2 Samuel 5:17

2 Samuel 5:17 says, But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.  After the Philistines heard that David had been made king, they came seeking him, and not to congratulate him.  They were ready to kill him since he was now the leader of all Israel.  If we make a stand for God, even if we aren't an important part of God's kingdom, Satan will still try to destroy us.  Verse eighteen adds, The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  Verse nineteen adds, And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.  David did not just go against the Philistines without first asking God if he should and if he would be successful.  God answered yes to both questions, but I really believe that he should have stopped at the first question, and so should we.  If God tells us to do something, we should do it without being assured of success in this lifetime.  Verse twenty adds, And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.   When David fought the Philistines and defeated them, he gave all the credit to God.  He did not brag about his own abilities.   As followers of Christ when we have success of any kind in our life, we should always give God the credit and I believe that we should always be wary of those who exalt themselves.  Verse twenty-one continues, And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.  The Philistines had left their images, or idols, behind, and David and his men burned them.  We need to get rid of all the idols we may have in our life if we are to be successful in our spiritual life.  Verse twenty-two states, And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  After the initial defeat the Philistines returned ready to fight once more.  Some things that we may believe we have defeated in life may come back ready to battle us again.  Verse twenty-three adds, And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.  This time when David asked God if he should go up against the Philistines, God said no.  David was to go behind them and wait.  We may not always be led to directly confront those who we are at war with who stand against God, but may be told to wait until God acts.  Verse twenty-four continues, And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. but to come up at them from behind instead.  Matthew Henry says that God was telling David that He Himself would defeat the Philistines, and that David would act only when God gave the signal.  At times God may defeat our enemies without our even realizing it.  Verse twenty-five concludes, And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.  David did as God told him to do and defeated the Philistines.  If we do as God directs us to do, we will always be successful spiritually, which is all that really matters. 

2 Samuel 5:6

2 Samuel 5:6 says, And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.  When David and his men went to Jerusalem, the Jebusites who lived there denied them entry unless the took away the lame and the blind, which David had referred to their gods as.  They were basically saying that their gods were more powerful than David and his God.  Some people still believe that what they worship or believe is more powerful than GOD.  Verse seven adds, Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.  Then, we are told, in spite of the boast of the Jebusites, David took the strong hold of Zion, which is the city of David.  I don't believe it was just by his power that David did this, but by the power of God.  What God has given us, which is everlasting life with Him, the world can never take away from us. Verse eight continues, And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.  David offered to make anyone who slew the Jebusites and the blind and lame which he hated with his soul referring to the idols that he would make them a chief and captain, and the people responded by saying the blind and lame would not come into the house.  Matthew Henry says it is possible that they put the blind and lame on the wall as lookouts to show their derision for David and his power.  Whatever the reason, the Jebusites said David could not come in unless he killed them.  We should not be surprised when people mock Christians today believing that our God is powerless to help us.  Verse nine states,  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.  David and his men took the fort, and he lived there.  He called Jerusalem the City of David and built all around it.  We as followers of Christ do not have a place here on earth that is really our home but have an everlasting home in heaven.  Verse ten adds, And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.  We are told that David grew great and that the LORD God of hosts was with him, but I believe this is reversed.  The LORD God of hosts was with him, so David grew great.  As Christians, we don't grow great and then have God with us, but any greatness we may have is because God is with us to empower us.  Verse eleven states, And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.  Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees and carpenters, and they built David a house.  Matthew Henry says that the Israelites were not much experienced at buildin so this was a real blessing, and he adds that the palace was no less grand for having been built by strangers.  We as non Jews are called on to build the church, God's house or community here on earth, and it is none the worse for the fact that we are strangers to the Jewish religion.  Verse twelve adds, And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. David, who had years before been ordained as king of Israel by Samuel under the leadership of God finally understood that he was king of Israel.  Hopefully, when God calls us to a position of service it will not take us years to understand this.  Verse thirteen says, And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.  Of course, after being told that God had anointed him to be king, David acted outside of His will of God.  He took more wives and concubines and had more sons and daughters, yet he was called a man after God's own heart.  We may be people of great faith and still not always live according to God's law but that doesn't make it acceptable if we do.  Verse fourteen adds, And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem;  Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,  Verse fifteen continues, Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,  Verse sixteen concludes, And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.  We are told the names ten more of David's sons, one of whom was Solomon.  Many of his sons we know little about, but we do about Solomon.  Being the child of a person of great faith doesn't ensure that we will also be well known or even a person of faith. 

2 Samuel 5:1

2 Samuel 5:1 adds, Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.  All the tribes of Israel sent representatives to David in Hebron.  If we are fighting with our fellow followers of Christ, we need to pray that someone, if not we ourselves, will attempt to get together with those we have been fighting with and call for peace.  Being united as Christians is the best way to glorify God. They reminded David that they were all a part of the same family of God.  We may need to be reminded of that today as well, but I don't believe that David had ever forgotten it.  He had never initiated the battles but had actually done all he could to avoid them.  Verse two adds,  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.  These leaders of Israel acknowledged that even when Saul was king, David had successfully led the fight against the enemies of Israel.   Instead of fighting, we should acknowledge the good that our fellow believers that we might be fighting with have done for God's kingdom.  Verse three continues, So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.  All the elders of Israel came together to David and made a league, or covenant, with him and anointed him as king of all of Israel.  Of course, God through Samuel had already done this long before now, but the people of Israel were finally catching up with God's will, we might say.  Too often, we run behind God's will because we are so caught up in our own plans that we may even attribute to God.   Just because we think we are doing what God wants, we had better be certain that we are not just following our own understanding instead of His.  Verse four states, David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.  David was no longer the youth who had killed Goliath but was now thirty years old, and he ruled as king of Israel for forty years.  We may be called early to a position of service in God's kingdom and not immediately respond to the call, but we need to pray that we will one day and the sooner we do the better.  I believe that some calls, like the call into the ministry or to preach is a lifelong call, no matter if we fall badly along the way.  Verse five adds, In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. For seven and a half years David ruled at Hebron over just the house of Judah and then for thirty-three years he ruled over all of Israel at Jerusalem. Ruling over all of Israel was God's plan for David when he first anointed him king, but it took the people of Israel, and maybe even David himself, a long time to reach that point.  We need to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit so that we do not waste time getting to where God wants us to be.  

2 Samuel 4:9

2 Samuel 4:9 says, And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,   David began to speak to Rechab and Baanah under the authority of God, or at least swearing by His name and citing Him as his authority.   I really am not sure that we should ever swear by God to justify what we have done or about to do without first praying about it.  God may have revealed to David what to do, but we are not told this.  Verse ten adds, When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:  What David told them was probably not what they wanted to hear.  He said that when one brought him news about Saul’s death, claiming to have mercifully killed him and expecting a reward, that David took hold of him instead.  People may still expect us to reward them for doing something that they believe will benefit us, whether it is God's will that it be done or not.  Verse eleven adds, How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?  David said if he had taken hold of, or killed, the person bringing him news about Saul’s death and his involvement in it, how much more should he demand their blood, or death, for killing Ishbosheth.  David called Ishbosheth a righteous man whom they killed while he was in his bed.  Whether or not Ishbosheth was righteous, he had been anointed king of Israel, so he certainly didn't deserve to die the way he did.  If we destroy someone that we pronounce an enemy of God looking for personal reward, we had best first make sure that we are doing what God wants us to do.  Verse twelve concludes, And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.  David had his troops kill these two, cut off their hands and feet, and put their bodies on public display.  Though this would certainly tend to keep others from acting on their own to do something that they thought would please David and get themselves some sort of reward,  I don't believe that we should make a public display of those who may have died in the battle against evil today.  If they die in self-righteousness and without accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, we have failed in our calling to reach them for God and we should be saddened instead of rejoicing or celebrating.  David had the head of Ishbosheth buried in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.  Abner and Ishbosheth may have opposed David in life, but he honored them in death.  At times, we may have other Christians oppose us in life, and these were all a part of God's Chosen People, but that doesn't mean that we are to want their death, and we should never dishonor them when they die.  I personally believe this would have included Rechab and Baanah.  Of course, times were much different then, but God was and is the same. 

2 Samuel 4:1

2 Samuel 4:1 says, And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.  When Saul’s son Ishbosheth, who had been appointed king by Abner, heard that Abner was dead, he was very afraid.   Abner had been the power behind the throne, and now he was gone.  People may be perfectly willing to assume the role of a leader until they are left alone and actually have to rule by their own power.  Verse two adds, And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerotmayhite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:  Still only referred to as Saul’s son, Ishbosheth had two captains with him still, so at this point he didn't appear to be without help.  Verse three continues, And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)   We should not be surprised if those who have been serving a particular individual whom they put their faith in eventually prove to be more devoted to that individual than to God and those that they are supposed to serve, as these two would prove to be. Verse four concludes, And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.  Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who was five years old and lame.  His nurse took him and fled, likely fearing that he would be a target of execution now that there was little protection.  It then says that in the nurses haste to flee, that Mephibosheth fell and he became lame.  Matthew Henry points out that even though he was the rightful heir to the throne under man's law of succession and was being well cared for by a nurse, he was not immune to a lifelong disability, so we should thank God for our healthy children if we are blessed enough to have them.  Verse five states, And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.  The two captains who remained came around about noon and found Ishbosheth still in bed.  Matthew Henry points out that instead of being up and taking charge at this time as a king should, Ishbosheth was still in bed at noon.  Those who have been relying on others to keep them in power may suddenly lose all heart once that person or those people are gone, but as Christians we can be sure that our source of power, God Himself, will never leave us powerless.  The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers us always in this life.  Verse six adds, And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.  Rechab and Baanah came into Ishbosheth`s house under the presence of getting some wheat and killed him instead.  It seems they were more loyal to Abner than they were to Ishbosheth and they thought they would gain favor with David by doing this.  We should never do things for self-glory and we certainly shouldn't do things without first seeking God's guidance in the matter.  Verse six continues, For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.  Rechab and Baanah killed Ishbosheth as he lay in the bed and beheaded him.  They didn't even give him a chance to defend himself.  We may still be ambushed by those who we think to be friends if it somehow serves our purpose, but we must never be the one doing the betraying.  Verse eight concludes, And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.  They brought Ishbosheth's head to David, thinking this would bring them honor from David.  They assumed David would be pleased, but he had been doing all he could to prevent killing Saul or his descendants.  We may do things that we think are going to bring us honor with the one we are doing it for that they never wanted done in the first place, especially if they are done without consulting God or those we are supposedly doing them for.

2 Samuel 3:28

2 Samuel 3:28 says, And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:   When David heard of the death of Abner, he pronounced his kingdom and himself innocent of his death.  Since David and Abner had opposed each other in the past, people may have assumed that David had used their making peace as a ruse to have Abner killed while his guard was down, but David said neither he nor anyone acting under his orders was responsible for his death.  People still may at times use the name of Christian leaders to attempt to get their way, even if it is not God's way.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.  David said that the consequences of killing Abner should fall on not only Joab but his whole house as well.  Though Matthew Henry seems to say that this was a delayed justice which hurt even more, we know that no one else is punished for our sins nor are we punished for theirs.  Verse thirty adds, So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.  David said Joab and Abishai had slain Abner to avenge their brother's death, though we aren't really told that Abishai was involved.  As followers of Christ, we should never act out of revenge toward our fellow believers, and we certainly should never want them dead.  I believe this should apply not just to our fellow Christians, but to everyone.  We are called to share the gospel and love our neighbors.  Verse thirty-one states, And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.  David told Joab to sincerely mourn the death of Abner, even though he was the one who had killed him.  We should always mourn the death of a fellow Christian, and Abner and Joab were both a part of the nation of Israel, God's chosen people.  David joined in the mourning.  Verse thirty-two adds, And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. When Abner was buried, David lifted up his voice in mourning and wept, and the people joined him.  We need to mourn the death of our fellow believers today, especially those who have been great warriors in God's army.  Verse thirty-three says, And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?  As David lamented Abner, he asked if he had died as a fool.  Verse thirty-four adds, Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.  David said that Abner did not die as a fool nor as one deserving of death but as one who put his trust in someone who was supposed to be an ally.  Hopefully, we will never be betrayed by our fellow Christians, especially if it is done as revenge for some perceived harm wechave done to them.  Verse thirty-five states, And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.  The people tried to get David to eat, but he said let God strike him down as well if he ate anything before the sun went down.  His mourning of Abner was not just for show but was sincere.  We should always be sincere when we mourn for people and not just go through the motions for show.  Verse thirty-six adds, And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.  The people took notice of David's sincere mourning and were pleased by it.  Verse thirty-seven continues, For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.  Matthew Henry says this convinced them that David was in no way involved in Abner’s death, though that wasn't why he did it.  Verse thirty-eight states, And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?  David asked if the people didn't know that a great man of Israel had fallen that day.  Even though they had their differences in the past, David recognized the loss of a great warrior for Israel who had been killed by the betrayal of one of his supposed allies, if not friend.  No matter if we have been at odds with our fellow believers in Christ, we should be saddened by their passing, especially if they are unjustly slain.  This should apply to Christians everywhere who die unjustly and not just those who are closest to us. Verse thirty-nine adds, And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.  David said though he was anointed king, he was made weak by the treachery of Joab and Abishai and that God would deal with them.  We should never seek revenge on our but should leave any punishment for sin up to God. 

1 Samuel 3:22

1 Samuel 3:22 says, And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.  When Joab returned after a successful pursuit of some troops, Abner was not at Hebron, because David had sent him away in peace.  Joab was a leader in David’s army, and he hated Abner because he had killed his brother,  even though he did it reluctantly.  Sometimes, Christians can hold grudges against their fellow Christians for something that happened in the past or even because thay feel their position in the church is threatened by them.  Verse twenty-three adds, When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.  Those who were with Joab brought him news of Abner making peace with David.  This was not good news to Joab.  If we share the news that those we hate or dislike have made peace with a fellow Christian over past differences, we may tend to not think of this as good news, even though we should.  Verse twenty-four continues, Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?  Joab came to David questioning why he had sent Abner away.  He would have preferred that Davhad killed Abner instead of sending him away in peace.  We need to remember that in spite of the differences, they were all a part of God's Chosen people.  Abner had not been there when Samuel at God's direction anointed David as king, so he may have thought that Saul's son was the legitimate heir to the throne.  Christians can still have disagreements today with both believing they are right, but if so, we should rejoice and not be angry if they reach a state of peace with each other.  Verse twenty-five concludes, Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.  Joab basically accused David of not knowing what he was doing.  He accused Abner of coming there to spy on David.  He should have trusted David’s judgment instead, but that didn't agree with his desire that Abner be killed.  We cannot allow personal feelings about someone keep us from welcoming them into God's family or them mending relationships if they have been at odds with our fellow Christians and us.  We should also never believe that our opinion is always right.  Verse twenty-six states, And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.  After he left David, Joab sent messengers to Abner asking hiim to meet him and David knew nothing about this.  Matthew Henry says that Joab had the messengers say that David was the one who authorized the meeting.  Hopefully, if we are involved in something that is really only being done for our personal revenge, we will not use other Christians to achieve our purpose.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.  When Abner returned, Joab took him aside as if he wanted to talk to him, but ambushed and killed him instead to avenge the death of Asahel.  Of course, not only had Abner not ambushed Asahel, he had done his best not to fight him at all.  Instead of challenging Abner to a fight to settle their differences, which would still not have been in keeping with David’s making peace with him, Joab killed him without even giving him as chance to protect himself.  We certainly don't need to act underhandedly when we deal with our fellow Christians, even if we believe they have done us serious harm.