Portion For Reading 2 Samuel 1-4
Msg 2 Sam 3:6-21
When Ish-Bosheth falsely accuses Abner of sleeping with one of the royal concubines, Abner defects to David’s court. David welcomes Abner’s support. Abner convinces the other tribes to recognize David’s claim to the throne. Joab, however, seeks revenge for his brother’s earlier death at Abner’s hands, and he stabs Abner in secret. David’s public censure of Joab and mourning for Abner wins Israel’s respect, and two of Ish-Bosheth’s men betray their ruler by presenting David with the severed head of the northern king. David is horrified that they have killed an innocent man, and he publicly executes these men. The united tribes declare David king of Israel.
A. Abner was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul: It seems that Abner supported a weak man like Ishbosheth in power so he could be the power behind the throne. As time went on he increased in strength and influence on the house of Saul.
B. Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine? Ishbosheth accused Abner of a serious crime. This was regarded not only as sexual immorality but also as high treason.
i. “To take the wife or concubine of the late monarch was to appropriate his property and to make a bid for the throne.” (Baldwin)
ii. This might seems strange that there was a controversy over the concubine of Saul, especially because Saul was dead. In their thinking, the king’s bride belonged to him and him alone, even if he was absent. This principle is even more true for Jesus and His bride - the church belongs to no one but Jesus, and it is treason to “take” the bride of Christ as if it were our own possession.
B. Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine? Ishbosheth accused Abner of a serious crime. This was regarded not only as sexual immorality but also as high treason.
i. “To take the wife or concubine of the late monarch was to appropriate his property and to make a bid for the throne.” (Baldwin)
ii. This might seems strange that there was a controversy over the concubine of Saul, especially because Saul was dead. In their thinking, the king’s bride belonged to him and him alone, even if he was absent. This principle is even more true for Jesus and His bride - the church belongs to no one but Jesus, and it is treason to “take” the bride of Christ as if it were our own possession.
Then Abner became very angry: We aren’t specifically told, but Abner’s response leads us to believe that the accusation was false. It is possible that as he was strengthening his hold on the house of Saul he took the concubine as an expression of his power and dominance. It is more likely that because of Abner’s increasing power Ishbosheth felt it necessary to invent this accusation as grounds for getting rid of Abner.
C. If do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him: Abner told Ishbosheth that he would now support David and help David fulfill what the Lord promised - to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David.
i. If Abner knew that David was God’s choice for king, why did he fight against him before this? Abner is a good example of those of us who are know things to be true but we don’t live as if they were true.
ii. Abner did the right thing in joining David’s side but he did it for the wrong reason. Instead of joining David because Ishbosheth offended him personally, he should have joined David because he knew that David was God’s choice to be king.
C. If do not do for David as the Lord has sworn to him: Abner told Ishbosheth that he would now support David and help David fulfill what the Lord promised - to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David.
i. If Abner knew that David was God’s choice for king, why did he fight against him before this? Abner is a good example of those of us who are know things to be true but we don’t live as if they were true.
ii. Abner did the right thing in joining David’s side but he did it for the wrong reason. Instead of joining David because Ishbosheth offended him personally, he should have joined David because he knew that David was God’s choice to be king.
D. Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel: It is significant that this word came from Abner regarding David instead of from David himself. Though he was the rightful king, David would not reign over Israel until they submitted to him freely. He never moved an inch without an invitation.
i. This is an illustration of Jesus’ lordship in our life. He is in fact King of Kings of Lord of Lords. But He chooses (for the most part) to exercise His sovereignty only at our invitation.
· Some do not invite Jesus to rule over anything
· Some invite Jesus to reign over a small area - like “Hebron”
· Some give Jesus reign over everything He has authority over - which is everything
ii. Abner is a good example of someone who eventually surrendered to God’s king. Now he wants to influence others to surrender to God’s king.
i. This is an illustration of Jesus’ lordship in our life. He is in fact King of Kings of Lord of Lords. But He chooses (for the most part) to exercise His sovereignty only at our invitation.
· Some do not invite Jesus to rule over anything
· Some invite Jesus to reign over a small area - like “Hebron”
· Some give Jesus reign over everything He has authority over - which is everything
ii. Abner is a good example of someone who eventually surrendered to God’s king. Now he wants to influence others to surrender to God’s king.
E. Now then, do it! Because of the word the Lord spoke of David, and because it was so right to do, this was something that should be done now. In this sense, it is very much like our commitment to follow Jesus - we should be told, “Now then, do it!”
i. Charles Spurgeon has a wonderful sermon on this text titled, “Now Then, Do It.” In this sermon he shows how the same principles of Israel’s embrace of David as king apply to our relationship with Jesus. “The Israelites might talk about making David king, but that would not crown him. They might meet together and say they wished it were so, but that would not do it. It might be generally admitted that he ought to be monarch, and it might even be earnestly hoped that one day he would be so, but that would not do it; something more decided must be done.” (Spurgeon)
ii. “The sooner it is done the better. Until the deed is done, remember you are undone; till Christ is accepted by you as king, till sin is hated and Jesus is trusted, you are under another king. Whatever you may think of it, the devil is your master.”
i. Charles Spurgeon has a wonderful sermon on this text titled, “Now Then, Do It.” In this sermon he shows how the same principles of Israel’s embrace of David as king apply to our relationship with Jesus. “The Israelites might talk about making David king, but that would not crown him. They might meet together and say they wished it were so, but that would not do it. It might be generally admitted that he ought to be monarch, and it might even be earnestly hoped that one day he would be so, but that would not do it; something more decided must be done.” (Spurgeon)
ii. “The sooner it is done the better. Until the deed is done, remember you are undone; till Christ is accepted by you as king, till sin is hated and Jesus is trusted, you are under another king. Whatever you may think of it, the devil is your master.”
Source: David Guzik