RSS

Tag Archives: Abner

David Crowned King of Israel – 2 Samuel 1-5:4

29 Jun

Dear God, we are wrapping up David this week for the guys in CMLS. Next week, I’ll branch into new territory of being explicitly evangelical and inviting them into a life lived with you. In conjunction with you. Loving you. Worshipping you and you alone. Rejecting idols. Loving their neighbors. Forgiveness. But first, we need to wrap up David and then link him to your son, Jesus. One, a king corrupted by his power. The other, a king who declined the power-over Satan offered him and taught us a new way.

When last we left off…

  • David was in Ziklag, having just recovered his and he men’s wives, children, and possessions from the Amalekites and sent some off to the cities in Judah who were close to him.
  • Jonathan and his brothers were killed in battle.
  • Saul died a particularly painful death, impaling himself on a sword after being shot by arrows.
  • The Israelites inhabiting the towns in the area of the battle evacuated the towns and the Philistines took up residence.
  • The men of Jabesh Gilead honored Saul by caring for his and his sons’ bodies.

Page 332

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

  • 2 Samuel 1:1-2 – 1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
    • Notice the torn clothes and dust on his head. This was a sign of mourning and grief. These words are important to describe what they nonverbally communicated to David.
  • David knew the battle would have happened, but this was his first contact with anyone who had news. 2 Samuel 1:4-18 – 4 Then David said to him, “How did the matter go? Please tell me.”

And he answered, “The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”

5 So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

6 Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ 10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?”

And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

14 So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. 16 So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ”

The Song of the Bow

17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, 18 and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:

  • David does some important things here:
    • He punished the Amalekite for killing God’s anointed, even under those circumstances.
      • Did the Amalekite lie?
    • He publicly laments for Saul to disabuse anyone of the notion that he was rooting for Saul’s death by tearing his clothes and “mourned and wept and fasted until evening.”
      • Forgiveness?
    • He deeply mourns for Jonathan.
  • David is a song writer and his words in this moment live until this day: “Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
    • We usually use these words in a derogatory/sarcastic way, but David wrote them when he was in deep pain.

David, King of Judah

  • David asked God if it was time to go home and where he should go. God told him to do to Hebron.
  • The men of Judah anoint David king over their tribe. The most of the rest of Israel aren’t part of it.
  • David learns about what Jabesh Gilead did for Saul and Jonathan and his brothers. He sends a message to the thanking them for what they did and letting them know that he is now king over Judah.
    • Maybe not as much a recruitment for them to do the same but a seed planted for later.
    • Look at the map
  • Abner, Saul’s cousin and Commander over the army took one of Saul’s remaining sons, Ishbosheth and threw his own credibility and power behind him to have him anointed as king over the 11 remaining Israelite tribes.
    • Did Abner do this for Ishbosheth, or did he do it for himself?
    • The historian is careful to say David sought God and the people anointed him king while Abner anointed Ishbosheth and positioned his capital away from the Philistines.


Joab and Abner

  • Joab was David’s army commander and his cousin. He also had two brothers, Abishai and Asahel.
  • Abner took his army to Gibeon. We don’t know why. Joab decided to do the same. 2 Samuel 2:12-17 – 12 Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.”

And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

15 So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. 17 So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

  • Keep in mind that Joab had spent several years with David, running from Saul and Abner. He also wanted to command all of Israel’s army and for David to be king over everyone.
  • A huge battle ensues in which 19 of Joab’s men die, but 360 of Abner’s die.
  • But the death among Joab’s men that hurt the most was Joab’s brother Asahel. We will see how this plays out later in our story.
  • Abner finally calls for a truce and Joab blows the horn to stop.
  • Abner returns to Mahanaim while Joab buries his brother in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem, and then he and all the men head back to Hebron.
  • 2 Samuel 3:1 – 3 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Abner’s Switch of Allegiance

  • Chapter 3 starts with a list of David’s son’s born in Hebron, and we would spend more time on them if we were going through the rest of 2 Samuel.
  • One day, Ishbosheth accuses Abner of sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines. 2 Samuel 3:7-11 – 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”

8 Then Abner became very angry at the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? 9 May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him— 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

  • It’s obvious who had the real power in Ishbosheth’s kingdom.
  • Abner decides to make an alliance with David, ingratiate himself to David and make it possible for all the tribes of Israel to make David king.
  • Abner sends a message to David saying if David will make a covenant with him he will deliver the rest of the tribes of Israel.
  • David tests the offer by requiring he bring David’s first wife Michal. 2 Samuel 3:13-16 – 13 And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned.
  • Abner communicates with the elders of Israel encouraging them to follow David.
  • Then he goes to Hebron, David has a feast for him, and Abner tells him he will go and deliver the remaining tribes of Israel to him.
  • David sends Abner away in peace.
  • Oh, but wait. Joab wasn’t mentioned in any of this, and Abner has forgotten about the grudge Joab has for killing Asahel.
  • Joab gets back to Hebron and finds out what Abner’s been up to. 2 Samuel 3:24-27 – 24 Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you; why is it that you sent him away, and he has already gone? 25 Surely you realize that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you, to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.”

26 And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner had returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him privately, and there stabbed him in the stomach, so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the [i]house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

  • CONSPIRACY THEORY must be stopped. Now, David has a political problem. All of the Israelite elders were about to anoint him king, but this might look to them like David had tricked Abner. David publicly lamented Abner’s death and showed him a ton of public respect in order to convince everyone he had nothing to do with Abner’s death, and it worked. 2 Samuel 3:36-37 – 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s intent to kill Abner the son of Ner. 
  • David tells his staff Joab has made him look weak and he hopes God pays them back for it, but he doesn’t do anything – yet. 1 Kings 2:28-33 (page 366) – 28 Then news came to Joab, for Joab had defected to Adonijah, though he had not defected to Absalom. So Joab fled to the tabernacle of the Lord, and took hold of the horns of the altar. 29 And King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to the tabernacle of the Lord; there he is, by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down.” 30 So Benaiah went to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him, “Thus says the king, ‘Come out!’ ”

And he said, “No, but I will die here.” And Benaiah brought back word to the king, saying, “Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.”

31 Then the king said to him, “Do as he has said, and strike him down and bury him, that you may take away from me and from the house of my father the innocent blood which Joab shed. 32 So the Lord will return his [g]blood on his head, because he struck down two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword—Abner the son of Ner, the commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, the commander of the army of Judah—though my father David did not know it. 33 Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab and upon the head of his descendants forever. But upon David and his descendants, upon his house and his throne, there shall be peace forever from the Lord.”

The End of Ishbosheth

  • We hear a really quick story about Mephibosheth that will be important later when David is King over all of Israel.
  • Word spread that Abner was dead and Ishbosheth lost heart.
  • Two captains of the guard sneak in and killed Ishbosheth, beheaded him and headed off to Hebron because, apparently, they hadn’t heard about how David treated people who killed Israel’s king. 2 Samuel 4:9-12 – 9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said to them, “As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all adversity, 10 when someone told me, saying, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ thinking to have brought good news, I arrested him and had him executed in Ziklag—the one who thought I would give him a reward for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous person in his own house on his bed? Therefore, shall I not now require his [f]blood at your hand and [g]remove you from the earth?” 12 So David commanded his young men, and they executed them, cut off their hands and feet, and hanged them by the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.

David, King of Israel

  • 2 Samuel 5:1-4 – 5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke, saying, “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel.’ ” 3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 


Wrap-Up

  • David’s path to the throne
    • Samuel anoints (about 12?)
    • Goliath (about 15?)
    • He loved Jonathan and probably felt confused about how he would rule at Jonathan’s expense.
    • Made a captain and kills his 10,000s
    • Married the king’s daughter, Michal
    • Runs from Saul – Jonathan talks Saul down
    • Runs from Saul – Spares his life in the cave but doesn’t return. This is the one where he lies to the priest and gets all of the priests but one killed and pretends to be crazy to another king.
    • Runs from Saul – Spares his life in the valley and then heads to the Philistines and lives with them over a year. Raids other areas and deceives Achish
  • Faithful to wait on God’s timing. No short cuts.
  • Saul’s life was marked by insecurity and self-pity, and it ended up being the death of him and his family’s kingdom.
  • David’s life, while fraught with a lot of blood and some deception, is marked by loving God, worshipping God, and being willing to honor others over himself.
  • God noticed David’s excessive killing. 1 Chronicles 22:6-10 (page 457) – 6 Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God; 8 but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be [b]Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ 

Father, give me the words to say to these men tomorrow night. I will go through most of this. Some of it I will end up skipping. And I’ll add other things extemporaneously. Whatever I do in the moment, I want to be completely guided by your Holy Spirit. I want to be a seed sower. I pray that you will prepare hearts for tomorrow night. Start with mine. Teach me through these men. Teach me through my own teaching. Holy Spirit, fill that place tomorrow night.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on June 29, 2025 in 2 Samuel

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

2 Samuel 3

25 Jun

3 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:

His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;

the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;

the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah.

These were born to David in Hebron.

Abner Goes Over to David

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”

13 “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’”

19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Joab Murders Abner

22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.

24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.

28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

33 The king sang this lament for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34     Your hands were not bound,
    your feet were not fettered.
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”

And all the people wept over him again.

35 Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

2 Samuel 3

Dear God, I think I want to spend some time with Abner this morning. What an interesting man. Saul’s cousin. Promoted into power because of that relationship. I still don’t know where he was or how he survived the battle where Saul and his boys died. Going back to the second time David spared Saul’s life, David took that opportunity to mock Abner and suggest he wasn’t up to protecting the king.

But this was a family thing and Abner wanted to see his father’s brother’s family–his grandfather’s family–remain in power as kings of Israel so he saw to it that Saul’s throne passed to his next living son Ishbosheth. But as happens in nepotism, Ishbosheth wasn’t up to the job. He was an insecure child who, for whatever reason, accused Joab of sleeping with Saul’s concubine. I don’t know what all the implications of that were. Had she become Ishbosheth’s concubine? Was he simply accusing Abner of betraying his father posthumously? Whatever the implications were, Abner was incredibly offended and decided that it was time to follow your will for Israel and encourage the other 11 tribes to join Judah in naming David king. It strikes me that he admits up to that point he was willfully going against your will (verse 18). Or maybe he was hoping that somehow he could stay in power and David would still take care of the Philistines. It’s hard to be sure. But Abner had a lot to lose, up to and including his life, by transferring the kingdom to David. It’s interesting that this offense by Ishbosheth was the straw that broke the camels back.

Father, I heard someone say that it is hard to get someone to change their mind when their paycheck is dependent upon them believing what they believe. In Abner’s case, there was no way he was going to willingly yield his power to Joab. And Joab certainly had a grudge against Abner. There was no way the two would willingly coexist. Joab was presumably part of David’s 600 who were being chased by Saul and Abner. And then Abner killed Joab’s brother (although he tried not to). But Abner was beloved by the Israelites, and they watched David closely and how he reacted to his death. David adequately convinced them of his innocence in Abner’s death and his respect for Abner through the way he mourned, and that brought him credibility and respect in their eyes. And, of course, Joab’s crime against Abner will come up later (2 Kings 2:5-6). David never forgot. I guess my point is, help me to be willing to do the right thing under you even if it costs me money, influence, or standing. I want to be willing to do anything you call me to do to bring your glory, regardless of what it costs me. I consider my life worth nothing to me, Father. Help me to believe and live those words.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on June 25, 2025 in 2 Samuel

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 Samuel 2

24 Jun

2 It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”

And the Lord said to him, “Go up.”

David said, “Where shall I go up?”

And He said, “To Hebron.”

2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4 Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” 5 So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ishbosheth Made King of Israel

8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 and he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

Israel and Judah at War

12 Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.”

And Joab said, “Let them arise.”

15 So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. 16 And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. 17 So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

18 Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?”

He answered, “I am.”

21 And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?” 23 However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.

24 Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon. 25 Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. 26 Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”

27 And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” 28 So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. 29 Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.

30 So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. 32 Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

2 Samuel 2

Dear God, what was that all about? What was the point of that? I guess, in the end, it delineated the territory and turf of David’s kingdom against Ishbosheth’s. If David’s men had lost that day then Judah might have been absorbed back into the other 11 tribes of Israel. But this certainly helped establish the beginning of David’s kingdom. But why did so many people need to die? What a waste!

Oh, Father, how we ae so cruel to each other. I am fatigued by it. Even now, I look at the people around the world fighting each other and killing each other. I hear about a man who showed up at a church in Michigan Sunday ready to shoot the place up (thankfully, he was stopped). Even in our community, there are some people who are bent on exerting their will over other people instead of persuading and loving. We want power. And what does that “power” give us that we are missing? I suppose a sense of importance. And it also feeds our selfishness. To be sure, sometimes power is necessary to stop a crime, but most of the time we decide to exercise power it is usually to simply subdue others to our will. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus never subdued people to his will. He called us to submit to his will, but he never subdued us.

Father, thank you. Right now, you are really growing me through the teaching of this class for Christian Men’s Life Skills. I am only doing the Bible study part for one night out of three, but it’s stretching me. They’ve asked me to, in essence, do an altar call the last two weeks. That is totally out of my normal realm, but it’s also important. We will have just a weeks left with these men before they resume their normal evenings. Will this make a difference? I’ll tell you, I cannot be the man they need me to be. I cannot be the man you need me to be for them. But I can do it if you are with me. If you do it through me. So prepare my heart to “go there” in a couple of weeks. Prepare their hearts to “go there” as well.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on June 24, 2025 in 2 Samuel

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

David Spares Saul (Twice) and Nabal

14 Jun

Dear God, it’s time for me to put this week’s Bible study for the Christian Men’s Life Skills class on Monday together. This is week 6 out of 10, and I am so grateful for how it’s gone so far. Thank you. Thank you for leading me in this. Thank you for how you are blessing me through this. Thank you for the joy and encouragement it is giving me. Thank you for what you are doing for the men through the entire class. I can see some of them considering changes. I can see them softening. Maybe not all of them. And maybe some of them won’t change. Perhaps the seeds will find the hard path, the rocks, or the thorns. But I pray for their hearts (and for mine) and that they be fertile soil for your seeds to grow and flourish. With that said, here is my preparation for 1 Samuel 24-26.

Page 323

When last we left off

  • Saul was using and abusing (including murdering) a lot of people to kill David because he was insecure and selfish.
  • David was in the woods near Ziph when he and Jonathan committed themselves to each other one last time, with Jonathan acknowledging that David would be king and he would serve David.
  • The Ziphites, who were from Judah and you would have thought would have been loyal to David and his family, betrayed David and threw in their lot with Saul. 1 Samuel 23:19-20 – 19 Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the woods, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? 20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”
  • Saul has finally found someone who will feel sorry for him, and it delights him. 1 Samuel 23:21 – 21 And Saul said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me.
  • David finds out Saul is in Ziph so he goes to Maon. Saul chases him around there until he finds out the Philistines are attacking so he breaks off the chase.
    • Imagine how much more effective Saul could have been as a king and general if he had David on his side and they were all fighting together instead of fighting each other.
      • Does that ever happen in your life. Do you get distracted by making someone a needless enemy instead of making them a friend at almost no cost to you?

David Spares Saul (good leadership)

  • Saul finishes fighting the Philistines, but he hasn’t forgotten David. He takes 3,000 men and goes hunting.
    • Keep in mind David has 600 men with him at this point.
  • Saul needs a place to use the bathroom and finds a cave.
  • As it happens, David and his 600 men are hiding in the cave.
  • Keep in mind, David’s men are tired, on the run, and started out as discontented men, even before they came to David. So they tell David in 1 Samuel 24:4, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’”
  • David responds by getting up sneaking over near Saul, taking a knife, and……cut off a piece of Saul’s robe and went back to the men.
    • How do you think the men felt about that decision?
  • David not only did NOT regret not killing Saul. He DID regret the disrespect he showed by cutting off the piece of the robe.
  • David tells his men he was wrong to cut off the piece of robe. 1 Samuel 24:6 – “The LORD forbid  that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.”
    • Do you think it was easy for David to go against his men in that moment?
    • Was David afraid he would look weak to his men?
    • What is David teaching them here?
    • What do you think it would have done to his relationship with Jonathan if David had killed Saul in that cave?
  • David restrains his men. 1 Samuel 24:7 – 7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
  • David and Saul talk. 1 Samuel 24:8-21 – 8 David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. 9 And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? 10 Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 12 Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? 15 Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”

16 So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. 18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20 And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”

  • Saul went home, but David stayed on the run.

Samuel Dies

  • 1 Samuel 25:1 – 25 Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of [a]Paran.
    • What were the implications for David now that Samuel had died?
    • Did Saul feel like he lost something too since Samuel had found him?
    • The Wilderness of Paran is pretty much the place where the Israelites lived for 50 40 years between Egypt and the Promised Land back in Exodus.

Nabal and Abigail (and David’s crisis of leadership)

  • Nabal was rich and had a lot of sheep and goats. 3,000. He lived in the Maon area That was on the  edge of the Wilderness of Paran.
  • 1 Samuel 25:3b – And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings.
  • David’s men would see Nabal’s shepherds and leave them alone.
    • Judging from David’s reaction later, it seems like David kept them at bay.
  • David needs some his provisions from Nabal so he sends 10 young men to ask for some help.
    • Part of the message is emphasizing how honorably David’s men have treated Nabal’s men and property.
  • Nabal doesn’t only decline, but he is rude about it. 1 Samuel 25:10-11 – 10 Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my [c]meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”
  • They report back to David, and David’s reaction is pretty harsh. 1 Samuel 25:13 – Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.
  • One of Nabal’s servants tells Abigail what is going on.
  • Abigail gathers up a tribute to David without Nabal knowing. 1 Samuel 25:18-20 – 18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

20 So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. 

  • Meanwhile, David is heading towards Nabal’s place and feeling sorry for himself. 1 Samuel 25:21-22 – 21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. 22 May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light.”
    • David is falling into the trap Saul fell into: Other people owe me things and when I don’t get what I’m owed I an justified in getting revenge.
  • Abigail finds David, gives him all of the stuff and David realizes he almost made a mistake. 1 Samuel 25:32-25 – 32 Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!” 35 So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.”
  • Abigail gets home and finds Nabal partying with his friends and very drunk. She waits until morning to tell Nabal what she did.
    • When she does, Nabal has some sort of heart attack or stroke and immediately falls silent and dies 10 days later.
  • David decides to marry Abigail and another woman named Ahinoam of Jezreel.
    • It made sense for him to want to marry a rich, influential widow.
  • They throw in here that David’s wife Michal had been given to another man since it seemed David wasn’t coming back and, for all Saul knew, David had threatened her life.

Return of the Ziphites

  • The Ziphites go to Saul and tell him exactly where David is within their area.
  • Saul shows up again with 3,000 men. We don’t know why Saul changed his mind after the last meeting.
  • David sent out spies to figure out exactly where Saul was.
  • He finds Saul and takes his cousin, Abishai, the brother of his general Joab, to infiltrate Saul’s camp. 1 Samuel 26:7-8 – 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him [a]at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”
    • Abishai implies that David was wrong to let Saul go the first time, but they can finish this right now.
  • David forbids it with the same lesson he tried to teach in the cave about protecting God’s anointed. 1 Samuel 26:9-11 – 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” 10 David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.”
  • Verse 12b indicates God caused the deep sleep that put Saul at David’s mercy. 1 Samuel 26:12b – For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
  • David mocks Abner, the Saul’s cousin and head general.
  • David and Saul talk again, but this time, David lets Saul know that what he’s doing is hurting David. 1 Samuel 18-20 – 18 And he said, “Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the Lord has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
  • Saul says he’s sorry, returns Saul’s spear, and teaches everyone the lesson of not harming God’s anointed. 1 Samuel 23-24 – 23 May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”
  • David went back to his men and Saul went home.

Wrap-Up

  • David had to lead his men and teach his men at the same time. He also had to go against their will when he had to have been tempted to go along with it.
  • Even David had a moment of self-pity. Feeling sorry for ourselves and thinking people or life owes us is one of the things the can harm us the most.
  • Saul wasted a lot of resources because of his selfishness and self-pity

Father, I will spend the next couple of days thinking about this before Monday night, but I pray that you will bless this preparation. Holy Spirit, lead me through this story for the next 60 hours or so. Teach me. Live through me. Love through me. And prepare the hearts of the men who will be there Monday. To you be all the glory, honor, and praise forever and ever.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on June 14, 2025 in 1 Samuel

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,