3. Abner took one of Saul’s
concubines for himself.
That was significant.
Abner really wanted to be king
of Israel, and was using
Ishbosheth.
Abner reached out to David and offered to help
him become king of all Israel.
3
4. 2 Sam 3:12 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 said, “Whose is the land?” --
He was implying that it was his to control.
Join up with me and I will give it to you.
Arrogance!
4
5. 13 And David 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.
Saul had given David’s wife to another man.
That was a deliberate insult to David.
David wanted her back to erase the insult.
5
6. 14 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.
Saul had demanded that price for Michal.
David paid the price.
Michal belonged to David.
No one could keep his property!
6
7. 15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her
husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
16 And her husband went with her along weeping
behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him,
Go, return. And he returned.
Callous treatment of common people
is not a new thing.
7
8. 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of
Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to
be king over you: 18 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. Quoting the Word of God
for his own purpose.
We learn here that the tribes other than Judah
had also wanted David to be King.
Abner and his army had prevented them.
But now he says it is the Will of God. 8
9. 19 And Abner also spake in the ears of (the tribe 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. 20 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.
Abner is working to line up support for David.
David hosted a feast in Abner’s honor.
9
10. 21 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.
So, there’s peace between David and Abner.
But, the real question is
Has Abner changed in
his heart?
Not at all! 10
11. Joab had been out with the army
raiding against some Israelites.
When he returned, he heard about Abner’s visit,
and the treaty he had made with David.
Joab was angry and told David he had done wrong.
He said that Abner had come to spy
and was up to no good.
11
12. Joab took matters into
his own hand, and not
for righteousness sake
Vengeance.
12
13. David was angry and saddened by Joab’s revenge.
He cursed Joab and all his descendants.
David buried Abner in Hebron, and declared a time
of mourning for him, and fasted that day.
He admitted that he should have punished
Joab for his evil deed, but could not.
13
14. David was tender-hearted and had trouble
punishing people whom he loved.
But that is not altogether a bad trait.
Ephesians 4 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away
from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even
as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
14
15. Abner was not a good man.
He was greedy, ambitious, and all about self.
He would have broken his treaty with David.
God would have brought him down,
because he was an enemy to David.
15
16. But Joab’s act of vengeance was not honorable.
Sneaky
Because he thought that Abner needed killing,
and David would not do it,
He took matters into his own hands.
16
17. When we take matters into our own hands,
We take them out of the Hand of God.
Romans 12 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not your-
selves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the
Lord.
Revenge takes many forms:
Hurtful Hurtful Passive
words Deeds aggressive
17
18. Let’s be more like David and less like Joab.
Be not like Abner at all.
Let’s be tender-hearted and kind.
Let’s be open and honest before all.
Be bold; never sneaky.
May we never take matters into
our own hands.
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