Dec 6, 2020. II Samuel 3:12-21

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ABNER MAKES A DEAL. II Samuel 3:12-21. 12/06/20. #07.

II Samuel 3:12-21 [New King James Version]

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, “Whose is the land?” saying also, “Make your covenant with me, and indeed my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel to you.” 13 And David said, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ishbosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 Then her husband went along with her to Bahurim, weeping behind her. So Abner said to him, “Go, return!” And he returned. 17 Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ” 19 And Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin. Then Abner also went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. 21 Then Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

  • Abner’s betrayal
    • Four basic types of betrayal:
      • PURPOSEFUL – a spy from another country or group infiltrates another entity in order to betray them (Hushai; Mati Hiri, Nathan Hale)
      • REACTIVE – (an offended party takes revenge by betraying his sworn cause – Abner, Ahithophel, Benedict Arnold)
      • JUDICIAL – (when a state or entity violates its sworn purpose, the faithful often oppose that entity – John the Baptist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Am. Revolution)
      • COVETOUS – (seeking one’s own gain – Judas, Balaam, Jezebel/Naboth)
    • Abner was offended at being accused, so he switched sides
      • Many in Israel were already pro-David
      • David had been popular with army and people
      • Ishbosheth was not an inspiring man
    • Abner proposes a meeting with David to give him Israel
  • David agrees to meet with Abner
    • David is thrilled Abner’s proposal
      • David agrees to meet with Abner if he would bring his wife, Michal, back to him
      • David send Ishbosheth a messenger demanding that Michal be sent to him
    • Michal was a woman between two worlds
      • She love David and was loyal to him
      • She was given to David after David brought back 200 Philistine foreskins from battle
      • She saved David’s life when Saul sought to kill him
      • In anger, Saul took Michal from David and gave her to Paltiel (a young nobleman who supported Saul)
        • Michal had no say in the matter (no choice)
        • Michal still loved David, but had to perform the duties of a wife to Paltiel
      • Now, she was happily going back to David
      • The men in her life caused her to be adulterous, spiritually polluted, and disgraced (Dt. 24, Rm. 7:1-4)
    • David wanted his wife back
      • He had earned the honor of marrying her through dangerous heroic deeds
      • Being Saul’s daughter, she provided a means to legitimize his claim to the throne
      • David truly loved Michal
    • Abner fetches Michal from Paltiel’s house
      • Paltiel follows after her, weeping and pleading, until Abner orders him to go home
      • Michal is obviously a very desirable woman
  • Abner seals the deal
    • Abner secures the transfer of power through lobbying the elders and leaders of Israel to accept transfer of the kingdom to David
      • His main difficulty would be to convince the tribe of Benjamin to agree to this arrangement, since Saul was from their tribe (only about a century after the tribe was decimated at the end of Judges)
      • After Benjamin realized that the rest of Israel was agreeable to have David as their king
    • David puts on a feast for Abner and receives him as a royal guest
      • After the feast Abner goes, promising to deliver Israel to David
      • It seems that God’s promise to David was being fulfilled
    • All things are not always what they seem to be
      • Abner had not delivered Israel yet
      • Abner had earned a bitter enemy in Joab when he killed his brother
      • We can never predict the paths the Lord will take us
        • Often, God teaches us lessons by not doing what we anticipate him doing
        • Important to not depend on what we think should happen and be alert to follow God’s lead