Let Christ’s Kingdom Take Over

2 Samuel 3:1-16    (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Samuel 3:1-16.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

2 Samuel 3:1 (NIV) 
¹ The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 

On verse 1:  For 7.5 years after Saul’s death, the house of David and the house of Saul (represented by Ish-Bosheth) continued to war against one another.  But over time, the house of David would “grow stronger and stronger” (v1).  Likewise, as a follower of Jesus, you will find that there is an ongoing war between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, between God and Satan, for the territory in your life (Ephesians 6:12).  That war will continue until the day you see Jesus face to face and Jesus wins the war once and for all.  But my prayer for you is that over time, as you learn to trust Jesus more and more, and as you develop the attitudes, the habits and the skills necessary to grow in Christ and give the Holy Spirit more room, may the kingdom of the Son of David — Jesus Christ — grow stronger and stronger in you, and may Satan’s strongholds in your life grow weaker and weaker.

2 Samuel 3:2-5 (NIV) 
² Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; 
³ his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; 
⁴ the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 
⁵ and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. 

On verses 2-5:  Deuteronomy 17:17 says that a king is to “not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray”.  Yet here we see that David so far has fathered 6 sons from 6 different wives.  As we will see later on, David taking on so many wives and fathering children from these different wives would eventually lead to the biggest conflicts, tragedies, heartbreaks and regrets of David’s life.  It’s no wonder the Bible speaks against polygamy and adultery.  God’s Word wisely commands those of us who want to marry to be faithful to one wife or one husband “till death due us part”.

2 Samuel 3:6-16 (NIV)
⁶  During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul.
⁷  Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”
⁸  Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said and he answered, “Am I a dog’s head–on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman!
⁹  May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath
¹⁰  and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”
¹¹  Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
¹²  Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you.”
¹³  “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”
¹⁴  Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
¹⁵  So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
¹⁶  Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

On verses 6-16:  During the ongoing war between the house of David and the house of Ish-Bosheth, arguably the most powerful person in all of Israel was Ish-Bosheth’s uncle and army commander Abner.  Even Ish-Bosheth was afraid of Abner (v11).  At first Abner was on Ish-Bosheth’s side, but after Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of sleeping with Saul’s concubine (v7-8), Abner turns on Ish-Bosheth and sides with David.  Abner claims that he will singlehandedly transfer the nation of Israel into David’s hands (v9-10).

Abner felt like he owned all of Israel (“Whose land is it?” he asks rhetorically) (v12).  Abner thought he could almost singlehandedly decide who would be Israel’s next undisputed king.  Abner had a lot of pride in his ability to sway people one way or another.  He enjoyed throwing his weight around.  But as we will see later in this chapter, Abner would soon be fatally reminded that as powerful as he thought he was, he was not God.

What can we learn from this?  Don’t boast about or overestimate your own power or abilities.  Rather, stay humble and point people to God’s power, not your own.  As Jeremiah 9:23-24 says:

²³ This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 
²⁴ but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. 

2 Samuel 3:13-16 (NIV) 
¹³ “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.” 
¹⁴ Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 
¹⁵ So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 
¹⁶ Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back. 

On verses 13-16:  David agrees to have Abner join his side if Abner will help David get back his very first wife Michal, daughter of Saul (whom Saul had given to another guy called Paltiel after David had fled Saul’s household) (v14).  Why was it so important to David to get back Michal?  Possible reasons include: (1) David probably felt that he had worked hard for and earned the right to have Michal as his wife (v14) and that Saul had unjustly taken Michal away from him (1 Samuel 25:44); and (2) having Michal, a daughter of Saul, in his own house would strengthen him politically as he continued to fight against the house of Saul.

We can see this from a couple angles.

First, just as David confronted the house of Saul and took back the bride that Saul had taken from him, so when Satan held us (the bride of Christ) captive, Jesus the Son of David confronted the house of Satan and took back his bride.

Second, keep in mind that David had abandoned his first wife Michal when he ran away from Saul.  Having been abandoned by David, Michal eventually married Paltiel (1 Samuel 25:44).  It has now been years that Michal and Paltiel have been married, and yet after years of abandoning Michal, David insists on getting Michal back to add to his collection of wives.  Here we see greed and lust creeping into David’s decisions, where David is now insisting on having his way even if it may be selfish or unjust to do so.  What can we learn from this?  When we act out of greed or lust, we end up making selfish and unjust moves that can cause trouble for ourselves and others.

Lord Jesus, I proclaim You as king over my life today and forever.  Let Your kingdom come and take over more and more territory in my heart, my thoughts, my habits, my lifestyle and my relationships.  May greed not have any hold over me.  Let Your house grow stronger and stronger in me, and let the enemy’s hold grow weaker and weaker.  Thank You that I am no longer held captive by the enemy, but I am set free because of You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

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