They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Recab and Baanah slipped away. 2 Samuel 4:6
Saul's kingdom was gone.
His son Ish-Bosheth had been made king at the behest of Saul's cousin Abner. But Abner lay dead at the hand of David's nephew Joab, who had avenged the death of his younger brother Asahel. Now, Ish-Bosheth was dead - killed by two men from his own tribe - two men he trusted.
What a miserable scene!
Interestingly, these two brothers, Recab and Baanah, felt they could benefit from their handiwork. Taking the head of Ish-Bosheth to David, I'm sure they expected great accolade. Instead, they met a man whose heart for Saul and his family remained unchanged. David loved Saul; he was God's first anointed king. Saul's son Jonathan was his dearest friend. Despite the years of hiding from Saul's rage, David respected the king - the position and the person. These brothers, so proud of their accomplishment, quickly met their death by David's command.
This story says a lot to me about the character of two men - not the brothers Recab and Baanah, but about the brothers-in-law, Ish-Bosheth and David.
David surrounded himself with men who would die for him. Ish-Bosheth chose leaders who turned against him at the first sign of trouble. Ish-Bosheth ruled a kingdom given to him by his father's cousin, the leader of the king's army. David ruled a kingdom given to him by the very King Himself. Ish-Bosheth trusted in his own name. David trusted in the Name of Another.
In the end, the only hope we have is in God's choice. No position, no title, no lineage will remain.
Lord, help me to be like David. Place me where You want me to be, then give me the wisdom to surround myself with men who Love You.