Ishbosheth was a puppet king ruling at Abner's pleasure. Abner took one of Saul's concubines, revealing his view that Ishbosheth was under his control. When Ishbosheth confronted Abner about this, Abner grew angry and said he could make himself king if he wanted to. Ishbosheth did not respond because he feared Abner. This showed that Ishbosheth had put his trust in a man rather than God.

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2. Ishbosheth was a puppet king
ruling at Abner’s pleasure.
David is King of
Judah.
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3. 2 Samuel 3 1 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.
David and those with him were on God’s
side, working to do the
Will of God.
And that makes all the difference!
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4. The contest between grace and corruption in the
hearts of believers, may fitly be compared to this
warfare.
There is a long war between them, the flesh lusting
against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh;
but as the work of holiness is carried
on, corruption, like the house of Saul, grows
weaker and weaker; while grace, like the house of
David, grows stronger and stronger.
Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary
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5. As we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He
works in us to change our character and make us
more like our Father day by day.
He produces in us the qualities of God:
Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodne
ss, faith (to be unwavering), meekness, and
temperance (self-control in the Power of God.)
The key is our submission to the Lord --
Doing what God wants us to do.
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6. 2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and
his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the
Jezreelitess; 3 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;
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7. 4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and
the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 And the
sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were
born to David in Hebron.
David was forming alliances with marriages.
But that was not the Will of God.
The king of Israel was to depend completely on
Jehovah, God Almighty.
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8. Deuteronomy 17 15 Thou shalt in any wise set him
king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall
choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set
king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over
thee, which is not thy brother. 16 But he shall not
multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to
return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply
horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto
you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that
his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly
multiply to himself silver and gold.
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9. Human logic would say that forming alliances with
other nations by marrying daughters of the king is
the way to go.
Logic would say that having horses and chariots to
make the army stronger is the way to go.
Logic would say that to accumulate wealth is the
way to go for a king to have a strong kingdom.
But God forbade all of these for Israel.
God doesn’t follow human logic!
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10. Psalm 20 7 Some trust in chariots, and some
in horses: but we will remember the Name of
the LORD our God.
Your own personal life will
be made strong through the
Name of the Lord, our God.
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11. 6 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.
7 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?
This act reveals Abner’s mindset
and intentions.
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12. In the North, Abner took Ishbosheth was a
Rizpah, a concubine of puppet king ruling at
Saul, as one of his own, a Abner’s pleasure.
common practice in the
ancient Near East when
one wished to indicate his
succession to a king.
Ish-Bosheth understood
the meaning of the act and
rebuked Abner
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of
the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
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13. 8 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 today with a fault
concerning this woman?
Too much anger shows he knows he’s wrong.
He did see himself as ruler and Ishbosheth as
a puppet on his string.
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14. (TLB) 9-10 May God curse me if I don’t do every-
thing I can to take away the entire kingdom from
you, all the way from Dan to Beersheba, and give it
to David, just as the Lord predicted." 11 Ish-bosheth
made no reply, for he was afraid of Abner.
David needed nothing from Abner.
He said it himself: “Just as the Lord predicted.”
God will give David the kingdom.
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15. Ishbosheth had put his trust in a man.
He should have gotten on God’s side.
(NIV) 2 Chronicles 32 7 "Be strong and coura-
geous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of
the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for
there is a greater Power with us than with him.
8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is
the LORD our God to help us and to fight our
battles." And the people gained confidence from
what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
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16. Men and women will fail you, and even turn
against you, as Abner did Ishbosheth.
But God will never let you down.
Psalm 63 7 Because Thou hast been my
help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I
rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy Right
Hand upholdeth me.
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17. God Almighty is the only One to depend on.
Hebrews 13 5 Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as
ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly
say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what
man shall do unto me.
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18. God will never desert His people, as long
as we put our trust in Him.
We trust through
submission:
Believing and
Live it.
Power Obeying
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