2 Samuel 2:29-30 & 2 Samuel 3:1 Civil War, the Flesh verses the Spirit

 ”Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim. So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭29‬-‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.“ ‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. There were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel: 2 Samuel 2:17 told us Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David, but this passage shows us just how badly they were beaten. Abner and the army of Ishbosheth lost 360 men to 20 in the army of David.

b. There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: This shows how wrong it was for Joab to accept Abner’s appeal for a cease-fire at the battle of The Field of Sharp Swords. The fact was that they couldn’t just get along, and that there could be no peace between the rightful king, David, and the pretender to the throne, Ishbosheth. The cease-fire seemed to make things better, but in reality, it only made things worse and it led to a long war.

i. When we try to make peace between King Jesus and king self within us, the result is a long, bitter war. It is so much better to simply surrender and submit to the reign of Jesus.

ii. “In the lives of many Christian people today there is raging, literally, a civil war. The flesh - the kingdom of Saul, struggles with the spirit - the kingdom of David, and the conflict is bitter. We do everything we possibly can to hold up the tottering kingdom of self, so that it might exist just a bit longer. If only we could preserve some rights; if only we could have at least part of our own way; if only we could keep this or that at any cost! We feel we must bolster up this kingdom of self, that we cannot let ourselves be crucified with Christ.” (Redpath)

c. David grew stronger and stronger: The increasing strength of David and increasing weakness of Saul’s house did not begin when Saul died. It began when God first chose David and withdrew His Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:13-14). (Guzik)

Civil War, the Flesh verses the Spirit

Joab and Abner gave peace a chance but it didn’t work because Ishbosheth wanted to be king over God’s anointed king, David.

My wife and I lead a twelve step program at our church called the Life Recovery Bible Group and it’s for anyone with hurts, hang ups and habits.

Step 3 is “We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.”

Our civil war is the flesh verses the Spirit which are constantly at war within us and Paul struggled with this too!

”For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.“ Romans‬ ‭7‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Surrendering our will to Jesus is a big step in healing and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us to remake us into the image of Jesus Christ.

It is said that Jesus is the potter and we are the clay.

Are you allowing the Potter to reshape you into His image?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 2:24-28 Give Peace a Chance!

 ”Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon. Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?” And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore.“ II Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner: Now more than the cause of David motivated them. They wanted to avenge the killing of their brother Asahel.

b. Shall the sword devour forever? When his armies were in full retreat and ready for a final do-or-die stand – and when two angry brothers wanted blood revenge – Abner found it easy to make the plea for peace. It was certainly to his advantage to give peace a chance.

c. Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still: Joab agreed to this cease-fire, probably to both rest his exhausted army and to avoid a long, bloody civil war.

Give Peace a Chance!

Let’s face it, our world is consumed by too many wars! I believe advisories should sit down with a third party and work out their differences especially if it saves lives!

Blow the trumpet and let’s make the plea for peace!

The world may not have peace but we can find the gift of peace in Jesus.

The Gift of His Peace

”Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.“ ‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

My heart is not troubled, neither afraid because I know the world is not my home.

Do you have His peace?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 2:18-23 Commanders

 ”Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.” And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?” However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.“ ‭‭

II Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The three sons of Zeruiah: Zeruiah was David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2:16). Joab and Abishai and Asahel were the nephews of David, but since David was the youngest of eight sons, they may have been about the same age or older than David.

b. Asahel pursued Abner: In the pressure and confusion of battle, Asahel got close to Abner, the commander of Ishbosheth’s armies. It came down to a simple chase, and if Asahel caught up to Abner, he would surely kill him.

c. Lay hold of one of the young men and take his armor for yourself: It seems that Asahel pursued Abner in part for the glory of killing the commander of Ishbosheth’s army and taking his armor as a trophy.

d. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab? Abner first asked Asahel to turn back out of concern for his own safety. This didn’t make much sense to Asahel because it seemed that Abner was at the disadvantage. Abner also appealed to Asahel on the ground of military honor – that officers should not strike down officers, especially when it might lead to ugly retribution and the danger of leaderless armies.

i. Yet, Asahel refused to turn aside. Abner’s plea didn’t work – though perhaps it should have. Asahel was too single-minded in his determination to kill Abner and crush the armies opposing David.

e. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach…he fell down there and died on the spot: Clearly, Abner killed Asahel in self-defense – it was the only thing he could do. Yet his concern (How then could I face your brother Joab?) was entirely justified, and Joab will make it his passion to avenge his brother’s death. (Guzik)

Commanders

Abner was the commander of Saul’s army. 

Joab was the commander of David’s army.

“Joab will make it his passion to avenge his brother’s death.” Even though “Abner killed Asahel in self-defense” (Guzik)

David respected Abner but now there will be a biblical version of the Hatfield and McCoys!

It takes a special kind of person who won’t avenge themselves. 

I’ve been guilty of thinking about it. Have you?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 2:12-17 Fierce Battle

 ”Now Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. So they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” So they arose and went over by number, twelve from Benjamin, followers of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David. And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon. So there was a very fierce battle that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Joab the son of Zeruiah: Joab was apparently one of the 400 men who joined David at Adullam Cave (1 Samuel 22:1-2), or he joined with David during this general period.

· Joab had two notable brothers: Abishai and Asahel.

· Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were David’s nephews, the sons of David’s sister Zeruiah (1 Chronicles 2:16).

· Joab had a long and checkered career as David’s chief general.

b. Abner said to Joab: This was a fascinating confrontation between two similar men. Abner and Joab were each tough, mean, military men who were completely devoted to their cause.

c. Let the young men now arise and compete before us: Abner suggested some kind of contest or duel between a select group of his men and Joab’s men. When the two groups of 12 met, it quickly degenerated into a mutual bloodbath (each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together). Yet David’s men under the command of Joab prevailed in the very fierce battle that followed this bloodbath at the Field of Sharp Swords.

(Guzik)

i. “This was diabolical play, where each man thrust his sword into the body of the other, so that the twenty-four (twelve on each side) fell down dead together!” (Clarke)

Fierce Battle 

Since the beginning with Cain and the murder of Able there have wars, because someone wanted something that wasn’t theirs. But there is a war that will end it all when God says enough!

Christ on a White Horse!

”And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.“ ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

”And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.“ ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“This is just the logical extension of man’s constant war against God since the fall. It is no more unbelievable than the idea that God came to earth and men murdered Him. John wrote no description about a battle. This is an entirely one-sided affair, more of a simple act of judgment than a prolonged battle or war.” (Guzik)

“The battle of Armageddon is the laughter of God against the climax of man’s arrogance.” (Barnhouse)

Will you belong to His army or their army?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 2:8-11 Patience, Longsuffering and Trust!

 ”But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim; and he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites, over Jezreel, over Ephraim, over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. Only the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.“ II Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Abner the son of Ner: Abner was Saul’s cousin (1 Samuel 14:50) and the commander of Saul’s armies for many years. He first met David when David was a young man (1 Samuel 17:55-57). David once challenged Abner when David had the opportunity to kill Saul but did not. David pointed out that Abner failed to protect his king.

b. Ishbosheth the son of Saul: Saul had three sons who died with him in battle (1 Samuel 31:6). There is no previous mention of Ishbosheth among the sons of Saul, so it is possible that he was an illegitimate son or the son of a concubine.

i. We shouldn’t forget that David was also a son of Saul by marriage. David married Michal, the daughter of Saul (1 Samuel 18:17-30).

c. He made him king: Abner made Ishbosheth king, probably so that he could be the real power behind the throne of a weak king.

d. He reigned two years: For two years David allowed Ishbosheth to reign over most of Israel. These two years showed remarkable patience, longsuffering, and trust in God on David’s part. Ishbosheth was not the LORD’s anointed like Saul – David seemed to have every right to crush this man who stood in the way of his calling. Yet out of trust in the LORD and respect for Saul’s memory, David waited.

i. It seems strange that many of the tribes preferred Ishbosheth to David. Yet since the Philistines had overrun many of the other tribes of Israel, they were even more hesitant to come out-and-out for David. “We’ll just make the Philistines mad,” they thought. In the same way, if you will come out-and-out for the Son of David, you will have to be ready for the disapproval of the Philistines.

e. Seven years and six months: This describes the period of time David had his headquarters in Hebron. For the first two years of this time, he ruled over Judah alone and Ishbosheth (propped up by Abner) ruled the rest of Israel.

i. David refused to force his reign on his subjects – and neither will the Son of David. Like David, Jesus will battle against pretenders to the throne, but He will not force His reign on mankind – yet. (Guzik)

Patience, Longsuffering and Trust!

As we study through the Old Testament it amazes me of the patience, longsuffering and trust everyone went through! 

Moses waited forty years!

Joseph was sold into slavery and imprisoned for years!

David lived in caves and waited on the Lord to become the king of all of Israel!

God molds and strengthens us through adversity. 

We may not like it but He has a purpose through it all.

It would be well for us to trust in God, to have patience with longsuffering the next time we are going through a trial and to ask, Lord what are You trying to teach me?

Blessings 

2 Samuel 2:4b-7 Blessed of the Lord!

 And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.” So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your Lord, to Saul, and have buried him. And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬b-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. You have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him: David showed appropriate gratitude to the men who risked their lives to honor the memory of Saul and Jonathan (1 Samuel 31:11-13).

b. Let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant: David knew that he needed brave men like these to secure and advance his kingdom, especially in the turmoil sure to surround his ascension to the throne.

Blessed of the Lord!

You have been blessed too!

”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,“ Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

1st blessing is the He has chosen us before the foundation of the world!

2nd blessing is our adoption as His children!

3rd blessing is where we are made “accepted in the beloved.”!

4th blessing is Redemption, speaks of buying one’s freedom, paying our ransom!

5th blessing is the forgiveness of sins!

6th blessing is is knowing the mystery of His will, we become part of His perfect plan and purpose.

7th blessing is the inheritance that is given to us through Christ.

8th blessing is the sealing of the Holy Spirit. When we become God’s children, He places His mark of ownership on us, guaranteeing our eternal security.

The list goes on and on because He loves you and you are blessed of the Lord!

Blessings