Day 97 – 2 Samuel 3:6-18
Scripture Review
2 Samuel 3:6-18
"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." (2 Samuel 3:6)
Abner is strengthening his position inside Saul's house. He has been Saul's captain. He set up Ishbosheth. Abner's influence was central to Saul's remaining house, which helps explain why Ishbosheth's kingdom depended so heavily on him.
"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?" (2 Samuel 3:7)
Ishbosheth asks Abner why he has gone in unto his father's concubine. In a royal house, this was not a small accusation. To take a king's concubine could look like a claim upon the king's place. To me this shows how fragile Ishbosheth's throne really is. He feared Abner, yet he accused him. Abner was supposed to be his strength, but now that strength becomes a threat.
"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?" (2 Samuel 3:8)
Abner is furious. "Am I a dog's head?" He speaks like a man insulted after years of service. He reminds Ishbosheth that he has shown kindness to Saul's house and has not delivered him into David's hand.
This statement tells us more than Abner may have intended. He admits he had the power to hand Ishbosheth over. The king is weak, and the captain knows it. Abner's anger exposes the real structure of the kingdom. Ishbosheth wears the title, but Abner holds the weight.
"So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;" (2 Samuel 3:9)
Now Abner says the thing he should have acted on much earlier. He admits the LORD had sworn to David. That is stunning. Abner knew. He knew David was the LORD's chosen man, yet he had spent years strengthening Saul's house against him.
"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." (2 Samuel 3:10)
Abner's says the kingdom is to be translated from Saul's house and David's throne is to be set up over Israel and Judah. "From Dan even to Beersheba" means the whole land, north to south.
He speaks good theology now. He sounds like a man on David's side. I can't help but notice his possible motive. Abner is moving toward the right king, but it is only because of anger.
That does not mean God cannot use it. God often overrules crooked motives to advance His straight purpose.
"And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him." (2 Samuel 3:11)
Ishbosheth can't answer. He fears Abner. The king is silent before his own captain.
That is a sad picture of weak leadership. Ishbosheth challenged Abner, but he could not stand under Abner's response. He had position without strength. Title without courage. A throne without authority.
"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." (2 Samuel 3:12)
Abner now sends messengers to David. "Whose is the land?" That question almost sounds like a challenge and a confession at the same time. He offers his hand to bring all Israel to David.
The man who helped keep Israel divided is now offering to help unite it. The falling out between Ishbosheth and Abner has resulted in Abner deciding to transfer his allegiance to David and promised to bring Israel with him. A heart after God must be wise here. David does not need to be bitter, but he also does not need to be blind.
"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." (2 Samuel 3:13)
David agrees, but he puts one requirement on the table. Abner must bring Michal, Saul's daughter. David will not meet him face to face until this is done. Michal was David's lawful wife. Saul had taken her from David and given her to another man. David is asking that a wrong be corrected. This also publicly ties David again to Saul's house, not as an enemy stealing the kingdom, but as the rightful son-in-law whose place had been violated.
"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." (2 Samuel 3:14)
David sends directly to Ishbosheth: "Deliver me my wife Michal." He reminds him of the price paid: "an hundred foreskins of the Philistines." David had earned this marriage in danger and blood, when Saul hoped the Philistines would kill him. David does not beg. He claims what is rightfully his.
"And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish." (2 Samuel 3:15)
Ishbosheth obeys. He sends and takes Michal from Phaltiel. Phaltiel is called "her husband," though David has just called her "my wife." The situation is painful because sin has made it complicated. Saul's unlawful arrangement has produced a human attachment that now must be broken.
Sometimes doing right after years of wrong still hurts. That does not make the wrong arrangement right. It just shows that sin grows thorns.
"And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned." (2 Samuel 3:16)
Phaltiel follows behind her weeping. He goes as far as Bahurim until Abner tells him, "Go, return." And he returns.
The Bible simply records his tears. In the middle of the alignment on the kingdom, there is a man walking behind a woman, weeping. That is the human cost inside political sin. Yes, David is right to have Michal restored. Yes, Saul's wrong must be corrected. But there is still grief on the road to Bahurim. Sin makes righting the matter painful for people who may not have started the wrong.
"And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:" (2 Samuel 3:17)
Abner now speaks to the elders of Israel. He reminds them they had wanted David before. "Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you." This is not a brand new thought in Israel. They already knew David was the better man.
Abner is now using his influence to turn the elders. The same strength he once used to uphold Saul's failing house, he now uses to move Israel toward David. God can take influence that once worked against His purpose and turn it toward His purpose. But Abner's delay still cost the nation dearly.
"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." (2 Samuel 3:18)
"Now then do it." That is the sermon Abner is preaching. He tells them to act on what the LORD has spoken.
This verse is powerful because Abner points to the LORD's word concerning David: "By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel." How many times do we know what the LORD has said, but we do not do it? Obedience delayed too long becomes damage spread across other lives.