DAVID AND ISHBOSHETH WAR (2 Samuel 2) A. Two kings over the people of GOD. 1. (1-4a) David, king of Judah. a. David inquired of the LORD: Certainly, this was key to success in Davids life. With rare exceptions, he constantly inquired of the LORD. David wanted more than GODs blessing on his plans, he wanted to be right in the middle of GODs plan. b. Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah? At this time David was still in Ziklag, in the territory of the Philistines. Out of great discouragement and despair he left the land of Israel and lived almost as a Philistine among the Philistines. Now that David is restored to the LORD, he wonders if it is time for him to go back to his homeland. i. It isnt a simple question as we might think. David didnt want to appear opportunistic, as if he only came back to Israel because Saul was dead. While not being overly concerned with appearances before man, he was not unconcerned with appearances either. c. And the LORD said to him: GOD was faithful to answer when David inquired. Since David was just coming out of a period of spiritual decline, GOD could have put him on probation and refused to speak to him for a while. Instead, the LORD spoke to David and gave him guidance. i. Some 15 to 20 years before this David was anointed king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:12-13). As the promise seems almost fulfilled, David doesnt rush in blindly and seize it. Instead, he carefully sought the LORD. David knew the promise was from GOD, so he knew GOD could fulfill it without any manipulation from David. d. There they anointed David king: This shows that David did not seize the throne. The elders of Judah approached him. David knew that it was better to let GOD lift you up through others instead of striving to advance yourself. We should strive to advance GODs Kingdom and leave the advancement of self in His hands. i. This also shows that there is a sense in which the first anointing wasnt enough. We need a fresh anointing from GOD, and ongoing experience with the Holy Spirit. ii. This anointing couldnt come when David still lived among the Philistines virtually as a Philistine. He had to get things right in his own walk before this fresh anointing. 2. (4b-7) David thanks the men of Jabesh Gilead. a. You have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him: David shows appropriate gratitude to these 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. 3. (8-11) Abner sets up Ishbosheth as king over Israel. a. Abner the son of Ner: Abner was Sauls cousin (1 Samuel 14:50). Abner was the commander of Sauls armies for many years and 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 shouldnt 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 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 show remarkable patience, longsuffering, and trust in GOD on Davids part. Ishbosheth was not the LORDs 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 Sauls memory, David waited. i. Why would many of the tribes want Ishbosheth instead of David? Since the Philistines had overrun many of the other tribes, they were even more hesitant to come out-and-out for David. Well just make the Philistines mad they thought. In the same way, to come out and out for the Son of David you 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 would not force his reign on anyone - and neither will the Son of David. He will battle against pretenders to the throne, but He will not force His reign on you - yet. B. War between the tribe of Judah and the other tribes of Israel. 1. (12-17) Abners troops and Joabs troops square off and fiercely battle. 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 Davids nephews, the sons of Davids sister Zeruiah (1 Chronicles 2:16) - Joab had a long and checkered career as Davids chief military assistant b. Abner said to Joab: This is a fascinating confrontation between two similar men. Abner and Joab were each tough, mean, military men, 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 Joabs 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 opponents side; so they fell down together). Yet Davids men under the command of Joab prevailed in the very fierce battle that followed this bloodbath at the Field of Sharp Swords. 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) 2. (18-23) Abner kills Asahel. a. The three sons of Zeruiah: Zeruiah was Davids 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 enough to Abner, the commander of Ishbosheths 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 Ishbosheths 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 didnt make much sense to Asahel because it seemed that Abner was at the disadvantage. Abner also appealed to Asahel on the grounds 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. Abners plea didnt 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 brothers death. 3. (24-28) A cease-fire called. a. Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner: Now they are motived by more than the cause of David; they want to avenge the death of their brother. 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 - Joab found it easy to make the Cant we all just get along? plea. 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 in hope of avoiding a long, bloody civil war. 4. (2:29-3:1) A great victory for Davids army. a. There were missing of Davids 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 Abners appeal for a cease-fire at the battle of The Field of Sharp Swords. The fact was that they couldnt 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 it only made things worse, and it caused the 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 Sauls 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).
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 20:19:22 +0000
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