By Sam Greer
Senior Pastor, Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga
Focal Passage: 2 Samuel 3:8-21
On the game show Family Fued, contestants are asked to guess how 100 people responded to various survey questions. On a 2012 episode, a contestant had to provide the top answers to the following survey question: “When someone mentions ‘the King,’ to whom might he or she be referring?” The results were as follows: (1) 81 people said “Elvis Presley,” (2) 7 people said “God or Jesus,” (3) 3 people said “Martin Luther King, Jr.” and (4) 2 people said “The Burger King.”
The truth is there can only be one king. At any given time, only one can sit on a throne and be crowned as king. In II Samuel 3:8-21, the Bible underscores this truth as David and Ishbosheth couldn’t both sit on the throne as king. David is a pre-cursor of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one and only King of Kings. II Samuel 3:8-21 offers three insights to God’s one and only salvific plan.
First, there Is only one plan of salvation (II Samuel 3:8-11). After the death of Saul, there was a game of thrones between the house of Saul and the house of David. In II Samuel 3:6, the Bible says there was a “war between the house of Saul and the house of David.” In fact, before this game of thrones could fully materialize, there was a war brewing in the house of Saul. Abner, the commanding general of the king’s army, was angry because Saul’s son Ishbosheth accused Abner of trying to usurp the throne (v. 8). Abner vowed to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul to the house of David (vv. 9-11). In those days, David was the only one God chose to serve as king and save the nation.
God’s plan of salvation has always been the only plan of salvation. God had one plan of salvation for Noah and his family. God had one plan of salvation for Israel. God has one plan of salvation for every tribe and language and nation and people. Many ask, “Why is there only one way of salvation?” Others shout, “Praise God there is a way of salvation!” What say you?
Second, there Is only one payment for salvation (II Samuel 3:12-16). Saul gave his daughter in marriage to David for the payment of a bridal price. David was running from Saul when Saul gave David’s wife Michal in marriage to another man. David told Abner that he would enter into a covenant with him only after he was reunited with his wife Michal (vv. 12-14).
David’s bride was bought at a price. She belonged to David. The church is known as the Bride of Christ. The church belongs to Christ. The church was bought at a price; therefore, there is only one payment for salvation. Jesus paid the ultimate price by laying down His life for His Bride, the church.
You can’t save yourself! You can’t save anyone else! Point people to Jesus!
Third, there Is only one person who accomplished salvation. God promised that He would save Israel from all her enemies (v. 18). Also, God promised that He would save Israel through “my servant David” (v. 18). Under the promise and providence of God, David was both willing and able to deliver Israel. Jesus claimed to be the “root and offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16). Jesus is not one of many who are willing and able to save. He alone saves! Believers, we can’t merely say, “Jesus saves!” We must say “Only Jesus saves!”
