2 Samuel 3:1-20 As time passes, the righteous becomes stronger

2 Samuel 3:1-20

1 That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to Saul and those loyal to David. As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker…

6 As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul. 7 One day Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, accused Abner of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, a woman named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah.

8 Abner was furious. “Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this?” he shouted. “After all I have done for your father, Saul, and his family and friends by not handing you over to David, is this my reward- that you find fault with me about this woman? 9 May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the LORD has promised him! 10 I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.” 11 Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do.

12 Then Abner sent messengers to David, saying, “Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you.” 13 “All right,” David replied, “but I will not negotiate with you unless you bring back my wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come.” 14 David then sent this message to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son:”Give me back my wife Michal, for I bought her with the lives of 100 Philistines.” 15 So Ishbosheth took Michal away from her husband, Palti son of Laish. 16 Palti followed along behind her as far as Bahurim, weeping as he went. Then Abner told him, “Go back home!” So Palti returned.

17 Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now is the time! For the LORD has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.'” 19 Abner also spoke with the men of Benjamin. Then he went to Hebron to tell David that all the people of Israel and Benjamin had agreed to support him.

20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to Hebron, David entertained them with a great feast. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go and call an assembly of all Israel to support my lord the king. They will make a covenant with you to make you their king, and you will rule over everything your heart desires.” So David sent Abner safely on his way.

Background

David’s progress is evident to all and there is increasing pro-David sympathy even among the northern tribal heads. Abner’s intention for defection is probably brewing for some time and the squabble over a concubine is only a pretext to break away from Ishbosheth. Abner’s sudden conversion that initialized the transfer of Saul’s kingdom over to David is an unfolding of God’s mandate over David as the king of His choice. Today’s passage teaches us to be patient and wait for God’s plans to unfold in His time. God’s mandate in our lives cannot be hurried, our exaltation as sons must follow the full course of His sovereign calendar. Hence, we must not give up, the righteous will over time become stronger and the wicked become weaker.

Observation

As time passed David became stronger and stronger, while Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker – Eversince David returned from Ziklag and ruled from Hebron, he is acknowledged as God’s chosen king for Israel by many elders and tribal heads in the territories of Judah. Nevertheless, those loyal to Saul’s dynasty continue a protracted effort to limit David’s design and the engagement described in chapter 2 is just one of the many in which Ishbosheth’s men were defeated. Over time, as it becomes more apparent of God’s anointing over David, and David became stronger and stronger. Whereas Saul’s dynasty is propped by Abner who is skilled at war but not at the administration of a nation. It is inevitable that Saul’s dynasty became weaker and weaker.

Am I some Judean dog to be kicked around like this? – Abner is consolidating his position while Ishbosheth’s machinery is in decline. Abner makes use of Saul’s concubine as a pretext to break away from Ishbosheth given how things are against the irresistibility of David’s progress. Ishbosheth interpreted Abner’s action as making a beeline to the throne by consorting with Saul’s concubine. But when rebuked by Ishbosheth, he takes offence, but admits no wrongdoing taking occasion to defect and work for the reunification of Judah and Israel under David. Ishbosheth, having zero political or military leverage retreated in the face of Abner’s challenge: Ishbosheth didn’t dare say another word because he was afraid of what Abner might do. It is well accepted in all Israel that David lays legitimate claim to all territories in Judah and the northern territories as king: all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.

Doesn’t the entire land belong to you? – Abner, by being a willing instrument of David’s reunification efforts, paves himself to a position of security and prominence in the new unified kingdom. Abner’s strategy is to in an upfront manner exclude all possible rivals from making a deal with David: Make a solemn pact with me, and I will help turn over all of Israel to you. Abner claims to have the clout to direct all Israel in David’s direction. David, however will not negotiate unless he has Michal (his first wife) restored to him. Michal embodies the beginning of a series of long standing injustice committed against him. Michal is a faithful partner who worked to save his life from her father Saul and he is not about to forget her.

You have wanted to make David your king. Now is the time! – Abner’s words seems to hint that he is all along working to resist the expansion of David’s rule to the northern territories because of the legacy of Saul. Now is the time suggests that the tide have changed and he will be pulling all stops towards making David their king. Abner now becomes the spokesman and manager of David’s reunification campaign. Benjamin’s acknowledgment of David as king is significant as the tribe provided Israel’s first king, Saul. David’s reception of Abner and his delegation if any indication of a covenant has set in motion the reunification that cannot be reversed despite Abner’s untimely death.

Truth

1. You cannot strengthen your position by imposing your dominance over others or by peddling your abilities. People, by their own observations must come to recognize God’s endorsement and favor over you and your endeavors. God’s mandate is expressed through your countenance of hope and confidence, your wisdom, and the fact that your path is perpetually smooth. David’s strength begins with God’s anointing and endorsement over his life (see 1 Samuel 16). Then it expands into man’s endorsement: Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. Now is the time”. Apostle Peter says,

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:5-6

The act of humbling before God involves acknowledging God’s sovereignty and Lordship over our lives and being willing to forsake our ways to follow His. Therefore, the believer must first forsake his desire for power and worldly success and embrace God’s destiny for him. The posture of David’s heart is evident in his close encounters with Saul, in that he holds God’s anointed in high esteem and refuse to hurt him. For David, power and dominance is not the goal but to please God in all his ways. Therefore, God exalted him to the position as king.

In our daily endeavors, we must not be given to the desire for higher positions but to serve God faithfully in whatever positions we are entrusted with.

2. God’s mandate in your life cannot be hurried. Your influence increases as God sees your faithfulness and dispense His favor upon you. Many people could not wait to get their hands on the symbols of power. As a result, they fall prey to various temptations and make decisions that lead to their untimely demise. David knew that his time is in God’s hands (see Psalm 31:15) and he resists great temptations that could grant him immediate succession to the throne. If David is crowned before God’s time, he would not have acquired God’s mandate to establish the kingdom. Therefore, we must understand where our joy and blessedness come from. True blessings come not from promotion or monetary returns but from faithfully walking in the will of God all the days of our life. Jesus says,

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:28).

3. Territories helmed by the sons of God will become more and more prosperous. On the other hand, territories held by the sons of darkness will become more chaotic and accursed. The Psalmist says,

Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Psalm 37:1-3.

Many people drawn by the prospects of getting rich quickly got themselves burned in the property and stock markets. However, the sons of God invest their wealth wisely not with the aim of getting rich but to put their money to work for a good course. Many of the rich become embroiled in frauds and shady deals that got the better of them. Under God’s sovereign plans, David’s kingdom becomes stronger, while Saul’s dynasty continues to cede territories to David. Therefore, the sons of God must be patient and let God’s plans take its course.

Applications

1. Are you always thinking of how to get ahead in your company? What does not belongs to you, and that which is gotten in a hurried or dishonest manner will eventually be taken away from you. Humble yourself and be faithful to serve God in your current position and in bringing benefits to all. And God will exalt you in His time.
2. Are you losing hope because the wicked in your country seems to be prospering? Take heart because God promise retribution for the wicked and vindication for the righteous. Continue to stand for the truth by teaching it and by exposing the unrighteous deeds of the wicked. God in His perfect time, will heal the land and restore it according to His glory.

Dear Lord, I seek your face and the passions of your heart. Fill me the Spirit of righteousness and make me an instrument to establish your kingdom in my family and work place. Exalt me to a position of influence in your time so that I could fulfill my destiny to rule with Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.