Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. – 2 Samuel 2:10

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 26, 2019): 2 Samuel 2

In English history, James Francis Edward Stuart is better known as the “Old Pretender.” In fact, his birth on June 10, 1688, became part of the cause of the “Glorious Revolution” in England. His father, James II and VII, reigned as king over England, Scotland, and Ireland. But James II and VII was a Catholic and a King who would make little allowance for the beliefs of the Church of England. The grand hope of the people was that this was only a stage that he and the nation would have to find their way through. The heir presumptive to the throne was Mary, followed by her sister Anne, the daughters of the King, and both of whom were Protestant. At least, that was true until June 10, 1688, when James Francis Edward Stuart was born. James was now the heir apparent, and James would be raised as a Catholic.

So on June 30, 1688, William of Orange was invited by seven Protestant nobles to come to England with an army and save Protestantism. William of Orange was the husband of Princess Mary. By September it became clear that William would invade England, with the support of the Protestants within the nation. For James II and VII, the situation grew even worse. It was not just a foreign army that was invading. It was a foreign army with whom both Mary and Anne were fighting alongside. On December 11, 1688, James II and VII decided to run instead of fight, even though the King of England possessed the numerical superiority. While making his escape, he threw the “Great Seal of the Realm” into the River Thames. It was a mistake for which his descendants would pay.

James II and VII did not escape England. Instead, he was captured and held while the nation decided their next steps. They did not want a Catholic King, but England also had no appetite to depose King James. So, instead, they decided that James II and VII, with the act of throwing the “Great Seal of the Realm” into the River Thames, had abdicated his throne. As a result of this abdication, they handed the keys to the realm to his daughter Mary and her husband, William. And James Francis Edward Stuart went from being the heir apparent to the throne to being the pretender to the throne. The “Old Pretender” and his son Charles, also known as the “Young Pretender,” or even better as “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” waged a futile struggle to reclaim the throne of England that they believed should have been theirs, but never was.

Ish-Bosheth, the Son of Saul, was the rightful heir to the throne. In many ways, he is Israel’s forgotten King. Yet, he ruled over most of Israel, all except Judah, for two years. The problem was that Israel really had two kings. In the way that most kings of the day would have ascended the throne, Ish-Bosheth was the oldest surviving son of the previous King. As the reign was passed from father to son, the title of King should have passed from Saul to Ish-Bosheth, just as in 17^th century England the title of King should have passed from James II and VII to James Francis Edward Stuart, the oldest son of the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

However, in Israel, David had been anointed by Samuel as King, just as William of Orange had been invited by England’s Protestants to be their King. There are other similarities. William of Orange was married to Mary, the eldest daughter of James II and VII, second in line for the throne of England. David was married to Michal, the youngest of Saul’s daughters and likely third in line for the throne.

David had been anointed as King and the rightful heir, but he is in no hurry to claim the throne. As far as David is concerned, the pretender, Ish-Bosheth, is welcome to it, until God decides the time is right for David to step into the public spotlight as King of Israel.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 3