INTRODUCTION: Today's lesson is going to be a bit different. First it was written and will be taught by my husband Chris. This passage is all about war. I found I had a hard time making sense of it. After struggling with it I asked if Chris would help with it and he graciously agreed to tackle it. I thought it would be helpful to have a mans perspective in this lesson. Second, this week we are going to tackle two and a half chapters. We won't read every word, so I challenge you to spend sometime reading the rest of it on your own. I pray that as we study this challenging passage today that we are personally challenge to live mightily for Christ.
Question of
the Day – Who has been influential in your life?
2 Samuel 2:8
– 4:12 – Period of Civil War
Key Players:
Abner - Commander-in-chief Saul’s army; “the most distinguished man in Israel”; was rebuked by David as incompetent when
the water pitcher & spear were taken
Ish-Bosheth - Saul’s youngest son (born during his reign); not noted as a leader – the least capable
of Saul’s sons
Joab - Commander of David’s army; David’s nephew
Events:
Abner
installs Ish-Bosheth as king over 11 of 12 tribes (2 Sam 2:8-11)
Knows that David is anointed to be King
After hunting him for years, he cannot
accept David as King
He was influenced by Saul to despise
David
He was motivated by his own ambitions
and desire for power
Field of
Daggers (Helkath Hazzirum) Battle (2 Sam 2:12-16)
Each side picked their best 12 and
matched them up
Not sure this went as planned
Commentaries suggest that there was
some “cheating” causing things to go wrong
Resulted in an ongoing battle
Asahel
killed by Abner (2 Sam 2:17-32)
During this battle, a scene is captured
Asahel - noted as very athletic and fast - is pursuing Abner
Abner begs him to go after someone else - why?
Experience vs Exuberance
Respect for Joab’s skill as a fighter
Wants to avoid a blood feud with Joab
Abner knows of family connection to
David - this is his nephew
Period of
War - One house grows stronger while the other becomes weaker (2 Sam 3:1-5)
Saul’s family had been in power for
more than 40 years while David power came from the people
Ongoing skirmishes between Judah and
the rest of Isreal was dynasty vs dynasty
Ish-Bosheth proves himself to be an
ineffective leader - Abner grows resentful of Ish-Bosheth
Abner realizes that he has hitched his
ambition to the wrong horse
Abner
accused of taking one of Saul’s concubine (2 Sam 3:6-11)
Some commentaries suggest that the
accusation was true so why the vehement response?
This was an act of assumption of
power. The custom was to take the former
leader’s wife/concubine as a demonstration of your assumption of their
power. If it was true, then this was a coup by Abner
Regardless of the truth of the allegation, Ish-Bosheth’s rebuke triggered a shift
in Abner’s allegiance and sealed his fate
Abner’s
defection from House of Saul (2 Sam 3:12-21)
Abner offers David a chance to re-unify
Israel
David makes a demand for Michal before
he will even see Abner
Request is made of Ish-Bosheth not Abner
Michal’s current husband isn’t happy
about the plans
In Abner’s conversation with the
Elders, he notes their desire to have David as King
It is noted that he specifically met
with the tribe of Benjamin and gained their support - this was Saul’s tribe
This elevated Abner in David’s eyes
Abner’s power and influence over the
Tribes is demonstrated in this event
David throws a celebratory party for
Abner and his men in a show of peace
Abner’s
death at the hands of Joab (2 Sam 3:22-39)
Joab has been out for a bit of merry
plundering
He is not happy when he hears about
Abner’s visit, being accepted and the party
Lures him back to Hebron and kills him
Hebron was a City of Refuge so this act
of revenge was not permitted
David responds by:
Cursing Joab and his family
Declaring a national day of mourning
Making Joab and the warriors lead the
funeral procession
Buried Abner with full military honors
Ish-Bosheth’s
death & David’s response (2 Sam 4:1-12)
With Abner gone, Ish-Bosheth is
vulnerable and knows it
Assassins go to his home and kill him
They bring his head to David as a
trophy hoping to gain his favor
David’s response is consistent!
Life
Applications:
People around us - parents, friends and enemies - influence in our lives. What lessons can take away from Abner's story?
For the third time, we see David's reaction to "trophies" that people brought to him. What "trophies" do people bring us? Do we react as decisively as David?
David allows God's plan to unfold in spite of the turmoil and war. History shows that regime change is often accompanied by blood shed and civil war - think of our own country's birth. Can we learn anything from David's actions during this period?
Ish-Bosheth installed as king of 11/12ths of Israel
Respect shown Abner
Restraint in response to Joab killing of Abner - was this right or wrong?
Remember the effect of David's rebuke of Abner
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