David’s Reign Begins

Transcript

GRS 2-76
7/8/2007
David’s Reign Begins
2 Samuel 2-4
Gil Rugh

We are moving through the history of the nation Israel and we have come to Second Samuel Chapter 2. So turn there in your Bibles, if you will. Second Samuel Chapter 2, remember Second Samuel is about David, his life and reign. Saul died at the end of First Samuel, the First Chapter of Second Samuel focused on the response of David to the report of the death of Saul and one of the things he did is he composed a very moving poem in Chapter 1 verses 19 and following that put Saul in the best light possible. Now honoring him as the king of that God had anointed who ruled at God’s command over the nation Israel. He was a mighty warrior, he was a great king. He ruled Israel for 40 years. So in spite of the fact that he brought great pain, difficulty to David’s life personally, to his family, David had great respect for Saul as the man God had appointed as king of Israel.

Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of Samuel record a period of seven and a half years in David’s life. Obviously very condensed summarizing what are the key issues for us. It’s going to be the period of time where David rules over Judah, just Judah not the other 11 tribes. But he is appointed king over Judah and he will rule from the city of Hebron for a period of seven and half years. For two years of this period Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul will rule as king, reign as king over the other 11 tribes. And as we will work through this, it can be a little difficult to place exactly where the reign of Ish-bosheth is, but we will see – it seemed that it’s in the last portion of that seven-year period. And what was going on for the first five years as far as the control of the other 11 tribes were not directly told. Perhaps the military commander that we will see Abner was the dominant influence there and then he has Ish-bosheth installed, but he is going to be the power behind the throne. In the end Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul who has been king for two years will be killed by two of his own servants, beheaded and that will prepare the way for David to be installed in Chapter 5 as king over all 12 tribes of Israel.

Chapter 2 begins then it came about afterwards that David inquired of the Lord saying shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah and the Lord said to him "go up." So David said where shall I go up to? He said to Hebron, that’s how David moves from Ziklag and being in Philistine territory. Now Saul was dead, but its interesting David does not take things into his own hands and presume Saul is dead. The Lord has anointed me king already at the hands of Samuel, I waited for years for the Lord to remove Saul, didn’t lift my finger against him, but now clearly it’s time for me to assume control because no one else has been anointed by the Lord to be king, but me, but you see something of the character of David that made him a man after God’s own heart, such a key person in scripture. David doesn’t presume anything; he goes and enquires of the Lord, would you have me now go into one of the cities of Judah which is his home tribe. Then the Lord says yes, furthermore David wants to know where should I go in Judah? There was always concern to be what the Lord wants him to be. There’s no rush here, my life is in the Lord’s hands. What he does with me will be good, it’s not like after all these years of waiting, it’s time, know the Lord direct. So David is directed to Hebron. Hebron sometimes comes up in the news today as you watch the news. It’s 20 miles south of Jerusalem and gives you some idea of the region. David went up there and he took his two eyes, verse 2. He brought the men who were with him verse 3, each bringing their family. They settle in the cities around Hebron.

Verse 4 then the men of Judah came and there anointed David over the house of Judah. Now, this marks the official beginning of David’s 40 year reign. But remember at this point he is king over one tribe officially. The other 11 tribes are still under the control of the household of Saul and particularly the military commander of Saul armies, Abner. David had prepared the way for this move; also remember we won’t go back there.

But in First Samuel Chapter 30 verses 26-31 when he was Ziklag and he went out and made raids against enemy cities and killed the people and took spoil. He sent gifts into this region and that prepared the people to look to him as the one who would provide for them as their king. David had been anointed king by Samuel back in First Samuel 16 verse 13, just to refresh your mind. So we begin the official reign of David with verse 4. Here also David does an act of kindness to express his appreciation to the men of Jabesh-Gilead. Now he has been anointed king over the house of Judah. His first official act, if you will is to honor the men who showed respect to the body of Saul and his sons

So they told David saying verse 4 it was the men of Jabesh-Gilead who buried Saul. Remember the philistines and beheaded Saul and nailed his body to the wall. When the men of Jabesh-Gilead heard they went up and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, burnt them and then buried them. David honors them for that. And clearly here he still shows respect to Saul and he treats kindly those who respected Saul as David did as God’s anointed king. David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said to them may you be blessed of the Lord because you have shown this kindness to Saul your Lord and have buried him. Now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you and I will also show this kindness to you because you have done this thing. Now therefore let your hands be strong, be valiant for Saul your Lord is dead. Also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them. So he show proper respect to Saul, honor these men for honoring Saul and now invites them to come and support him as the house of Judah has appointed him as king.

Now you have -- the account brings to the fore what is going on with the other 11 tribes, but Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s armies had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. He made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin even over all Israel. So in other words the 11 tribes now are placed under the son of Saul, and really Abner is the power here and Ish-bosheth will reign only at the whim and will of Abner and when Abner says I no longer support Ish-bosheth, Ish-bosheth is done. So Abner is running things here and he is the power and he may have been the dominant influence for the five years that David is king over Judah and Hebron. Since Ish-bosheth will rule only two years.

We are told this down in verse Ish-bosheth Saul’s son was 40 years old when he became king over Israel. He was king for two years; the house of Judah however followed David. The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years six months, but you see for five and half years we are not told who was ruling over the other 11 tribes and yet when we get to the end of this account it seems that Ish-bosheth’s reign is toward the end of the seven years that David has, but you can’t place it finally for sure, but that would be the sense you get as you read through the section we are going to go through. Any rate Abner for sure is in control and the army of Israel still is a functioning significant army.

Verse 12 now Abner, the son of Ner went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul and Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. Joab is leading the forces of David; David incidentally is not here at the head of his men at this time. They sat down one on one side of the pool, the other on the other side they are at the pool of Gibeon. And the pool of Gibeon was located seven miles northwest of Jerusalem. So Hebron was 20 miles south of Jerusalem. We have gone seven miles northwest of Jerusalem and interestingly this pool of Gibeon has been excavated, and it was cut from solid rock, it was 37 feet in diameter, 35 deep at a stairway that went 45 feet down below the bottom of this pool to water chamber underneath. What you have is these two armies with Abner, head of the armies of the 11 tribes and Joab with David’s army meet at this pool. And the armies face off with each other both on the opposites sides of this pool of water. And that’s the setting then Abner proposes a mini contest with Joab. They each take 12 soldiers and have them face off and this may have been mini contest instead of us engaging our armies let’s just send – you pick 12 soldiers, we will pick 12 soldiers and whoever wins that will mark the winning army.

Sort of like David when he was going out with Goliath and the challenge was you raise somebody, if Goliath wins Israel submits to the philistines. If the champion of Israel wins then the philistines submit to a mini contest here, but it will quickly move to a full all-out war because these 12 men from each side come down. And you have all the armies here now watching these 12 men come down to engage one another and it is a standoff because each one kills the other. So when done there’s no winner.

You are told in verse 16 each one of them seized his opponent by the head, thrust his sword in his opponent side, they fell down together. So that didn’t solve anything. So that day the battle was very severe and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. So that marks then the beginning of the battle here and the armies engage and David’s forces are victorious, an interesting account of an event that occurs that will have significance, greater significance even later. But you have to know what happened here to understand later account. Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, and Asahel was as swift footed as one of the gazelles which is in the field. Now, Zeruiah was David’s sister.

Turn over to First Chronicles; you have to go past Samuel, Kings, First Chronicles. I know you take my word for it, but at least you can see some of these connections. First Samuel 2, we are getting here the line of David, his genealogy and we are going to pick it up with verses 12, Boaz became the father of Obed, Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn and then you have the various sons down to David verse 15 the seventh son and their sisters where Zeruiah, Abigail and Abigail and the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab and Asahel. So there you have family connection here. So these are David’s nephews the commander of David army is his nephew, that’s his sister’s son and you have the three sons here back in Second Samuel 2:18 Joab, Abishai and Asahel, Asahel is fleet footed, light on his feet. So he is pursuing after Abner.

Verse 19 and he didn’t turn to the right or left from following Abner. He is fixed; he is not looking for anybody else. He is going to catch up to Abner then Abner looked behind him and said is that you are Asahel. And he answered it is I, so Abner said to him turn to your right, turn to your left take hold of one of the young men for yourself. Take for yourself his spoil. In other words is don’t get into a fight with me, take on one of these other soldiers, young soldiers. And you will defeat him and then you can take his clothes, his weapons whatever as your booty. In other words Abner knows it will be no contest if he and Asahel engage Abner will kill him. But that will create a problem because Asahel is Joab’s brother and so that will create problems with Abner and Joab. So Abner has good personal reasons here, he is not just concerned about Asahel and Asahel is not willing to turn aside from following him.

In the end of verse 21 Abner repeated to Asahel turn aside from following me, why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I list up my face to your brother Joab? Don’t want this to escalate then it will be a problem with Joab and me and it will become a personal issue. Obviously the armies of Joab and the armies of Abner have been fighting, but if I kill Joab’s brother now no longer one army against another, this becomes a personal matter between Joab and me. However, he refused to turn aside and Abner is right Asahel is no match for Abner. Abner struck him in the belly with the bud end of spear, so the spear had came out his back and he didn’t run them through with the pointed side, but with the blunt end of his spear. He hits him so hard that it goes all the way through and out his back, and Asahel is dead. As you might expect he dies there, all the soldiers coming by come to that place and there’s Asahel laying in a pool of blood, and they just stop. They are mesmerized by the scene.

But Joab verse 24 and Abishai pursued Abner and when the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. If you get a bible atlas out and I hope you have a good bible atlas, you will have maps of these regions and they will lay this out and many of them will even put the arrows in the routes and where they went and from city to city. So encourage you to do that from time to time just to get your bearings in these since we are not using maps. So here now Joab and his forces have caught up to Abner. Asahel was ahead of them because he could run faster, so the sons of Benjamin gather.

Verse 25 behind Abner became one band and they stood on the top of a certain hill. Here you are, last thing, you have got all your forces gathered and you have taken the high ground, best you can do. You are losing but at least with the symbol we are on the high spot here and we at least can make a decent stand, but then Abner speaks.

Verse 26 Abner called to Joab and said shall the sword devour forever? Do you know not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers and now what Abner says is they have got to come into this. Further battle will only increase the bitterness between brothers because these are all Israelites, this is one Israelite fighting against another Israelite, or to continue this, what would the end be? The bitterness only gets more bitter if we pursue this and how will there ever a reconciliation and peace. As a result Joab accepts this and acknowledge Abner right and breaks off the battle and returns home with his forces. So Abner leaves and goes his way.

Verse 30 Joab returned because it’s been an overwhelming victory for Joab and David’s forces, and for God there’s no need to carry it any further because ultimately David has to rule over the whole nation. And to carry this further beyond a victory would only create a bitterness that would make ultimate restoration more difficult.

We are told verse 31 that the servants of David struck down many of Benjamin. He only lost 19 men in verse 30, but they killed 360 men in Abner’s forces. So you lose 19, they lose 360. It’s been an overwhelming victory even. The chapter ends with them burying Asahel. Now we have a problem here that will reoccur, it will reoccur here shortly and it will reoccur when David is on his deathbed for the story resurfaces with the death of Asahel at the hands of Abner, and Joab returns to Hebron where David is.

Now Chapter 3 will record the death of Abner at the hands of Joab. The first verse really concludes the previous chapter. There was a long war between the house of Saul, the house of David, David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually. So here you summarize what’s going on over this seven year period. David is getting stronger. The house of Saul is getting weaker, sons were born to David in Hebron, then David has taken otherwise wives during this seven year period. So firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam, the Jezreelites, his second Kileab by Abigail widow of Nabal the Carmelite, the third and we only knew that he only two wives when he came to Hebron, those first two mentioned. Now you have the third of his children was Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. So he took her as a wife during this seven year period. The fourth Adonijah the son of Haggith and the fifth Shephatiah the son of Abital, the sixth Ithream by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron, so during this seven year period David had added to his wives and has had a number of children.

Verses 6-11 talk about the split that comes between Ish-bosheth and Abner, came about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner was making him strong in the house of Saul. And as we are aware and have happened in countries that we see today where the military commander becomes the power and ultimately assumes total control. Abner is making himself strong in the house of Saul – I mean he has the army under his control. What could an Ish-bosheth do? He doesn’t have an army; Abner has the army, so he is getting stronger and stronger. Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner why have you gone into my father’s concubine?

Now I think this connects to when it says at the end of verse 6 Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. Now he does take a step and evidently becomes involved with one of Saul’s concubines and this is an asserting of his power. Remember later Solomon will put one of his brothers at the death because he asks for one of David’s concubines as a wife for a woman who took care of David and Solomon says he is really after my throne. So Ish-bosheth takes this as that kind of threat that Abner is really taking over the palace now. So when he challenges Abner on this.

Then we are told in verse 8 Abner was very – very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said am I a dog’s head to belong to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, to his friends and I have not delivered you into the hands of David yet you charge me with guilt concerning the woman. May God do so to Abner and more also if as the Lord is sworn to David I do not accomplish this for him, to transfer the kingdom from the Saul, to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba. You dare to challenge me I will tell you what I am going to do; I am going to turn this whole kingdom over to David.

And you know what Abner knows verse 9 that God do to Abner more so. If as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him then battling against David been a war with Joab and the forces of David yet he knows God has sworn David will be king. And what moves him now is not a desire to obey God’s word, he is being angry over Ish-bosheth and so just to show Ish-bosheth who is boss here; you have to turn the whole kingdom over to David.

And so he does, you know verse 11 he could no longer answer Abner a word because he was afraid of him and he recognizes who has the power here, why doesn’t Abner kill him on the spot? We are not told, that’s not part of God’s plan because the kingdom is going to be turned over to David. So verses 12 down through verse 21 talk about Abner meeting with David and making arrangements and the agreements that they God through and really Abner will offer to turn the kingdom over to David if David will make a covenant with Abner. In other words Abner is going to save his own skin here, so you make an agreement with me and really Abner will avoid punishment for his crime, so to speak. He just becomes one on David’s side. So Abner sent messengers to David in his place saying whose is the land, make your covenant with me, behold my hands shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you. He said good I will make a covenant with you, David said fine. But one thing I require I won’t meet with you until you restore my wife Michal to me. Remember Michal was Saul’s daughter, she was married to David, but after David fled from Saul, Saul gave her to another man as a wife. David said she is my wife, she can’t be given to another, so you restore my wife to me, then we can meet.

Verse 14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son saying give me my wife Michal to whom I was betrothed for a 100 foreskins of philistines. Ish-bosheth sent, took her from her husband Paltiel, the son of Laish, but her husband went with her weeping as he went following her as far as Bahurim. The Abner said to him go return and he returned. So now Michal has been restored to David.

Verse 17, now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel saying in time past you were seeking for David to be king over you, now then do it for the Lord has spoken of David saying by the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the philistines, the hand of all our enemies. Remarkable! Abner assembled the leaders of the 11 tribes and says remember you were ready to have David as king and everybody was celebrating David and you know what the Lord has spoken about David – I mean they know all this and yet they have not made any move up to this point to turn and serve David. Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin in addition went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron. All that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin and in other words there is going to be agreement on this – I mean Abner and you are sure he has got the army behind him, what's Israel going to say and besides this is fine. Saul is dead, Ish-bosheth isn’t much of a king, and we do know the Lord has promised the kingdom to David.

So verse 20 then Abner and 20 men with him came to David in Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him. Abner said to David let me arise and go and gather all of Israel to my Lord the king, but they may make a covenant with you and that you maybe king over all that your soul desires. So David sent Abner away, went in peace, that covenant, his life has been restored, Abner has come, they have met now, Abner says I will go out and I will assemble all the leaders of Israel, they will gather together and we will have you installed formally as king and Joab has been out with some of the army making a raid and they come back with their spoil. And Abner has already left from David.

And he had gone away in peace at the end of verse 22 says when Joab verse 23 and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab saying Abner the son Ner came to the king he had sent him away and he has gone in peace. And the words they haven’t entered into the covenant. David has established peace with Abner, Joab came to the king and said what have you done, the old Abner came to you, why have you sent him away and he is already gone, you know Abner the son of Ner that he came to deceive you, to learn of your going out, coming in, find all you are doing – I mean Abner wasn’t here to establish a covenant of peace with you, Abner was here to be able to see firsthand what your situation was so that he could attack and win.

Joab takes things into his own hands, he comes out from David and then he sends messengers after Abner and they brought him back. David didn’t know about it, so Joab sends messengers out – easy to do say David wants you to return there’s more he – some things he wants to say or something like that. Abner returned Hebron Joab takes him aside in the middle gates of the city to speak with him privately – I mean here Joab does represent David says that we have got to talk about something; this could be something David wants you to know and whatever. Abner is not expecting anything to King David has made an agreement of peace, so he is right to assume Joab now will be supportive of that, but remember Abner has killed Joab’s brother Asahel. So they turn aside to speak and Abner is not expecting anything and Joab struck him in the belly so that he died on the account of the blood of Asahel, his brother. Afterward when David heard that he said I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner, the son of Ner. May it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house, may they not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, one who is a leper, one who takes hold of the distaff, one who falls by the sword or lacks bread. So Joab and Abishai brother killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. When David is on his death bed he will instruct Solomon to take care of Joab for what he did. One of the things mentioned is killing Abner, there’s a personal affront to David, Joab his commander has violated the word that David gave to Abner. You think well why didn’t David take vengeance right away? Well there’s several problems here, one this is his sister’s son, two it seems that David doesn’t believe that he is strong enough to make this an issue at this point.

Down in verse 39 I am weak today though anointed king and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evil doer according to his evil – I mean it’s not a good time for David to go have this battle now David against his commander, how loyal will be the soldiers of David to their commander Joab that they have been going out to battle with. David says I can’t take this on now, but David doesn’t forget. On his deathbed 30 some years later he will tell Solomon you have to make it right. Joab does have to pay the price for what he did, so this will resurface again. What David does? Now he is in a spot because he entered into a covenant of peace with Abner. Abner has already addressed the leaders of the 11 tribes, now the danger is it’s going to look like David was guilty of treachery. Hey Lord Abner under the guise of peace to Hebron and then he executed him. Obviously this would not win the hearts of the people of the 11 tribes because you begin to wonder what’s David going to do to us. He may say to us now I will be your king, but he is going to wreak vengeance on us like he did Abner. So David handles it with great diplomacy and I think genuineness. David realizes a wrong has been done.

So verse 31 David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him tear your clothes, gird on sackcloth, lament before Abner. And king David walked behind the bier thus they buried Abner in Hebron and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner and all the people wept. The king chanted a lament for Abner and said should Abner die as a fool dies, your hands were not bound nor your feet put in fetters as one falls before the wicked, you have fallen. All the people wept again over him. Abner did not even have to the privilege of dying in battle. At least Asahel was killed in a battle, there was a war going on between Abner’s forces and Joab’s forces and Asahel would not break off the pursuit of Abner, so that’s part of the military conflict. That was not an act of personal murder for which Joab could be the blood of vengeance Besides they are in Hebron which was a city of refuge couldn’t have carried out that kind of blood related vengeance anyway, but that didn’t apply in acts of war. And the death of Asahel took place in the context of a war, a battle. Joab was an act of personal vengeance in defiance of David’s wishes. So David here honors Abner.

All the people came to persuade David verse 35 -- I want him to eat something and he says he won’t eat anything until the sun goes down, a sign of true mourning that he even abstains from food. All the people took note of it, it pleased them just as everything the king did pleased all the people, all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner, the son of Ner to death. They see important, the word spreads to Israel, David wasn’t part of that, that wasn’t David’s desire, wasn’t his intention that Abner died, that was something that Joab took upon himself for personal reasons so that the hostility towards David doesn’t develop. Then David said to his servants do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel. Abner was a great military man and David respect that and he sees it as a tragedy that a great military man dies in an act of treachery like that. I am weak today though anointed king, these men; the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil. At this period of time it is not possible for me to deal with it.

Chapter 4 we have to have Ish-bosheth removed. Now when Ish-bosheth Saul’ son heard that Abner had died in Hebron he lost courage and all Israel was disturbed. So it seemed that these primarily focuses two years of Ish-bosheth’s reign, is that last portion of David that’s why we say we don’t know about those early years when David reigns in Hebron all that’s going on in Israel because it’s not really germane, we are concerned about David, not just filling in the interesting details of the story. And so we get what is necessary for us to follow David. And Ish-bosheth knows the battle is lost, now Abner is dead, he knows the movement in the 11 tribes is to have David be king. Saul’s son had two men who were commanders of the band, so what happens here now? Now you have the people beginning to scramble to look to save their own skin. So he had two commanders of bands, the name of the one was Baanah, the name of the other was Recab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, the sons of Benjamin. And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, have been there aliens to this day. Now Jonathan Saul’s son had a son crippled in his feet. Remember Jonathan now we bring in a little insight here, the point that this brings in when Ish-bosheth is removed from the scene there is no one else from Saul’s family who could potentially sit on the throne. Jonathan has a son, but he couldn’t serve his king, he is not physically able and we are told would happen. He was crippled in his feet.

Verse 4 he was five years old when the report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel – their death. So his nurse picks him up and they are fleeing. In her hurry to flee she drops him and his feet are injured and so he is crippled and not able to walk, his name was Mephibosheth, so had got that glimpse, insight into here of where the line of Saul is and we are at the end of any potentials kings with Ish-bosheth.

So now we can pick up with verse 5, these two men the sons of Rimmon again, two brothers. They come to the house if Ish-bosheth verse 5 because their commanders of two groups of his soldiers and the come in the midday he is resting in bed. It’s hot like a day like today, no air conditioning even for a king. So a good time to lay in your room and have the breeze come through and take a nap. They came to the middle of the house as if to get wheat, not unusual here’s two trusted soldiers come in to the house to get some supplies and they struck him in the belly and escaped. Now when they came into the house he was lying on his bed in his bedroom. They struck him and killed him, beheaded him, took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night. They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Thus the Lord has given my king the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.

You know this is not going too go well for these men. The Lord has given vengeance David didn’t think you took vengeance into your own hands; you let the Lord handle things. David answered Recab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, said to them as the Lord lives who has redeemed my life from all the stress, I don’t need you to rescue me. The Lord has redeemed my life from all the stress, don’t come here thinking you have done me a favor and deserve a reward for it. When one told me saying behold Saul as dead and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag which was the reward I gave him for his news.

How much more -- when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed shall I not now require his blood from your hand and destroy you from the earth. David commanded the young men; they killed them, cut off their hands and feet and hung them beside the pool in Hebron. But he took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in the Hebron, and dishonored these two men by cutting off their hands and feet, hangs them up for all to see as they are disgraced, as they killed a righteous man, I know it’s not righteous in the sense of New Testament, righteousness and salvation, but he was great man. And he is laying in his own bed, in his own house, and you go in and just kill him – I mean for David he could be a brutal man as you see what he does to these men, he doesn’t just kill them, makes an example cut their hands, cut their feet off, hang them up and let all the blood drain out, let everybody see their disgrace and I know nothing of killing the man who brought the news of Saul’s death, kill him.

But David also doesn’t sneak into a house and kill somebody when he is sleeping till there are things that – the distinction between acts of murder and valid acts of war or valid acts of retribution as David meets out here. So Ish-bosheth is now removed from the scene. When you say he is a righteous man, he is an innocent man. There are no reasons these men just did this to save their skin thinking they would be rewarded by David for doing this, so they are dealt with. The way is prepared.

We can come in Chapter 5 David will be anointed as king when we get to Chapter 5 verse 3, all the elders will come to David from all the tribes, they will anoint him as king. In verse 4 David was 30 years when he became king he reigned 40 years. And the break down in verse 5 will be he reigned seven and a half years in Hebron and 33 years over all Israel.

All right just a few observations from Chapters 2, 3, and 4. I like the way chapter opened up as a good reminder that willingness to wait upon the Lord, seek the Lord’s will every step of the way, it would have been so easy for David to step off the path because he had been so faithful up to this point. And seems now well I can just ahead at this point, but David never presumes on the Lord. So as the chapter opens up he is inquiring of the Lord. Shall I go back now into one of the cities of Judah, what city should I go to? Never a time to take things into his own hands and never decide for himself the time is right. I let the Lord decide for me and seek his will in everything and a good reminder for us.

Secondly we are going to use wisdom in our conduct. Down in Chapter 2 verses 5 to 7 David had prepared the way by the way he treated the people of this region in sending them gifts from the spoil back in fist Samuel Chapter 30. That’s prepared the way here for them to accept his – inviting them to come serve him he honors them for honoring Saul, he just has a gracious demeanor about him in the way he treats and respects others, and show them proper honor, and just general wisdom in his conduct in able to maintain a good testimony we saw that as well when it came to the death of Abner. I don’t agree with what was done there, are we going to honor Abner as being the great military man he was. He didn’t deserve to die as an act of treachery, he shows wisdom in his conduct and behavior, and that prepares him for the service that he will have.

Matthew Chapter 10 verse 16 says that the servants of the Lord are to be as shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves and David shows that kind of character. Third we must be faithful in the task that God give us. Verse 11 that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah seven years six months – I mean – you know that’s a long time we don’t know everything that’s going on in the other 11 tribes, but you know after everything as we have noted that’s gone on up to this point another seven and half years in Hebron ruling over one tribe, but he is faithful in the past that God gives him, that’s what his concern his, being faithful to Lord with the task that God gives him and David will be faithful in little things, and God will honor him with great things.

Remember in the parable of the talents in Matthew Chapter 25, you have been faithful with little, you are rewarded with much. And we sometimes think of ourselves ready to do the great things – the big things when you realize what God is looking for is our faithfulness in the little things that he entrusts us. David being faithful to the Lord and each of the steps along the way, now he has stepped up to at least be king over Judah. We are going to have seven years of that before he is the king in the full sense of the word -- faithfulness and little things.

Number four Godly conduct does build respect and even when those around him did wrong David functioned properly, this builds respect. We are to function in such a way Matthew 5:16, First Peter 2 that people see our good works and honor our father – I mean their – our behavior ought to be a testimony – realize the enemies of the Lord will be our enemies, but in our behavior they ought not to be things that give any excuse, any reason. David conducted himself this way consistently. Interesting point God uses the sinfulness of men to accomplish his purposes; God uses the sinfulness of men to accomplish his purposes wherever we are. Joab kills Abner, that was wrong, these two men, two brothers kills Ish-bosheth, that was wrong, that was sin. But God uses even the sinfulness of men for accomplishing his purposes. What is being happening is Abner is being removed from the scene that further prepares the way for David to assume full kingship, Ish-bosheth is removed from the scene, that further prepares the way for David to be king, God uses the sinfulness of men for the accomplishing of his purposes. Sometimes we get confused on this, and well the death of Abner was a good thing. Well God used the death of Abner, but the way Abner died was a wrong thing. God used the death of Ish-bosheth, but the way Ish-bosheth was removed was a wrong thing, was sin. And that connects to another point, we must not condone sin even if there was benefit, the ends don’t justify the means very simply.

We sometimes look at the results and say sin wasn’t so bad because I can see good that never makes sin anything less than sin. And in God’s sovereign way he uses even the sin of men to accomplish his purposes, but the fact that God uses men’s sin never condones man’s sin or makes it any less sin. And all said and done Abner is out of the way, Ish-bosheth is out of the way, you say well that’s good. Now the way is prepared for David to be king, doesn’t change the fact Joab’s act was sin and he will die for. The two men who killed Ish-bosheth, their act was sin, they will die for it. So the fact that God uses men sin to accomplish his purposes never makes their sin acceptable or anything less than sin.

Another good lesson for all of us to keep in mind as we sometimes think well I think good came out of that. And what we are really saying is that means that sin wasn’t so bad. So it simply means in God’s sovereignty he may have used that sin for good. You may have been embezzling from your employer and when you get caught you share the gospel with your employer and he gets saved therefore embezzling is good, it’s called “embezzling evangelism” wrong, it’s still sin an the fact that God graciously used a sinful activity to accomplish a work of grace never changes the character of sin to sin and never us less accountable and guilty before God for that in the end of it all the plans of God cannot be frustrated. David will be king in God’s time, not a day before, not a day after on God’s timetable. Now I look at David and I say of course David didn’t have anything to start going a 100 miles an hour about, not anything to get frustrated about, it’s all in God’s hands, you know where I have trouble with me, anyway God’s plans for me are never frustrating, his purposes are always perfect, his timing is always right, and we can rest secure in that. Let’s pray to God.

Thank you for your grace, thank you for grace as manifested in the life of David. Lord, we are 3000 years later impressed with the life and character of this relatively young man who has conducted himself in honorable and proper way as your servant, and we would learn from that. Thank you Lord for your grace, your sovereignty, the fact that you bring him to the throne in your time though are reminded that your plans for us can never frustrated, your purposes are always good and perfect and even the trials and the difficulties, and all that come our way are just an opportunity to be faithful in little things, be faithful in difficult things to show wisdom and Godly character, so that you can use us as you see fit in each and every situation. We desire to be used that way and to that end even in the days before us and this we pray in Christ’s name, amen.