2 Samuel 3:1-39
3:1 The civil war within Israel continues "but David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker." Our faith in God enables us to grow strong while are enemies become enfeebled. Our faith to trust Him to grow us for greater purposes allows us to inherit massive blessings and responsibilities. Through His instruction, and our perseverance of faith, we become figurative kings and queens on earth, equipped with strength and ability to change the lives around us.
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
David spent much of his life in the wilderness. He spent a solid chunk of his life in the complete opposite place that God promised him; but he never lost faith. David never stopped serving God, even when conditions and circumstances made it difficult to do so. David was not tempted by greed or revenge; though he did compose much of the book of Psalms trying to persevere through his situation. He kept his communication open with God and it continued to save and deliver his life. David witnessed his trust in God continually turn the circumstances to his favor, even when it seemed impossible. David's life on the run taught him how to be a king... by learning through Saul exactly how not to be a king. David learned to trust God. To listen to His direction. David learned that continued service to God enabled one to be treated as royalty by Him.
We learned from David that when our faith in God is strong and our works are of His will, our enemies might as well be asleep when in battle with us, 1 Samuel 26:7-12. They have zero chance. But that is not obvious to an outsider. Outside of confident faith, the world is bleak; hope is lost. But a child of God trusts His instruction, walks the path He leads us on, and eventually arrives at the precise place and blessing He planned for us.
In the process of the aforementioned verse from the book of First Peter, David is being strengthened. He is about to be settled as king. God has specific instruction for each of His children. He knows how to grow each of us. He knows how to develop and hone our abilities. He knows where establish us. His ultimate plan is to settle us in His love and blessing.
Saul's house grows weaker because they refuse to undergo the process of apprenticeship and servitude to God. Jesus told us to let go of the way of the world - this world which teaches us to live selfishly for material and control, Romans 12:2. Jesus explains to us that without a commitment of servitude to righteousness, we have no salt, no flavor, no purpose. Without that commitment, we are just down here splashing around, muddying ourselves and everyone around us, Matthew 5:13. Saul had no salt. Saul's remaining house and army has no salt, no purpose toward righteousness. Without God, we are vulnerable and fallible. He makes up for our weaknesses, without Him, we subsequently weaken. Be wiser than to live independent of Him; we need Him and He so generously offers to fill those needs.
Draw strength from David's experience, even if you have to journey to Psalms to do so (he wrote his heart out to the Lord). The plan and progress God put into his life is obvious to us as we read... but David lived by faith rather than sight, as we are supposed to do, 2 Corinthians 5:7. David did not have a vision of himself as king. He did not have a vision of Saul's death. He did not have a vision of himself being free of enemies. Everything in life did not happen for him overnight. He just trusted God that those things would happen. He trusted God that he would be safe. But David experienced the same trials and emotions we all face; he was frequently distressed and sad, scared and hurt. He had personal shame and regret. But his faith pushed through all of it, all of those emotions that suppress us, and was delivered by God. David was not perfect, and we will see that as he ages. But God loved him anyway because God accepted him for exactly who he was. Flaws and all, God is all in. If we are in the middle of the puddle, the center of quagmire, He plunges right through it to rescue us. To clean us off. To show us a way around those puddles.
Draw strength from David's experience, even if you have to journey to Psalms to do so (he wrote his heart out to the Lord). The plan and progress God put into his life is obvious to us as we read... but David lived by faith rather than sight, as we are supposed to do, 2 Corinthians 5:7. David did not have a vision of himself as king. He did not have a vision of Saul's death. He did not have a vision of himself being free of enemies. Everything in life did not happen for him overnight. He just trusted God that those things would happen. He trusted God that he would be safe. But David experienced the same trials and emotions we all face; he was frequently distressed and sad, scared and hurt. He had personal shame and regret. But his faith pushed through all of it, all of those emotions that suppress us, and was delivered by God. David was not perfect, and we will see that as he ages. But God loved him anyway because God accepted him for exactly who he was. Flaws and all, God is all in. If we are in the middle of the puddle, the center of quagmire, He plunges right through it to rescue us. To clean us off. To show us a way around those puddles.
3:2-5 The landscape has changed, David is no longer hunted by Saul and this provides him an opportunity to grow a family:
- Ammon, firstborn son of David, mother: Ahinoam
- Chileab, second son of David, mother: Abigail
- Absalom, third son of David, mother: Maacah
- Adonijah, fourth son of David, mother: Haggith
- Shephatiah, fifth son of David, mother: Abital
- Isthream, sixth son of David, mother: Eglah
Each of these sons would cause David grief, a few of them will outright challenge his God-given authority.
We have spoken before about the strength and beauty of David's faith, but nobody is perfect. We all fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. David has a lot of wives; his love of women will cause a crisis in his life, a moment when he acts against reason by succumbing to temptation... and it tears him apart. His shame and regret tears him apart. That is a slight digression for this chapter but is examined in 2 Samuel 11 and Psalm 51.
3:6 Though the house of Saul was crumbling, Abner was strengthening his hold over it. His proficiency at organizing the fragmented kingdom painted him a capable and powerful man.
3:7 People, specifically Ishbosheth, begin to notice Abner's desire for power. Ishbosheth is considered an illegitimate son of Saul because he was born to a concubine. Still, Abner was able to establish him as king. But because Ishbosheth was chosen by Abner rather than God, he is an illegitimate king.
Ishbosheth begins to feel threatened by Abner and accuses him, perhaps falsely, of fornicating with Saul's former concubine, Rizpah. The accusation is fierce; if Abner had a relationship with Rizpah, it would be a declaration of his intention to manipulate the kingdom away from Ishbosheth.
3:8 The accusation makes Abner furious. He feels betrayed by it, after all, he has devoted his life to reestablishing Saul's kingdom. He is the reason Ishbosheth has any power or influence at all.
3:9-10 In his fury, Abner changes allegiance. He tells Ishbosheth that he will wholly focus his efforts on the establishment of David's kingdom rather than Saul's.
It is interesting when we are finally able to see what God sees from the beginning. Isbosheth would not make a good, successive king. The kingdom Saul left behind is corrupt, fickle and immature. It relies on manipulation, deceit and accusation.
3:11 The declaration stuns Ishbosheth. It scares him because his already weak grasp of the kingdom is sure to slip without the man who handed it to him in the first place. His ally has become his foe. Conversely, David's foe has become his ally... because David is faithful to God. And God expertly, stunningly, turns our disadvantages into advantages.
3:12 Abner indeed defects from Ishbosheth; he send messengers to David explaining that he would like to create a covenant with him. Abner is a skillful politician; he knows how to create the conditions to raise a king. Like Saul/Paul in the New Testament, he worked for the wrong side at first. But his skill was undeniable. When he aligns his skill with the will of God, incredible achievements are made. Abner promises David that he will unite all of Israel under David's authority.
Notice how God compensates for the deficiency David has in certain areas. David does not have the natural desire or skill to be a politician or king. At best, he is uncomfortable with fame; at worst he hides from it. But he does posses the necessary faith and faith is God's only requirement. David's earnest willingness to follow God's will causes God to make up for the places where he is a little weak. God recruits others, turns foes into friends, to provide David with the best assistance that can be provided.
God works within Abner's life as well. The accusation which tore Abner's life apart created the conditions by which he would redeem himself and align himself with the will of God.
3:13-16 David agrees to make a covenant with Abner but requires that Abner restore David's wife Michal to him. And Abner does, much to the dismay of her husband.
3:17-20 Abner uses his aptitude for politics to unite the elders of Israel under David's authority. He reminds them that there was a time when David's name was cheered in the streets and people delighted in the prospect of David as their king. Abner's proficiency and eloquence encourage the elders to elect the man God has chosen. Do it, he tells them, crown the man God has chosen to rescue Israel from the Philistines. David has proved his military acuity; the children of Israel can therefore be confident in his ability to continue to protect and defend them.
2:21 David personally witnesses Abner's campaigning for David and approves. He makes a feast for Abner and his men as Abner prepares to bring the campaign to more of the children of Israel: I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.
3:7 People, specifically Ishbosheth, begin to notice Abner's desire for power. Ishbosheth is considered an illegitimate son of Saul because he was born to a concubine. Still, Abner was able to establish him as king. But because Ishbosheth was chosen by Abner rather than God, he is an illegitimate king.
Ishbosheth begins to feel threatened by Abner and accuses him, perhaps falsely, of fornicating with Saul's former concubine, Rizpah. The accusation is fierce; if Abner had a relationship with Rizpah, it would be a declaration of his intention to manipulate the kingdom away from Ishbosheth.
3:8 The accusation makes Abner furious. He feels betrayed by it, after all, he has devoted his life to reestablishing Saul's kingdom. He is the reason Ishbosheth has any power or influence at all.
3:9-10 In his fury, Abner changes allegiance. He tells Ishbosheth that he will wholly focus his efforts on the establishment of David's kingdom rather than Saul's.
It is interesting when we are finally able to see what God sees from the beginning. Isbosheth would not make a good, successive king. The kingdom Saul left behind is corrupt, fickle and immature. It relies on manipulation, deceit and accusation.
3:11 The declaration stuns Ishbosheth. It scares him because his already weak grasp of the kingdom is sure to slip without the man who handed it to him in the first place. His ally has become his foe. Conversely, David's foe has become his ally... because David is faithful to God. And God expertly, stunningly, turns our disadvantages into advantages.
3:12 Abner indeed defects from Ishbosheth; he send messengers to David explaining that he would like to create a covenant with him. Abner is a skillful politician; he knows how to create the conditions to raise a king. Like Saul/Paul in the New Testament, he worked for the wrong side at first. But his skill was undeniable. When he aligns his skill with the will of God, incredible achievements are made. Abner promises David that he will unite all of Israel under David's authority.
Notice how God compensates for the deficiency David has in certain areas. David does not have the natural desire or skill to be a politician or king. At best, he is uncomfortable with fame; at worst he hides from it. But he does posses the necessary faith and faith is God's only requirement. David's earnest willingness to follow God's will causes God to make up for the places where he is a little weak. God recruits others, turns foes into friends, to provide David with the best assistance that can be provided.
God works within Abner's life as well. The accusation which tore Abner's life apart created the conditions by which he would redeem himself and align himself with the will of God.
3:13-16 David agrees to make a covenant with Abner but requires that Abner restore David's wife Michal to him. And Abner does, much to the dismay of her husband.
3:17-20 Abner uses his aptitude for politics to unite the elders of Israel under David's authority. He reminds them that there was a time when David's name was cheered in the streets and people delighted in the prospect of David as their king. Abner's proficiency and eloquence encourage the elders to elect the man God has chosen. Do it, he tells them, crown the man God has chosen to rescue Israel from the Philistines. David has proved his military acuity; the children of Israel can therefore be confident in his ability to continue to protect and defend them.
2:21 David personally witnesses Abner's campaigning for David and approves. He makes a feast for Abner and his men as Abner prepares to bring the campaign to more of the children of Israel: I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.
3:22-25 Joab returns from a raid and finds out that David has made a covenant with Abner. Immediately, Joab is distressed. He does not trust Abner, the man who killed his brother Asahel.
3:26-27 Joab works behind David's back to capture Abner and bring him back to Hebron. When he captures him, Joab covertly kills Abner. Abner only killed Joab's brother because he was provoked, he did not want to do it. Likely, Joab realizes that Abner might have a legitimate claim of innocence so he kills him without witnesses.
3:28-30 David hears about the murder. David and his kingdom are innocent because they did not know about it. He requests that Joab's guilt rest solely on his own head and his family's, if they were involved.
We know David to be a man who always consults God where matters of his leadership are involved. David would not have made a covenant with Abner if God had not supported the decision. If it were up to David, Abner would not have been killed.
3:26-27 Joab works behind David's back to capture Abner and bring him back to Hebron. When he captures him, Joab covertly kills Abner. Abner only killed Joab's brother because he was provoked, he did not want to do it. Likely, Joab realizes that Abner might have a legitimate claim of innocence so he kills him without witnesses.
3:28-30 David hears about the murder. David and his kingdom are innocent because they did not know about it. He requests that Joab's guilt rest solely on his own head and his family's, if they were involved.
We know David to be a man who always consults God where matters of his leadership are involved. David would not have made a covenant with Abner if God had not supported the decision. If it were up to David, Abner would not have been killed.
3:31-33 David is sincere in his grief over Abner's murder. He attends Abner's funeral. People could see that David was a kind and fair king; Abner had earnestly become a worker of God and David respected him for that, despite their history on opposite sides.
3:34 Should Abner die as a fool dies? David speaks. He feels that Abner's death was unjustified. Wickedness brought him down. Still, God turned Abner's life around before he left the earth. Abner left his life on earth as a respectable man despite the evil intentions of Ishbosheth, Joab and Abishai. He turned his life around; the blood was on their hands.
3:35-37 David fasts in respect for Abner. It becomes clear to the children of Israel that Abner's death was not perpetrated by any greed for power on David's behalf. Abner became a worker of God and David wanted the children of Israel to know.
3:38-39 Despite being king, a position of power, David revealed that the evil done to Abner made him feel weak. A powerful child of God has a compassionate heart, a heart sensitive to the consequences evil actions cause. We see that David's position has not stripped him of his beautiful, empathetic, righteous heart. The power is in the compassion, not the throne. A contrite heart, Psalm 51:17, is a place for God to do great work. Because of the injustice that breaks our hearts, we are propelled to be a strong force against evil.
3:34 Should Abner die as a fool dies? David speaks. He feels that Abner's death was unjustified. Wickedness brought him down. Still, God turned Abner's life around before he left the earth. Abner left his life on earth as a respectable man despite the evil intentions of Ishbosheth, Joab and Abishai. He turned his life around; the blood was on their hands.
3:35-37 David fasts in respect for Abner. It becomes clear to the children of Israel that Abner's death was not perpetrated by any greed for power on David's behalf. Abner became a worker of God and David wanted the children of Israel to know.
3:38-39 Despite being king, a position of power, David revealed that the evil done to Abner made him feel weak. A powerful child of God has a compassionate heart, a heart sensitive to the consequences evil actions cause. We see that David's position has not stripped him of his beautiful, empathetic, righteous heart. The power is in the compassion, not the throne. A contrite heart, Psalm 51:17, is a place for God to do great work. Because of the injustice that breaks our hearts, we are propelled to be a strong force against evil.
