The history of David—the unfolding drama of 2 Samuel—gives us a slice of life in the real world. We see people in their true colors: the petty, selfish, murderous, yet fiercely loyal, Joab; the war-lord Abner, honorable perhaps, but only when it suited him; the sad, incompetent Ish-Bosheth; and the miserable and vicious sons of Rimmon, who murdered Ish-Bosheth in his sleep. And there is David, the man after God's own heart, borne along by his regal calling on the tide of God's mighty providential acts.
Gordon Keddie draws out the lessons of 2 Samuel and encourages us to look expectantly for the blessing of God in our day since the story of David is a picture of David's royal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator-King who rules over all things and will, in the fullness of his time, deliver up his consummated kingdom to his Father and ours.
