’s 15year quest to be king over Israel was over, and without bloodshed. #Illuminare

20. Abner was going to change sides over a babe issue. King Ishbosheth had accused him of appropriating his father’s concubine and he felt insulted. #Illuminare

21. The negotiation went smooth and everything was on course until the sons of Zeruiah got involved. #Illuminare

22. Joab stuck a dagger into Abner, the reason being Abner killed his brother in war. These guys are blunt instruments. They jeopardized the entire kingdom in their pursuit of revenge. They couldn’t see the larger picture. #Illuminare

23. David was forced to over-mourn Abner in order to show he had nothing to do with his death. He lamented he couldn’t control his nephews – “These sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me.” 2 Samuel 3:39. Blunt force instruments. #Illuminare

24. You can’t afford to be a blunt force instrument. A blunt force instrument is one-track minded, never contemplates, can’t see the larger picture. He always resorts to crude solution to issues, never thinks. #Illuminare

25. Peter was a blunt force instrument. When they came to arrest Jesus he brought out a sword. Against trained killers? How were civilians going to face soldiers? He never thought! #Illuminare

26. The man was a bloody fisherman, had never handled a sword in his life except perhaps a knife to gut fish. And then he sliced off Malchus’ ear. Malchus was the High Priest’s servant. John 18:10-11. #Illuminare

27. He wasn’t going for precision. He was going for the guy’s head. He missed by a whole foot and ended up slicing off the ear. That says a lot about the level of his skill. He endangered everyone’s life. Jesus barely saved the day. #Illuminare

28. None of the other disciples had a sword. Only Peter. He probably took Jesus literally when he said, “If you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one!” Luke 22:36-37. #Illuminare

29. He couldn’t see Jesus NEEDED to go to that cross. If he didn’t you wouldn’t be reading this piece by the way. Peter was a blunt force instrument. Never saw the larger picture. #Illuminare

30. The problem with blunt instruments is that they miss nuances. Joab was perhaps the only one who could speak bluntly to David but he often forgot David was a king. #Illuminare

31. He disregarded his instructions on occasion. David gave express instruction not to kill Absalom but Joab stuck three daggers into his heart. You get the sense he saw himself as Deputy President. #Illuminare

32. Our friend Peter behaved similarly. He vaunted for position, needed to prove he was brave and was Jesus’ “paddy man.” May actually explain why he jumped out of that boat. Matthew 14:22-31. #Illuminare

33. In the things of God there’s always the larger picture. It’s our duty to meditate, to find out what the larger picture is. If you don’t you’ll get caught up in yourself and possibly jeopardize God’s program. #Illuminare

34. At some point David saw the larger picture. It all came together - “And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people.” 2 Samuel 5:12. #Illuminare

35. The larger picture realisation is not peculiar to David. Esther realized why she became queen. Joseph told us he was sent ahead to Egypt to preserve the fledging Israeli nation. #Illuminare

36. In other words, there’s always a larger picture behind grace and favour, and our suffering. Joseph suffered. Grace can be beauty, intelligence, money or power. #Illuminare

37. Esther understood, David understood, Joseph understood. Do you? That grace you have… What’s the larger picture? That position you’re in, what’s the larger picture? That intellect you have, what’s the larger picture? #Illuminare

38. “Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” Psalm 49:20. #Illuminare

39. If you’ll like to receive Jesus into your life please pray this prayer: “Father I acknowledge that I am a sinner, that Jesus died for me, that you raised him from the dead. Father please forgive me. I accept Jesus today as my Lord and my Saviour. Amen.” #Illuminare

40. To read David Chapter 9: The Larger Picture go to http://www.myilluminare.com/david-chapter-9-the-larger-picture/. #Illuminare

41. *To learn more about how the spiritual realm controls governments and societies, you can read my book, Of Madmen, Senators & Ambassadors. Order at https://store.lekealder.com . #Illuminare

42. © Leke Alder | [email protected]. #Illuminare