Second Samuel 3:31

The Bible says in Second Samuel 3:31-39, “And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.[32] And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.[33] And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?[34] Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.[35] And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.[36] And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.[37] For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.[38] And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?[39] And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.” David knew that Abner had been unjustly killed, and David knew that Abner had been an honorable man unlike Joab. And so David deeply and genuinely sorrowed at the funeral for Abner. This turned out for good because the people saw the heart of David. As it says in verse thirty-six, “And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.” David also trusted in the Lord as far as what should happen to Joab and his kin. David said at the end of verse thirty-nine, “the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.”

The Bible says in Second Samuel 4:1-4, “And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.[2] And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:[3] And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)[4] And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.” The news has been spreading. Everyone knows that it is all over now for Saul and his descendants. Two of the captains of Saul’s army ran away. Jonathan’s son, named Mephibosheth, fell and became lame. He would definitely not grow up to be a man of war. God used everything, even accidents, to emphasize that only David would be king. God’s plan would be realized.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 4:5-8, “And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.[6] And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.[7] For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.[8] And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.” The brothers “Rechab and Baanah” were violent and they were not very smart. They certainly did not know what kind of a person was king David. Anyone who is violent is not very smart because they will have to pay a price for their violence. Jesus said that whoever lives by the sword will die by the sword. They thought that if they killed Saul’s son that David would reward them, so they killed Saul’s son, chopped his head off, and brought the head to David.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 4:9-12, “And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,[10] When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:[11] How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?[12] And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.” David was not like Saul. David wanted goodness and justice to be done in his kingdom. David would not reward murder. And so the two brothers were put to death for their murder. Justice was swift and fit the crime. Sometimes that is the best justice.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 5:1-5, “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.[2] Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.[3] So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.[4] David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.[5] In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.” The elders of Israel knew two things about David. They knew about his good behavior in the past as a person with leadership responsibility under King Saul, and they knew that the Lord had chosen David because they knew that God had said to David, “Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.” These two things need to be known about any person before they are chosen to lead a congregation: One: What is their history? In other words, what kind of a person have they been over the years? You have to know someone really well to know such things about them. That is why the requirements for a pastor are listed in First Timothy 3:1-7. “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.[2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;[3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;[4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;[5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)[6] Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.[7] Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” In most cases you need to know someone for a period of years to know these things. Once you know if someone is even acceptable as a candidate, then and only then can you start asking if this is God’s chosen person for this responsibility.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 5:6-10, “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.[7] Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.[8] And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.[9] So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.[10] And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.” Notice the phrase in verse six, “Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither.” Evidently, the Jebusites were mocking David by telling David that the Jebusites would be able to defend their city even if their soldiers were made up of blind and lame individuals. David found a place where the defenses of the city could be breached. That is why David said in verse eight: “Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain.” Of course, David conquered the city, and it became known as “the city of David,” also called Jerusalem. Why was David able to conquer the city? Verse ten tells us why, “And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.” God had a plan for David, and nothing was going to stop that plan. Who will win the next election in our country? It depends upon what is God’s plan.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 5:11-16, “And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.[12] And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.[13] And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.[14] And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,[15] Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,[16] And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.” Everything falls into place for David. King Saul is dead. David is now king of all Israel. David has conquered the city that becomes Jerusalem that will forever be the city of God on the earth. Internally, in Israel the fighting has stopped. Externally, the king of Tyre sends David cedar and craftsmen and builds David a home in Jerusalem. David’s conclusion about all these things was that “the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.” Unfortunately, David had weaknesses just like all of us. David’s weakness was women. He already has at least seven wives, and it says in verse thirteen, “And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem.” The incident with Bathsheba was yet to come.

The Bible says in Second Samuel 5:17-20, “But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.[18] The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.[19] And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.[20] And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.” One thing that David did right was that he went to the Lord for leading. He asked for God’s will. He asked for wisdom. And the Lord let David know what to do because the Lord answers prayer. The Lord loves to answer prayer especially when a human being looks to God and asks for help. That is what being saved from sin is all about. When a lost soul looks to Jesus and asks for salvation and forgiveness, Jesus always saves that soul.

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