2 Samuel 19:41 Then all the people of Israel came to the king, and said to him, “Why have our kindred the people of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?” 42 All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, “Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?” 43 But the people of Israel answered the people of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the people of Judah were fiercer than the words of the people of Israel. 

In this passage we see division grow between the two sides of the Davidic kingdom – the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. After David’s death the kingdoms would officially separate and have their own kings. And, of course, both kingdoms would eventually be occupied by foreign armies. Splitting up did not turn out to be in either kingdoms long-term interest. It only weakened them and made them vulnerable. Their demise didn’t happen overnight, but the root of demise is visible h

This morning my mind goes to the words of Jesus “A house divided cannot stand.” Israel and Judah are one example of this reality. And I fear the United States is on its way to becoming another. It is a very stressful time in our country, with political/idealogical differences giving way to violence and death. Just this past Saturday 11 worshippers were killed in a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Terrible.

Heavenly Father today I pray for unity – in the church and in our nation. Heal our divisions that we might be one. Amen.