2Sa 19:43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

Absalom was dead. David mourned for his son. When the people saw the king in grief, they too mourned. David’s excessive sorrow made the people feel ashamed they won a great victory. Joab came and rebuked David for not appreciating the men who risked their lives to save him from Absalom, but all he knew was grieving over a worthless son, which made the men ashamed and felt they had done wrong in killing Absalom. He told David to wise up and encourage the people. David arose and sat in the gate – sort of a Member of Parliament (MP) getting on with his work and start meeting the people and hearing their grievances (v.1-8). A quarrel arose over the ceremonial welcoming back of David to Jerusalem (v.40-43). Judah spearheaded and organized the welcome party. The rest of Israel were offended they were not invited to participate in this important event. The argument is ultimately about who is more loyal to King David, and who has the greater right to honour him. Judah grounded their right to take the lead on their near relationship to the king. But Israel said they made up ten tribes, which means they had bigger share in the king, and therefore should have a bigger say in the welcoming party. One based their affinity to the king based on closed relationship while the other on bigger share. This competitive attitude sets the stage for the eventual division of the nation years later (1Kings 12:16). Why would they want to quarrel over this issue? It’s because of pride; they wanted to be in the king’s favour. They were really fighting for a place in the king’s heart; it’s called curry favour. James asks: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ” (James 4:1). What is lust? It is a very strong sensual desire to have something or someone. Israel and Judah quarrelled because they wanted something. That something is power. Why did they desire power? It has to do with pride. Recall that the disciples of Jesus were fighting to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven; that’s pride (Matthew 18:1). Recall also that the mother of Zebedee's children came to Jesus desiring her children to sit one on the right and the other of the left hand of Jesus in the kingdom; that’s also pride (Matthew 20:20-21). Pride causes strife everywhere it goes. It caused strife between Israel and Judah. It caused strife among the disciples of Jesus (Matthew 20:24). It caused strives in the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). And pride still causes strives in the church today. Solomon concurs: “Only by pride cometh contention” (Proverbs 13:10). Perhaps there is not a quarrel among men, or even among nations, which does not proceed from pride and ambition. Pride is such a terrible sin that it tops the list in the things that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19). Do you know someone that is full of pride? Are they not hard to be around with? Indeed, pride destroys relationships. Two persons are not in talking term because none is willing to admit wrong and ask for forgiveness; the root cause is pride. Only a proper relationship with God will help us overcome pride. God has called us to love (John 13:34, 35). One characteristic of love is humility: “Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant” (1 Corinthians 13:4, ESV). Strife cannot exist when love is. Do you love?