- Sermon Notes
- Scripture
Stronger in the Lord
2 Samuel 3:1-39
Illus. The Look of Strength.
In the Bible, there are many Scriptures, stories, and pictures presented that give us insights into the importance of strength. In Ephesians 6:10 we are told to be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might and then given direction on how to do so by putting on the armor of God. In Joshua 1 we reach about Joshua being told to “be strong,” and that the way to do so is by walking according to God’s word. In the Psalm we read that the Lord is the strength of life, in Deuteronomy 31:6 we read that God’s presence brings strength, 1 Chronicles 16:11, “seek the Lord and His strength” and in Philippians 4:13 we read that for those of us who are in Christ, it is the Lord who strengthens you and me!
When we read the words “strong” or “strength,” they are words in Scripture that carry similar meanings. Strong, or be strong, gives a picture of strength given, one who is enabled with strength, or is increasing or has increased in strength. Strength in Scripture is associated with power, might, force, or dominion.
When we think of strength, most of us likely have a picture in mind. What it looks like for us personally, what it means to “be strong” or “have strength.” And while there are many different aspects of strength that we can decipher, or decide are the keys to real strength, I want to look this morning at what I believe is the most important and most powerful type of strength one could ever pursue and that is strength in the Lord.
At the end of our study last week, we ended on the first verse of 2 Samuel 3 where we read:
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.
As we turn again to this text, we must once again consider what is happening historically. David at this time, was the rightful king of Israel. The Lord had spoken of David taking that seat as King of Israel, and he would take the throne at the time of Saul’s passing. After Saul died, we see that the tribe of Judah immediately anointed David as their king, but most of the people in Israel, 11 of the 12 tribes, chose to anoint and accept a different king, the fourth son of Saul named Ishbosheth.
In chapter two, with the division inside the nation, civil war broke out. David’s men went against the men of Ishbosheth and David’s men were shown to be stronger. A battle broke out and David lost 20 men, but Ishbosheth and his army commander Abner, lost 360 men. Because of the way the battle went, Abner called out to David’s army commander named Joab and proposed a cease fire. Joab accepted the cease fire thinking it could bring peace, but the problem was, there could be no peace between the true king and a counterfeit king.
The ceasefire would only last for a short while, the war would continue, but the house of David would grow steadily stronger, and the house of Saul, steadily weaker. Things are moving toward the anointing of David as king over all of Israel, but in the meantime, there was a battle going on.
People were under the impression that being with the eleven, with the son of Saul, was the selection of strength. But what we see is that it is those who go with God’s selection, and set their sights on what God had spoken who end up growing steadily stronger.
This morning, I want to draw your attention to three ways we can grow stronger in the Lord by gaining insights and understanding from the circumstances and situations we see in 2 Samuel 3.
Read: 2 Samuel 3:1-8
- Source Your Strength from Him
- In the first several verses of this chapter, we get insights into a troubling area of David’s life where he was not strong in, nor was he sourcing his strength from the Lord in. We also learn more about another man, Abner, who wasn’t considering the Lord in any area of his life up to this point.
- The area I want to look at in Davids’s life, is the number of his wives. In chapter 2 last week, we read that David, after being anoint king of Judah, went to Hebron with his two wives.
- Here in verse two of chapter three we read that David now has six wives.
- Later in this chapter he will call for his first wife who is now married to another man to be brought to him, and we know that he will also marry Bathsheba eventually.
- That is a total of 8, and we know that he married even more (2 Samuel 5:13), but we aren’t sure exactly how many.
- Many look at this and ask many questions, so I want to make sure to note that women are often seen as a source of weakness for David, not strength. We will see it, and it goes from bad to ugly.
- What David is doing here by taking on multiple wives is going against God’s design for marriage, nor was it God’s design for David. We know this is true for two reasons:
Genesis 2:24, For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
- We read in Deuteronomy 17:17 the Israelites being told that when get into the promised land and ask the Lord to appoint a king over them, there were specific things that king needed to make sure not to do; one of those things had to do with his wives…
Deuteronomy 17:17, And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, so that his heart does not turn away…
- As we continue through the Old Testament we get descriptions of things people did, it is important to understand the different in Scripture between descriptions and prescriptions, or narrative and instruction.
- When we read the epistles in the New Testament, we are given many instructions and prescriptions; but, in the Old Testament we are given narratives and descriptions.
- It is important for the reader to decipher the difference between what should happen and what did happen.
- This is a description, a narrative, and we know this because it goes against clear direction and instruction from the Lord not only in the Old Testament, but Jesus Himself when He said that marriage is one woman, one man, one flesh (Matthew 19:5).
Joshua 1:8, This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.
Matthew 7:26, Everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
- David, by going against the Lord’s instruction, has placed himself in the middle of a mess, and it is only going to get more messy. We will see this clearly as we continue through second Samuel.
- It is likely that David at that time, believed having multiple wives was a source of strength for him. Ancient kings were look at as “stronger” if they had many wives. They would also use marriage as a way into a family or a way to form a political alliance and that is what many believe is happening when later in this chapter, David calls for the return of his previous wife Michal, a daughter of the house of Saul.
Illus. The appearance.
Galatians 6:7-9, Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.
- In verses six to 8, we see Abner, the army commander for the king of the 11 other tribes of Israel, seeking after the house of Saul to strengthen himself.
2 Samuel 3:6-8, Now it happened that while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was strengthening himself in the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah; and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” Then Abner became very angry over Ish-bosheth’s question and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not let you fall into the hands of David; yet today you call me to account for wrongdoing with that woman?
- As the attention turns to Abner, I want to provide a quick review of what we learned about him last week.
- Abner was the commander of Saul’s army, he has known David for many years and for the last 10 years of Saul’s life, Abner would have been with Saul as he searched for David to take his life.
- After Saul died and David was anointed king of Judah, it was Abner to who went to Ishbosheth, Saul’s fourth son, to make him king over the 11 other tribes of Israel.
- Abner was then the one who challenged Joab (David’s army commander) in chapter two and then went on the run when David’s men began to defeat them.
- Joab’s brother then ran after Abner to try to kill him, but ultimately, Abner ended Asahel’s life.
- Joab then went after Abner and Abner called out to Joab for a ceasefire. This will come back up in this chapter, so it is good to have the back story.
- This is the next time we read about Abner in chapter 3, and he is seen “strengthening himself” in the house of Saul. He did this by sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines.
- A concubine was a wife with less rights. If a man were to sleep with the king’s concubine, it meant that you were trying to seize the throne…It made a political statement, and will come up in later in David’s life with one of his own sons.
- Ishbosheth was not a strong king, Abner knew it and seems to be looking for a way to seize the throne potentially. Abner saw this as a source to gain strength, but once again he was looking for strength in the wrong place.
- He was strengthening himself in a house that was fading away, it was becoming and would continue to become weaker and weaker.
- If we are going to grow steadily stronger in the Lord, we have to look to Him as the source of that strength. That means he is the one we draw from.
Jeremiah 17:5-8,
- A source is a thing or place from which something comes.
Illus. How did you do that?
- Select What He Has Spoken
- After Ishbosheth questions Abner regarding his relationship with Saul’s concubine, Abner responds by removing his loyalty from him.
2 Samuel 3:9-11, May God do so to me, and more so, if as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him: to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba!” And Ish-bosheth could no longer say a word in response to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
- Abner’s words reveal that he knew, and they all knew that David was the one the Lord had anointed as king.
- Abner turns on Ishbosheth, “oh, you question me? Well, now I am turning on you to the true king.”
- Ishbosheth had nothing to say in response because he knew it was true…David was the rightful king.
- Abner knew the truth, but he had set himself against it. When Abner was fighting against David, he was fighting against God’s will, and he knew it.
- He knew the truth, but wasn’t living accordingly, and what do we see? The house he had set up was becoming steadily weaker!
- It wasn’t just Abner who was aware, those who chose to follow the son of Saul knew as well.
- In verses 12 to 16, Abner turns to David to make a covenant with him that just as he told Ishbosheth, he will bring all of Israel to David.
- David made a covenant with him on one condition, that Abner bring Saul’s daughter Michal who Saul had taken away and given to another man, back to him.
- In large part, it seems to be a power play by David, to show that he was a true son-in-law to Saul, but the husband she had been given to is quite sad about it.
- In verse 17 we see that it was not just Abner who knew David was supposed to be king, but so did the elders and people who had chosen against David as their king.
2 Samuel 3:17-19, Now Abner had a consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past you were seeking for David to be king over you. Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken regarding David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hands of all their enemies.’” Abner also spoke to Benjamin; and in addition Abner went to speak to David in Hebron everything that seemed good to Israel and to the entire house of Benjamin.
- Abner reminds the people of what the Lord had spoken, “by the hand of my servant David I will save my people…”
- Abner reminds them that in times past they were seeking David to be king…
- That being true, “Now then, do it!”
- Charles Spurgeon gave a very famous sermon centered on this text, the title was “Now then, do it!”
- His premise was that the people of Israel had been thinking for quite some time that they wanted David to have David as their king, they were thinking about David as king, planning to one day have him as king, they knew he was the anointed king, the king of God’s choosing…Yet when it came to choosing, they chose the wrong king!
- They knew who it was, God had spoken, but they had not selected what God has spoken.
Psalm 10:16, The Lord is king forever and ever…
Psalm 29:10, The Lord sits enthroned as king forever…
Revelation 17:14, He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.
- They knew what the Lord had spoken, but they weren’t decided on it, they weren’t walking according to it.
Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Illus. Yelp review.
Joshua 1:7, Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go.
- When it came to Abner, it seems he was after the king of power and convenience, he knew the truth, but was not walking according to it.
- Make the Lord your source of strength, and find strength in selecting what He has spoken!
III. Seek After What is Right in His Sight
- After going to the elders and some in Benjamin to make David king, Abner visits David.
2 Samuel 3:20-21, Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David held a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. Abner said to David, “Let me set out and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may be king over all that your soul desires.” So David let Abner go, and he went in peace.
- David receives Abner, welcomes him with a reception. Abner wants to go and gather all Israel to David, so that they may make him king so he leaves in peace.
- But a problem arises when Joab finds out…
2 Samuel 3:22-30 And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought a large amount of plunder with them; but Abner was not with David in Hebron, since he had let him go, and he had gone in peace. When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they informed Joab, saying, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go on his way, and he has gone in peace.” Then Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you; why then have you let him go, so that he is already gone? You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to gain your confidence, and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out everything that you are doing.”
- When Joab’s concern at first, is understandable. Joab had a few issues with Abner:
- He had killed Joab’s brother.
- He was a rival commander and had stirred up conflict for the house of David.
- Joab is concerned that Abner is deceiving David and his intentions are not pure.
- Joab decides to take matter into his own hands.
2 Samuel 3:26-27, When Joab left David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know about it. So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel.
- The murder of Joab’s brother had happened the chapter before, and despite the potential possibilities as to why Joab may have been upset about David’s welcome of Abner, here we see the reason Joab struck Abner was on account of his brother…He had not let it go.
- In Matthew 5, Jesus spoke about where murder starts, it starts in the heart.
Proverbs 4:23, Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (NIV)
- David powerfully displays his heart as the chapter ends. And there he displays a part of his heart that was right in God’s sight.
2 Samuel 3:37-39, All the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.”
- I have noted and will continue to make note of the fact that David, though imperfect and flawed, was the one called the Savior of Israel, and in many situations and scenes in his life is seen as a type, or picture of our Savior.
- Abner had the opportunity to follow David. He had the opportunity to choose David as his king, but he selected the house of Saul and the path of personal power and pride. Abner chose to divide from David, to war against God’s chosen king, and what ended up following was great difficulty.
- When Abner had no other options, he turned back in David’s direction and David received him, welcomed him, through a party for him!
- David welcomed him in, and after what happened, David mourns for him.
- The city David was in, Hebron, was a city of refuge, that is where David was. Abner left there, went beyond the gate, and his life was taken away.
- David knew that and he mourned that fact…and through his heart, through his picture, we see a picture of Jesus.
- The picture is not a perfect picture, however, there is only One perfect Savior, there is only one King of King, that is Christ the king.
- Through David, however, we get a picture of Jesus from time to time, of our Savior, who is willing to receive those who once rejected Him, provide a banquet for those who one left and spent all they had far from Him but then turn back to Him, and our Savior who weeps over those who refused to be gathered to Him.
- David here show a posture that is right in God’s sight.
Psalm 19:14, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
- David’s words and meditations were acceptable in God’s sight on that day, and through them, we see great strength.
2 Samuel 3:25, And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.
- David acknowledges his weakness, that the people he was dealing with were too difficult for him, and then he surrenders the situation into God’s hands.
Illus. Who do you look like?
2 Samuel 3:1-39