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.

2 Samuel 3:13

2 Samuel 3:13 says, And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.  David agreed to make peace with Abner, but only if Abner brought Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s first wife to him.  Matthew Henry said David still loved her and that she was really his wife under God's plan for marriage.  We may have marriages end today, but this was never God's plan. Verse fourteen adds, And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. David then sent word to Ishbosheth telling him to send Michal to him, since she became his wife when he paid Saul’s dowry.  We know that she loved David then, but I have to wonder how she felt now, since he had allowed her to be married to someone else without attempting to rescue her.  She still had no say in the matter.  If we truly love someone, we should put their safety and happiness above our own, no matter what the situation may be.  Verse fifteen continues, And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.  Ishbosheth did as David asked, taking Michal from her husband.  Though Ishbosheth had been proclaimed king, he was still obeying David’s command.  He was not willing to defy David, and many so called rulers are really afraid of other powerful figures today.  Verse sixteen states, And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.  Phaltiel is the other one in the situation who could be overlooked.  He had his wife taken from him, and followed her while crying to Bahurim.  Still, he knew that she was David’s wife when he married her, so the problem was partly of his own making.  Unless we follow God's plan for marriage, which does give legitimate reasons for divorce, there will always be people who are hurt.  Verse seventeen adds, And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: Abner, I believe still looking out for his best interests, then talked to the elders of Israel, saying that they had sought David as king in the past.  He was making it their idea and not his.  People still do this today, making their getting what they want from us seem like it is our idea to start with.  Verse eighteen continues, Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.  Abner now told them to make David king because God had ordained it.  Of course, this was after he started losing the war with David after he had ordained Ishbosheth king.  If he knew this was God's plan, then he had been in defiance not only of David but of God as well.  It is bad enough if we oppose God's chosen leaders, but I believe it is even worse if we then profess to know that He had called them to start with. Verse nineteen says, And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.  Abner next spoke with the people of Benjamin, his own tribe.  If we are going to switch sides, which is what we do when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, it is always best to let our immediate family know this first.  Verse twenty adds, So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.  This time,  Abner came to David openly and with twenty of his men, and David made a feast to share with them.  Though they had been enemies, they were now on the same side.  We may be enemies of someone today who is not a Christian, but if they accept the salvation of Christ, we need to rejoice with them and welcome them openly.  Verse twenty-one continues, And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.  Abner then told David that he would go and gather all of Israel to serve under David as their king, and David sent him away in peace.  David would then be what God had ordained him to be long before now.  Sometimes,  we may have to wait to become what God has called us to be, but if so, it shouldn't be because of our reluctance to do so.

2 Samuel 3:1

2 Samuel 3:1 says, Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.  Those following David as king and those following Saul’s son Ishbosheth as king continued to fight, but David and his followers grew stronger while those following Saul's son grew weaker weaker.  The followers of Christ may not grow stronger in this lifetime as David did, and though they were all Israelites, he was the one ordained by God. but we will one day have the everlasting victory.  Verse two adds, And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;  We are now told of the birth of some of David's sons, all by different women, and we know this certainly wasn't in accordance with God's plan for marriage and the family.  Christians still make at times commit sins today in terms of marriage and family, but that doesn't mean that God gives up on them and casts them out of His family, but it also doesn't mean that it was ever acceptable to Him nor within His will.  The next few verses list more of David's children and names of their mothers.  Verse three states, And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;  Verse four adds, And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; Verse five continues,  And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.  Verse six states, And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.  The war continued between those following David and those following Saul’s son Ishbosheth, who was basically giving Abner the power.  Abner had anointed him king after all.  Abner had made himself even stronger in the house of Saul.  We do know that there is always someone who will assume the role of authority among those who fight against the followers of Christ today.  Verse seven adds, And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?  Evidently in making himself stronger with those following Ishbosheth, Abner began a relationship with one of Saul's concubines, and Ishbosheth asked him why he had done this.  Ishbosheth was after all the ordained king, even if he was not ordained by God, and therefore had the right to question Abner, but Abner resented it. There is often disagreement and power struggles with those who are not Christians today, but we don't need the same thing to happen among those who are.  Verse eight continues, Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?  Abner asked Ishbosheth if he thought Abner was like a dog with no rights, even though he had kept Ishbosheth from being delivered into David's hand.  Of course, we have no evidence that David ever had any ill intentions toward Ishbosheth, at least before Abner anointed him king and started fighting against David.  People of the world today still often believe that it is their right to do whatever they want to do, even if they aren't the official ruler.  Verse nine states, So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;  Abner basically said that he was the power behind Ishbosheth being king.  He had a strongly elevated opinion of himself, even to the point of defying both David and God to anoint Ishbosheth king.  There are still to many people who are fighting against God today who have an elevated opinion of themselves.  Verse ten adds, To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.  Abner continued to speak about how he had kept the entire kingdom from following David as king.  Verse eleven continues, And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.  Ishbosheth, though anointed king by Abner, but not by God, could not answer Abner, because he was afraid of him.  It would seem that Ishbosheth was more a figurehead than a real king.  Some supposed rulers today are still the same way, fearing those closest to them and being afraid to speak out against them.  Verse twelve concludes, And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.  Abner now sent a messenger to David proposing that he join forces with David and deliver all of Israel to David's rule.  Of course, Abner was still placing himself in a position of importance if not power. Switching sides is nothing unusual in the rulers of the world today.