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As the LORD promotes David in the nation of Israel after Saul’s death, not everyone agrees with God’s will. David must contend with trouble in the deep state. The old guard of the previous administration under Saul has deep roots. Abner was Saul’s cousin and also his right hand man, chief of staff, head of all military operations, and primary counselor. The only thing Abner seems to care about is power.
David is promoted by the tribe of Judah (vss 1-4)
David’s kindness to Saul’s family (vss 5-7)
Abner’s opposition (vss 8-11)
Bloodthirsty Joab (vss 12-17)
- Zeruiah is David’s sister. Her sons are David’s nephews.
- Joab is David’s nephew and a very skilled military leader.
- He is not a diplomat; he is a shark that smells blood continually.
Young zealot Asahel (vss 18-24)
- Asahel is also David’s nephew.
- Zeal without knowledge.
David’s forces are far superior to Abner’s army (vss 25-32)
Lessons
- Just because things are the way they are doesn’t mean they are the way God wants them to be.
- That shouldn’t have to be said, but it does.
- Though God regretted putting a throne in Israel at that time, David was his choice. But David was not the choice of the nation.
- Not everyone is happy with God’s blessing.
- Why? Sometimes God’s blessing means your demotion. Certainly when it comes to eternal life and righteousness that’s true.
- Abner is not happy about God’s blessing on David’s life.
- What fuels opposition to God is largely unseen
- Abner is the power behind the rival king he sets up. So the face of the kingdom is not the power of the kingdom.
- This is a principle whether for evil or good that what you see is not the moving force.
- You may meet people who have bad health, poor physical condition, poor mental condition, but are a great blessing.
- Outer man perish, inner man strengthened day by day. The driving principles in my life don’t come from what you can see.
- They shall narrowly look upon thee and say, is this the man that did shake the nations?
- Beauty is vain
- Fundamental change has a way of revealing what’s in the heart
- God’s promise to David is being purified through the whole mess.
- David is the only one with clean hands in this chapter.
- Abner is not clean. Joab is not clean.
- People fighting each other and there are no good guys. It is the description of the world.
- But what is distilling to the surface is the word of God.
