- Sermon Notes
- Scripture
Choosing the Course God Has Chosen
2 Samuel 2:1-3:1
Illus. Choosing.
This morning we turn to 2 Samuel chapter two, where we will see David anointed king of Judah, an anointing that had been a long time coming. David had been on the course of becoming the next king in Israel for well over a decade of his life. We looked in detail at the backstory surrounding David’s life this past week, but the backstory is important to where we are going this morning, so let’s review what has brought us to the chapter we now turn to.
King Saul was the first anointed king in Israel. He was a king that was put in place after the people in Israel demanded that king be put over them to rule over them and fight their battles. It was a sad situation because up to that point, the Lord was their only king and he would raise up judges to save and continued to make a way for them, but after the appointed prophet, priest, and judge named Samuel began to get up in age and his sons did not follow in his ways, the people of Israel cried out for a king.
Saul was the first king anointed, and at first, things are seemingly going well. He shows a humility, he leads in a military victory, but it wouldn’t end up lasting. He would disregard and disobey the Lord on multiple occasions. Over the course of his disregard for the Lord, we learn that Saul’s kingdom would not endure…That the Lord was looking for a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), that the Lord was rejecting him as king (15:26), that the kingdom would be torn from him and given it to his neighbor, one better than him (15:28).
It is in the next chapter that we see a new king anointed. A young man, likely around the age of 15 at the time, who is called in from the field while tending sheep, and is anointed as king. Though he was anointed as king before the Lord and his family privately, Saul would remain in the seat as king publicly until his death.
We reviewed the last 12 chapters of 1 Samuel last week. Where we saw things get ugly in Israel. David begins serving Saul, fighting in battles, wining the approval of the people. But Saul centers much of his attention on killing David. For over a decade, David is on the run for his life from Saul as public enemy number one. But as we come to the end of 1 Samuel, the lives of Saul and his sons are taken.
In 2 Samuel 1, we saw David mourn for Saul and his sons. It is surprising to see in many way because Saul’s determination to end David’s life had made for difficult days in his life. Still, David displays his heart for Saul and his sons, as well as his heart for the Lord through his response and his words.
As we turn to 2 Samuel 2, the first king of Israel is now dead. This would seem the opportunity for Israel to pursue the course God had given and appoint David the king, since he was the king the Lord had anointed already. But what ends up happening is one tribe, the tribe of Judah, chooses the king God had chosen, but the others choose to go a different way and a civil war in Israel will break out in David’s earliest days as king.
Deuteronomy 17:14-15, “When you enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and you take possession of it and live in it, and you say, ‘I will appoint a king over me like all the nations who are around me,’ you shall in fact appoint a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses.
One tribe would appoint the king God had chosen over them, and the others wouldn’t. The results would end up in difficulty and tragedy. God had given David a kingdom, but inside that kingdom, we will see division, and decision against the king that was given.
As continue our study this morning, it is important to note that as look at the history of the text, that there is an opportunity for application in our lives we must understand and get. Throughout Scripture God is referred to as our King (Psalm 47:6-7, Psalm 29:10; Malachi 1:14), the Lord Jesus is referred to as the “King of Kings” (Revelation 19:16)…In Philippians 2 we learn that ever knee should bow before Him, every tongue confess that He is Lord! Jesus came speaking about the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven and what life should look like when living in it!
That said, this morning, as we see the choices made in 2 Samuel 2 and the results that follow, I want to draw your attention to three choices we must be sure to make when choosing the course God has chosen.
Read: 2 Samuel 2:1-7
From verse one, we recognize that we are in the midst of a transition. The text reads, “it came about afterward,” which begs the question, after what? After Saul and his sons had died and David was in a time of mourning. It is at the transition time that we pick up in the text, and David, knowing it is time to move forward, “inquired of the Lord.”
- Remember to Inquire of Him
- It is at the point of another transition in David live, another turn his story that he is seen inquiring of the Lord.
- One important reality we seen when it comes to the see David inquiring of the Lord in his life, is that when we inquires of the Lord, and then goes forward according to God answer to that inquiry, there is great success in David’s story.
- There were other times in David’s life when he didn’t inquire of the Lord and things didn’t always go so well.
- David inquired of the Lord when specific questions…
2 Samuel 2:1-4(a), Then it came about afterward that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” So David said, “Where shall I go up?” And He said, “To Hebron.” So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his household; and they settled in the cities of Hebron. Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
- Hebron is in Judah, near David’s hometown of Bethlehem and about 20 miles Southwest of Jerusalem and is the highest city in Judah.
- David was still living in Ziklag, which was enemy territory when he heard the news, and so he sought the Lord on what to do next.
- At a point of transition, in need of direction, inquiring of the Lord was once again, step one for David.
- David had missed this step in the past…
1 Samuel 27:1, Then David said to himself, “Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to safely escape into the land of the Philistines…”
- David had experienced going forward without the Lord in weakness, that is how he ended up in enemy territory. Now, he inquires of the Lord in strength.
- In the very next verses we get another opportunity to see the results of David not inquiring of the Lord in every decision.
- Despite the times he didn’t inquire of the Lord, David is known in Scripture as one who frequently did.
- In 1 Samuel 23, David inquired of the Lord four times, again in chapter 30. David is of the Lord here in 2 Samuel 2, chapter 5, and will do so again in chapter 21.
- And it is the times in David’s life when he inquires of the Lord before going forward, and then proceeds according to God’s answer that we see the most success in his life and journey.
Illus. You can still choose.
- Here David is engaging in what he is often seen encouraging others to do throughout the Psalms.
Psalm 37:34, Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are eliminated, you will see it.
Psalm 27:11-14, Teach me Your way, Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not turn me over to the desire of my enemies, for false witnesses have risen against me, and the violent witness. I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord. In the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.
Illus. Why wait?
- It would be easy for us to look at David’s situation and say, why wait? Why delay? You’re the next king! But here, in this decision, David is modeling something….David wants to choose the course God has chosen.
James 1:5, But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Proverbs 26:11-12, Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so is a fool who repeats his foolishness. Do you see a person wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- David inquires of the Lord for be best path forward, he waited, he endured, and he decided on the course God had chosen for him, and upon his arrival to Hebron, David is anointed king over the house of Judah.
2 Samuel 2:4(b)-7, And they told David, saying, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, “May you be blessed of the Lord because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord, and have buried him. And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you; and I also will show this goodness to you, because you have done this thing. Now then, let your hands be strong and be valiant, since Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”
- David, upon becoming king, showed kindness to the men of Jabesh-Gilead who had given Saul a proper burial.
- Saul had rescued them and saved them, they remained loyal to him, showed kindness to him, and in keeping with kindness, David made sure they knew he too would show kindness to them.
- David begins his earliest days as king, showing kindness and choosing the course God had chosen for him.
- Make Sure Your Pursuit Has Been Prescribed by Him
- Though David was anointed king of Judah immediately, things would not happen so quickly for the remaining tribes of Israel.
- Though God had prescribed his choice of king by anointing David, there would be a wrestle for power in the land prior to him being declared the king of all of Israel publicly.
- After the tribe of Judah anointed David king, the 11 other tribes of Judah would choose differently.
- In the very next verse after David tells the of Jabesh-gilead that he has been anointed king in Judah, we read these words…
2 Samuel 2:8-11, But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. And he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, even over all Israel. Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he was king for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
- Reading here about another son of Saul begs a few questions because in 1 Samuel 31 we read that Saul and his sons had been taken out by the Philistines. David is told about it and begins mourning.
- But here we learn that Saul has another son, a 4th son, and Abner has taken him and appointed him king over the 11 remaining tribes of Israel.
- Over the next couple of chapters we will see more of Abner. We were first introduced to him in 1 Samuel 14:50, where we learn that he was Saul’s cousin and the commander of Saul’s army.
- Abner first learned of David after David defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:55-57).
- And Abner was the one who was supposed to be on guard but was sleeping on the job when David had a change to take Saul’s life the second time in 1 Samuel 26. David called him out for that.
- As the commander of Saul’s army, Abner would have personally been amongst those in pursuit of David’s life over the last decade of Saul’s life, and what we know from 2 Samuel chapter 3 is that Abner also knew that the Lord had already said that David was the one who was to be king over Israel (2 Samuel 3:17-18).
- Since he knows this, why did he anoint Saul’s 4th son as king? Answer: power.
- Interestingly, this commander of Saul’s army was curiously missing from the battlefield when Saul was killed.
- For a short time (two years) Ish-bosheth will be king, but what we will see is that Abner is the real power behind the seat.
- Ish-bosheth will prove a weak king, and Abner will make a masked attempt at taking his seat, but it won’t work.
2 Samuel 2:12-17, Now Abner the son of Ner, went from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul. And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, Abner’s men on the one side of the pool and Joab’s men on the other side of the pool. Then Abner said to Joab, “Now have the young men arise and hold a martial skills match in our presence.” And Joab said, “Have them arise!” So they got up and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. And each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.
- What we see happening here is a civil war that breaks out in Israel for the purpose of power in the land.
- The battle is between the land of Judah and the rest of Israel. And it is perpetuated by Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, and Joab, the commander of David’s army.
- Joab, along with his two brothers mentioned in verse 18, is David’s nephew, and the commander of his army (1 Chronicles 2:16).
- These two commander in pursuit of power, decide on a martial skills match. The two groups are on either side of the pool of Gibeon which was a large water reservoir for irrigation.
- They propose a competition, a martial skills match, 12 on 12, winner takes all, wins the battle, wins the civil war, and their side is placed in power.
- What ended up happening, is that all of them thrust each other through, they all fell…No one wins, no victory for either side.
- Though everyone lost in the 12 on 12 battle, the fight continued on. It was a severe battle and the servants of David start taking out some of the men of Israel…So much so that Abner and his men seemingly begin to flee…
2 Samuel 2:18-23, Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel; and Asahel was as swift-footed as one of the gazelles that is in the field. Asahel pursued Abner and did not turn to the right or to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind himself and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” And he said, “It is I!” So Abner said to him, “Turn aside for your own good to your right or to your left, and take hold of one of the young men for yourself, and take for yourself his equipment.” But Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following him. Then Abner repeated again to Asahel, “Turn aside for your own good from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I show my face to your brother Joab?” However, he refused to turn aside; so Abner struck him in the belly with the butt end of the spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died on the spot. And it happened that all who came thereafter to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.
- As Abner and his men flee, Joab’s brother, David’s nephew Asahel whose speed is likened to that of a gazelle, pursued Abner personally.
- Abner looked behind and saw him and made a suggestion to him….For your own good, turn to your left or right, take hold of one of the young men and get his equipment…I other words, you are barking up the wrong tree.
- Asahel was unwilling to turn aside from following and pursuing him.
- Abner knew that he found and killed Joab’s brother, that a blood feud would begin. This is where someone in a family would make it their mission to chase down the person who killed their family member, they were the avenger of blood, that those feuds could go on for generations.
- Asahel would not stop, he would not turn to the left or the right from fighting that fight, and Abner ends up taking his life.
- Joab will seek to take Abner’s life and will succeed in the next chapter…
- As this chapter closes there is a break in the battle of sorts. A recognition that the war they are waging is against their kinsman, and the realization that many were lost in the battle, including Joab’s brother.
- Much of the back and forth can been challenging to see, but as I studied it out this week, I was struck by the fact that the battles taking place weren’t being pursued at the command of the king.
- This is important for us to recognize, because sometimes we want the power, we want the victory, we want charge over territory, but we engage in pursuits that aren’t prescribed by God, and the ways we engage aren’t informed by God.
Illus. Where is your sword?
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- The battle hadn’t been prescribed by the kings. It was two sides, divided, determined to assume power and in full pursuit of waging war against one another.
- What is interesting about the battle that takes place right away is that it is stirred up the army commanders and not the kings.
- Understanding that the 11 tribes of Israel had the 4th son of Saul as their king, David doesn’t take any action to fight his way to the throne or remove him.
- David seems be trusting the Lord’s timing.
Habakkuk 2:3, For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
- David was willing to wait. There have been battles he was willing to fight, and there will be battles he engaged in, but those pursuits are prescribed by the Lord.
- What is the focus of your fight this morning? What is your pursuit? Has it been prescribed by God? It is a pursuit you have come to while choosing the path He has chosen for you?
Illus. Choice.
2 Samuel 3:1, Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David became steadily stronger, while the house of Saul became steadily weaker.
- The house of David became steadily stronger, and the house of Saul steadily weaker.
- The war continued, and though there are parts and pieces that are challenging to see, the reality is that the house of Saul knew that David was the one God had chosen as the next king, it was the house of David that was going to bring victory…But 11 of the 12 tribes chose differently.
- We will see in the next chapter that Abner knew David was supposed to be the king. He knew it all along. Those who chosen to follow the king and course of God’s choosing became steadily stronger, but those who did not, became steadily weaker.
III. Become Steadily Stronger by Trusting the Lord Today
- The house of Saul became weaker, and the house of David, steadily stronger.
Illus. Types.
- There are times where it is challenging the choose the course God has chosen. When it is 11 to one, when we have the promises of God, but must wait on the provision of the promise.
- I encourage you keep inquiring of the Lord, pursue what has been prescribed by Him, and as you do these things, you will grow steadily stronger in Him.
1 John 4:4(b), …greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Illus. Greater.
2 Samuel 2:1-3:1