II Samuel 18: The Importance of Loyalty and Truth

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After David escaped Absalom’s army, he finds rest with allies and regroups. David divides the people that are with him under three leaders: Joab, Abishai, and Ittai. This information reveals a couple of insights: one is that David was able to attract a large amount of people to his side in the wake of Absalom’s takeover. The second is that his battle savvy is still alive and well as the divisions would have given him more flexibility in taking the fight to Absalom.

David wants to join the people as they go out to battle with Absalom’s forces but the people will not allow this as they fear for his safety. So David listens to them and remains but he does provide the following instruction, showing that despite all of the conflict and betrayal, he still loves his son: “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.”

The battle between David’s amassed forces and Absalom’s “Israel” begins and takes place within the woods of Ephraim. David’s strategy to thin out Absalom’s forces across the wilderness is a successful one as Israel is defeated. Many fall prey to natural obstacles in the unfamiliar terrain. Throughout the course of the battle, Absalom gets caught in a tree and is stranded there for a time. During this period, a man with David’s army found him there and reported it to Joab. When Joab comes to know about Absalom’s vulnerability, he questions why the messenger did not kill Absalom, to which the faithful messenger replies in verses 12 and 13:

“Though I were to receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son. For in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware lest anyone touch the young man Absalom!’ Otherwise I would have dealt falsely against my own life. For there is nothing hidden from the king, and you yourself would have set yourself against me.”

This messenger’s wisdom and integrity are admirable, especially as he seems to assume that Joab would have felt the same way if he were to have discovered Absalom. But this was not the case. We should remember Joab’s character from II Samuel 3:22-30, where he killed Abner, who had recently killed Joab’s brother Asahel. Killing Abner was not something that David had ordered Joab to do, but Joab did it out of vengeance and because he believed it to be right. Joab’s loyalty was in the right place, but his actions betray an unwise and self-righteous will. Joab’s will supersedes the will of the king, both in II Samuel 3 and in this chapter. In the same way does Joab kill Absalom, thinking it best and right, but in so doing he goes against the will of the king. Absalom’s body is put in a pit where a heap of stones is laid over him. His “monument” is a sad pillar that he leaves behind, testifying that he had no sons. 

When it is time for David to be notified of Absalom’s death, Joab stops Ahimaaz from running to deliver the news and has a Cushite go instead. But after the Cushite leaves, Ahimaaz asked Joab if he could also run to give the news (even though he has no news to deliver as the Cushite is the one delivering the news). Joab allows it and Ahimaaz actually outruns the Cushite. This is consequential because when David sees Ahimaaz coming to bring news, it brings him relief that all was well with Absalom. This was likely a motivator for Ahimaaz to run quickly and deliver the news first because he did not want to see David aggrieved at the death of his son. When Ahimaaz delivers the news, he does so without mentioning that Absalom has died. But then the Cushite arrives, David seeks his news as well. The Cushite does reveal to David that Absalom has died in verse 32:

“And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”

Naturally this affects David greatly. He weeps and laments that he would have died rather than Absalom. 

What are some lessons that we can learn from this chapter?

  • Honor the King.
    • The unnamed messenger honored David’s wishes concerning having mercy on Absalom and assumed that Joab would as well. Even though Joab took matters into his own hands, the messenger gave Joab an opportunity to think twice and do the right thing. The fact that Joab ignored the opportunity is something that Joab will ultimately pay for in time. Standing up for what is right is its own reward. Although it can go unrecognized, God sees it, and God rewards it. 
  • Loyalty can be misguided, especially when one is overzealous, hotheaded, or does not consider the mind of the one to whom they are loyal.
    • Look at Joab. He had the best of intentions, but they went too far when he went beyond the wishes expressed by David. There is a great lesson here for us in our relationship with God. Do we take vengeance, when God tells us that it is His to take? Or do we follow His instructions and guidance even when it is not what we want to do or not what we feel should be done? What we want and what we feel can and will very often impede us from fulfilling God’s will.
  • Adulterating the truth will backfire
    • Ahimaaz, even though he had the best of intentions and even though he put up great effort, still failed in his attempt to protect David from the news of Absalom’s death. Some news, although seemingly impossible to deliver, is better to be delivered in all honesty and truth. It should be done with sensitivity and compassion to the situation, but should not be altered because eventually, all truth has a way of coming out.

II Samuel 17: The Conflicting Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

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You will remember Ahithophel, a counselor that was esteemed by many in the kingdom as one that gave advice directly from God (II Samuel 16:23). Ahithophel had been a counselor to David but was now with Absalom. At the start of chapter 17, he advises to Absalom the details of a plan wherein David might be destroyed. But Absalom says in verse 17:14: ““The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.” Recall that David has deliberately sent Hushai back to Absalom so that Ahithophel’s advice could be foiled. It is interesting that Absalom, trying to overthrow David completely, consulting the wisest that he knew, ultimately does exactly what God wants Him to. Do you ever think that you are being directed by God in this way? If you were, how could it be known?

Hushai was a sort of undercover agent in Absalom’s court, along with Zadok and Abiathar, who had carried the ark back to Jerusalem when they had initially tried to flee with David. Hushai works with Zadok and Abiathar to warn David that Ahithophel’s plan could defeat David. The men (Jonathan and Ahimaaz) were spotted and reported to Absalom. After this, Absalom’s servants went looking for them. But they were not found because they were hidden by an ally of David’s in a well as they were searched for. The men eventually find David and warn him.

David flees over the Jordan river, away from the threat of attack. The precaution was unnecessary, because Absalom did not end up heeding the advice of Ahithophel in any case. The fate of Ahithophel is revealing after he finds out that his plan did not work: “Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.”

Absalom goes after David starting in verse 24, but David is ahead of him and is cared for by allies, one of which was Machir, who had cared for Mephibosheth before David took him in. In Mahanaim, David was met by these allies, who cared for David’s and his men’s needs so that they could rest and recharge. The chapter ends with David safely resting with those that had respect for him. 

There are three good lessons that we can learn from this chapter:

  1. Planning ahead can mean the difference between life and death.
    1. David knew his men, their personalities, and he was shrewd enough to pay attention to the situation that he was leaving behind. He knew that Ahithophel represented danger, so he countered that danger with Hushai. Also, Zadok and Abiathar were there to assist. It makes us wonder, do we pay enough attention to our surroundings to anticipate future threats and plan for them? It does little good to pray and then wait when there are things we can do within our control to influence a situation. We must be diligent and willing to act!
  2. Acting selfishly can paint us into corners.
    1. Ahithophel was wise, and while his designation as being one that spoke directly from God was not true, he had the opportunity to seek God and use his wisdom for good. But when we seek glory for our own and not for the Lord, the tendency to self-destruction increases.
  3. Doing good for others has a way of coming back around.
    1. Where would David have been without the help of his allies late in this chapter? Of course we do not do good in expectation of what others will do for us, but that help can come when we need it most. Such is the beauty of God’s design in human relationships. But all should be done for His glory!

II Samuel 16: Deception and Fulfillment

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As David flees Jerusalem from Absalom’s takeover, he ascends the Mount of Olives. We start this chapter as David is “a little past the top of the mountain.” He meets Ziba there, a servant of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. Of course we will remember that David had restored to Mephibosheth all the land that had belonged to Saul. There was loyalty between Mephibosheth and David, a parallel of the deep loyalty and love that was shared by Jonathan and David prior to Jonathan’s demise. 

For this reason it must have been a great surprise to David when Ziba reported that Mephibosheth had stayed back in Jerusalem because, as Ziba puts it for Mephibosheth: “Today the house if Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.” Because of this supposed betrayal, David believes him and gives him all that Mephibosheth had. Of course we will find out late that Ziba was lying and that Mephibosheth did not leave Jerusalem for other reasons. Ziba most likely lied to David because he was caught up in the campaign against David woven by Absalom.

Then, Shimei, a member of Saul’s family, sees and curses David along the mountaintop. David tolerates this treatment, perhaps unsurprised, and says in verse 12, “It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” David’s strength under pressure and his faith in God were strong and reliable in this moment. 

Back in Jerusalem, Absalom is attempting to consolidate his newfound power. Ahithophel, David’s advisor, is now in Absalom’s ear and advises Absalom to pitch his tent where all of the people of Jerusalem can see that he is going in to David’s concubines. This will show that Absalom has taken power from David and it will do so in a way that everyone in the city will know. Furthermore, it completes God’s punishment for David from II Samuel 12:11: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.” You may take the opportunity to blame Ahithophel for counseling the evil Absalom to subvert power from David so publicly, but that assertion loses power when it is also considered that this act over David also fulfills prophecy from Nathan and punishes David for his great sin with Bathsheba and subsequently Uriah.

Now, let us look at a few lessons we can take from this chapter:

  • Skepticism in the face of incredible stories is a healthy thing
    • We might take the well-known phrase to “trust but verify” here. David had only just re-established Mephibosheth with Saul’s land, but David did not have any concrete reason to believe that Mephibosheth was ungrateful to him or unwilling to be loyal. The truth came out later – Mephibosheth stayed in Jerusalem for an entirely different reason. Had David asked more questions or been a little more patient with his judgments, he might have not told Ziba that he could have all that was Mephibosheth’s. During this tumultuous time in the kingdom of shifting loyalties, David may have been more careful. Trust is earned before it is broken.
  • Enduring insults with humility can honor God
    • What would it have looked like if David had lashed out? He would have been arguing with an angry man, perhaps one whose reason had lapsed into foolishness, and he would not have gotten justice, fairness, retribution, nor would he have convinced Shimei that he was in the wrong. Instead, David turned the insults into an opportunity to seek God’s blessing. Think about this example. This was not weakness. This was strength.
  • Both good and bad advice are freely given in this world
    • It is not difficult to garner someone else’s opinion if you are looking for it. In fact it is quite easy. More challenging, however, is discerning the quality of the advice received. Does it serve the purpose of glorifying God? Does it serve my best (selfish) interests or does it serve my best (godly) interests? Stop, think, pray: then decide when weighing a difficult decision mixed all up with advice from others.

II Samuel 15: Absalom’s Insolence

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We do not know the full extent of Absalom’s thoughts, but we do not really need to in light of his actions in this chapter. David has forgiven Absalom, but Absalom’s wickedness is not to be so easily quelled. Perhaps Absalom resented his father for being ignored for so long. Perhaps Absalom wanted kingly authority himself. Perhaps Absalom was truly evil. Whichever was his prime motivation, we cannot know, but we are likely safe to assume that it is a combination of these things as well as the outcome of David’s curse as the result of his sin with Bathsheba.

After David’s “forgiveness” of Absalom in chapter 14, Absalom sets out to undermine his father’s authority. He sets himself up near the city gate so that he can receive people that have traveled far to seek David’s counsel and judgment in difficult matters. People of the kingdom would travel far to possibly receive a judgment in their favor, but when they arrived, Absalom would tell them, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you … Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”

Absalom made his father look foolish in that it seemed as if David did not have enough time for the people but that he also did not see fit to appoint someone to delegate the work to. Absalom finished off the deception with the proclamation that he would give very favorable judgments were he the one in charge. In this way, Absalom begins to build for himself a group of men that are detractors from David’s authority. He stole the loyalty of the people away from his father. 

Absalom, with permission from his father, returns to Hebron. This would not have alarmed David, as it was where Absalom was born. Absalom’s true reasoning for returning there would be to consolidate power for a rebellion against David. He took with him two hundred men that did not know of his plans. Absalom correctly surmised that they would side with him once it was clear that his rebellion against David would be successful. Absalom sent out spies and grew stronger: “Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.” II Samuel 15:!2

Once David hears that the tide has turned he flees Israel. He leaves behind concubines to care for the home but he takes with him many advisors and men that are loyal to him, men from lands that he conquered that have been with him for many years. Ittai the Gittite and his men accompany David on his passage out of Jerusalem. Zadok the Levite priest brought with him the ark of the covenant, but David turned it back to Jerusalem, as that is where it belonged, with instructions to Zadok and Abiathar to send news to David of what would occur in Jerusalem now that David had fled. 

David ascends the Mount of Olives in tears (a messianic connection, to be sure!), and learned that a former advisor of his was not a conspirator with Absalom. At the top of the mountain, David encounters Hushai the Archite, who is grieving with David at the prospect of Absalom’s treason. David sends Hushai to Jerusalem to thwart the counsel that Absalom would receive from David’s former counselor. He is to tell Zadok and Abiathar, and they would get word to David. 

This is where the chapter ends: let us see what we can learn from this chapter:

  • Unfinished business can give birth to great calamity
    • David has many chances to meet with Absalom and to prevent negative outcomes.
    • When we address conflict head-on and with a spirit of peace, we have the best chance to put it to rest. Otherwise, it is left to fester.
  • Cunning ways and creative trickery are not the way of the righteous
    • Absalom acted nether honestly nor honorably when he intercepted people at the gate. His ways were sneaky and his intentions were neither noble nor were they righteous. Absalom could have worked with his father to effectively offer his services to the people, or even to create a succession plan, if that is what he wanted.
    • When we are honest and righteous, so are our methods.
  • Never give up hope and do the best with what you have
    • David was a sinner and experiencing the consequences of his sins, but he still had a lot going for him. His closest allies’ loyalty was still fierce and strong. David despaired, but not to inaction, he acted in hope for success and reprisal. 
    • When we accept our path, no matter how grievous, we will find that there are great advantages at hand.

II Samuel 14: False Forgiveness

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This chapter tells the story of David’s faux-reconciliation with his son Absalom. 

From this distance and from what the text provides, it is difficult for us to detect the exact mental state of David as he mourned for the loss of Absalom. The conclusion of chapter 13 indicates that David “longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.” This statement suggests that David was grateful for Absalom killing Amnon and ridding him of the problem of incest and rape. On one hand, Absalom saved David both the trouble and the deliberation of how best to execute judgment and punishment among his own sons. On the other hand, and at a much deeper level for David, he must have suspected that all was the result of his sin with Bathsheba; as God through the prophet Nathan had said after those events in II Samuel 12:11: “Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.” David’s forthcoming forgiveness of Absalom will be the beginning of adversity that comes from his own house.

II Samuel 14 opens with Joab, likely David’s most loyal servant in war, noticing that David had great sorrow over Absalom living so far away in Geshur. It seems understood that Absalom stayed there because he had received no indication from his father David that he was free to return, or that if he did return, that he would not experience some great punishment for the murder of Amnon. 

Joab works with a “wise woman” from Tekoa and has her go to David and tell a story that parallels David’s own story about Amnon and Absalom. It had the effect of prompting David to send for Absalom to return to Jerusalem, a sign that he would be forgiven.

Perhaps the woman’s ploy brought an honest compunction out in David; he knew all too well that it would be better to have his son back in his presence and that God would mete out the judgment in due time. 

But David’s forgiveness of Absalom is not whole: when David tells Joab to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, David does not meet him. Absalom returns to his own house and he does not see the king’s face. This went on for two full years.

Absalom tires of the fleeting “forgiveness” of his father and asks Joab to coordinate a meeting between them. When Joab does not respond to Absalom (perhaps out of respect for David’s decision to partition Absalom), Absalom burns Joab’s field. When Joab finally responds to Absalom to speak to him after his field is burned, he relents to Absalom and agrees to arrange the meeting. Absalom’s words are persuasive, after all: ““Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” ’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; but if there is iniquity in me, let him execute me.”

In the final verse of the chapter, we have a deceptively peaceful forgiveness scene: “So Joab went to the king and told him. And when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king. Then the king kissed Absalom.” What happens in the chapters to follow is further fulfillment of God’s curse on David for his sin with Bathsheba.

There are quite a few things we can learn from this chapter:

  • Wisdom serves all parties well when it is used in the right way

Joab used wisdom to influence David’s decision. We should seek wise counsel to help ourselves as well as others.

  • Communication heals relationships

David and Absalom’s broken relationship was worsened by silence. Open, honest communication is key to healing broken relationships.

  • Forgiveness must be genuine

David forgave Absalom but didn’t fully restore their relationship. Half-hearted forgiveness can lead to bigger problems later. True forgiveness means restoring trust and love where possible.

  • Bad attitudes lead to bad actions

Absalom’s impatience led him to the poor decision to burn Joab’s field. When we let frustration control us, we can make rash and destructive choices. Patience and prayer are better responses.

  • God desires reconciliation

God desires that we be reconciled to him through Jesus, to have our sin absolved by His blood. God also wants us to seek peace in all our relationships, especially those within our family. 

II Samuel 13: Trouble with David’s Children

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The Bible names twenty children born to David across eight wives. His firstborn was named Amnon, and was born to David’s wife Ahinoam. Absalom was David’s third son, born to David’s wife Maacah. Tamar, David’s only daughter recorded in the Bible, was also born to Maacah, making Absalom and Tamar true siblings. Tamar and Amnon were half-siblings, but marriage among even half-siblings was still against Mosaic law. 

These dynamics are what makes the events of this chapter understandable. Tamar and Absalom had a special bond. David as the king had sired many children across many wives, many of the marriages being political ones, so the “siblings” that resulted in David’s marriages would have been quite different from one another. 

Absalom and Tamar however, have the same mother. They had a bond that was special and Absalom was protective of her. Playing into this drama is the fact that Amnon was greatly attracted to Tamar, such that it had blossomed to lust. Jonadab, a cousin, suspected this attraction of Amnon’s and suggested to him a sneaky way that he might take his half-sister to bed. 

When Jonadab’s plan works, Tamar is humiliated and raped. What is interesting about the episode between Amnon and Tamar is that Amnon hates Tamar after the act is over: “Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” II Samuel 13:15

See how what is thought to be pleasurable sin, brought about by yet more sin, results in hate and chaos. Is not this what Amnon wanted? Why then was he in a terrible state after? Because the pleasures of sin are fleeting, and after the deed was done, Tamar’s presence reminded Amnon of the terrible deed he had done. Thus he expelled her. 

Both David and Absalom come to know of Amnon’s doings and David is “very angry” while Absalom is recorded as speaking to his brother “neither good nor bad.” This can be explained in that Amnon had authority over Absalom, being the firstborn. There would have been a sort of fear and respect in this hierarchy that precluded Absalom from acting immediately. But Absalom does eventually act against Amnon.

In verses 23-29, we see how Absalom orchestrates the murder of his brother Amnon some two years after Amnon had raped Tamar. His wrath was left to simmer and it eventually led to this. 

David suffers greatly at the loss of both of his sons. In fact, the verse that described David’s grief is ambiguous as to whether or not it refers to Amnon or Absalom. Verse 13: “But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.”

What can we reasonably learn from this chapter? 

  • The first thing we can take away from this is to ignore unwise advice. Jonadab was a pot-stirrer and a wicked player that did not have the best interests of his family in mind as he proffered ideas that would seem clever only to evil and mischievous men.
  • Secondly, this is the beginning of David’s punishment. David had sinned with adultery and now fornication and murder is taking place within his own house. How else do we need it spelled out for us that our sins can have rash consequences on not only ourselves, but on those we hold dearest as well?
  • Lastly, look at the fallacies of Absalom’s approach. Why answer sin with more sin? Absalom’s heart may have been right to be offended and hurt by Amnon’s deeds, but vengeance was not his; it was God’s. When we take matters into our own hands, we can quite often make a bigger mess of things. 

Pray that you learn these lessons and sooner rather than later!

II Samuel 6: David Returns the Ark

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David, the king of Israel, has established his house and is now prepared to bring the ark back to its rightful place in Israel. He succeeds, but there is the price of Uzzah’s life, as well as at least the perception that David is undignified in the way that he publicly worships Jehovah God. 

As David brings the Ark of the Covenant to the City of David, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark, presumably to stop it from falling. Uzzah dies instantly. It would have been known that only the Kohathite Levites were to touch the sacred items, but even they were not allowed to touch the ark itself or they would die. So when Uzzah put his hand out to steady it, he meant no harm but God’s law still applied.

David then was frightened of God and the ark and decided not to take it into the city. Instead, he put it at the home of Obed-Edom. After David saw that Obed-Edom was blessed as the result of having the ark, he rejoiced and moved the ark into the city with much celebration. Michal, daughter of the former king, chastised David for what she sees as his foolish behavior worshipping the Lord. David’s rejoinder to her puts her in her place, and in fact she was also punished by God, not having any children from that day forward until her death. 

There are three big lessons from this chapter:

  • The details of God’s commandments are not to be ignored

Uzzah’s heart seems innocent enough in this chapter. After all, his intentions were good, were they not? In the instant before his death, did it occur to him that he was not to touch the ark? I think it is likely that he knew he was going against a commandment. But I also think it very likely that he weighed the risk in his mind and judged it to be negligible because of his intentions. His intention was to steady the ark, to prevent it from crashing to the dirty ground as the oxen stumbled. But in doing this, he still went against God’s commandment that no one was to touch the ark of the covenant. Harsh? Yes. But right? Also yes. 

God’s bigger lesson to us from the story of Uzzah is that His Word is to be taken seriously, even under the threat of death. Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, we cannot think for ourselves when it comes to God’s commands to worship. He wants our absolute obedience. He is our Lord, our Creator, the source from whom all creation originates. Who are we to think that there are conditions under which His laws can be disobeyed? Who was Uzzah to think that God would allow him to touch the ark? The terrifying yet persistent answer is that God is sovereign, holding our lives in his hands and we are at his mercy. It is our responsibility to not only know his laws, but also to follow them to the utmost. 

  • God dwelling with you will bring you blessings

David felt unworthy to have the ark with him in the city of David, so he instead moved it into the home of a man named Obed-Edom. The ark was with Obed-Edom for three months and during that time, the Lord blessed him and all of his household. David saw this and was thus encouraged to move the Ark to the city. 

It is a demonstration of how the presence of God in our lives can bring great blessings. In prayer, in worship, in thought, and in deed, we should do our best to keep God all around us. Does God have a place in your mind and in your heart? When God is with us, when we think about Him as decisions are made, it regulates our behavior and right-sizes our opinions and views of ourselves. Without God, we are like rudderless ships in a stormy ocean, directionless and subject to the whims of our chaotic desires.

  • There is no shame is glorifying the Lord your God

David’s display of worship as he accompanied the ark to the city sounds entertaining. He sacrificed, he danced, he shouted, and he did so as king. Michal, Saul’s daughter, thought he looked ridiculous and told him so. But David’s response to her reveals an attitude of absolute subjection and devotion. He says, “…I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.” David knew that he was justified in his displays of worship because they were pure, open, and honest. He was not doing it to impress others, as Michal may have surmised, but he was doing it sincerely, out of love and gratitude for His Almighty Father. It is the kind of love that supersedes care for the self and seeks to glorify our God, recognizing his greatness and wanting others to see it too. It is a beautiful thing and we should aspire to be similar to David when we worship our God in spirit and in truth. 

Tonight I want to encourage you to put these three lessons into your heart, for they all have great value in different ways. We must take God’s Word seriously in every moment of our lives, lest we open ourselves to judgment and harsh punishment. We must maintain the presence of our great God in prayer, in thought, and in deed. And lastly, we must never be ashamed of Him whose name we wear. Considering that God, in all of His greatness, would send His only Son to the sinful earth to suffer and die, how could we not rejoice?

II Samuel 3: Flexible Loyalty

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This chapter begins by setting the tone with the long war with the house of Saul and the house of David. Even though David was loyal to Saul, Saul’s descendants cannot accept David’s rule despite it being known that David was God’s anointed king over Israel. 

After a quick review of David’s sons by his six wives (polygamy was not endorsed by God, and was in fact warned against in Deuteronomy 17:17), we come to the story of Abner and Saul’s son Ishbosheth. Abner was the commander of Saul’s army and had made Ishbosheth king over the majority of Israel in chapter two. But trouble starts when Ishbosheth learns of Abner having a relationship with one of his father Saul’s concubines named Rizpah. For Abner to take Rizpah was a great insult as it can be seen as Abner taking part in what was due the king. For this reason, Ishbosheth asks Abner about it, but it really only irritates Abner because he feels like he was deserved Rizpah due to the part he played in establishing Ishbosheth as king. 

Abner takes offense, leaves, and goes to David to forge an alliance, thinking he will be appreciated more appropriately there. Even though Abner’s loyalty is flexible, he is right in that David will appreciate him and take him in. Abner must have represented to David an advantage over Ishbosheth as Abner was the commander of Saul’s army. 

Everything seems like it will progress nicely in David’s favor until Joab murders Abner over the murder of Joab’s brother Asahel in chapter two. This is very troubling to David, and David mourns Abner greatly as David follows Abner’s coffin and vows not to eat while it was still the day of the funeral. David’s public mourning had the advantage of convincing his subjects that he did not kill Abner as any part of retribution against Ishbosheth. David’s integrity among his people and among his enemies remains intact, as does his exemplary loyalty to Almighty God in verses 38-39: “Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

What we have with David and Abner in this chapter are two pictures of loyalty. Abner had flexible and subjective loyalty, as his carnal desires and sense of self-seeking played a part in where his loyalty lay. David, on the other hand, had objective loyalty. He was dedicated to serving God no matter what happened or who showed up. David’s objective loyalty placed him in a position of power, able to take advantage and use those with subjective loyalty (Abner). It is a shame that Joab’s vendetta prevented David from consolidating more military power, but such is the nature of God’s great plan. God’s plan is oftentimes incomprehensible, but if we retain our loyalty to Him, the manifested plan of God will more often than not work in our good favor and in the best interest of our futures both here and in heaven.

II Samuel 2: Dedicated to God’s Path

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Verses 1-11

David, ever the faithful man of God, models goodness and righteousness in the wake of Saul’s death. Despite Saul’s waywardness, David still honors the men that properly 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 2:5-7

The root reason for David honoring these men’s work in burying Saul is that Saul respects that God ordained Saul as the king of Israel. Even though his character and his strategies were self-centered rather than God-centered, David still honored the man because it was God that made him king. 

David is then anointed king of Judah and Ishbosheth is anointed king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin. Ishbosheth will reign over these areas for two years while David will reign over Judah for seven years and six months. 

Verses 12-32

There was an obvious conflict now between Ishbosheth and David. Ishbosheth wanted to retain control over the entire kingdom of Israel, but David had the loyalty of many and was anointed King of Judah. As Ishbosheth had been anointed king over pretty much the rest of the kingdom of Israel, Ishbosheth now wants to defeat David so that the kingdom can be complete under Ishbosheth. So Ishbosheth proposes a battle between their mutually strongest warriors. When the faction under Ishbosheth, led by Abner, fails under David’s men, led by Joab, a fast man named Asahel pursues Abner, to kill him. Asahel knew that if he killed Abner, the power would be again consolidated under David. 

Abner ends up killing Asahel and Abner proposes a truce of sorts to Joab. Joab agrees, seeing the wisdom in avoiding further bloodshed (the men under David experienced far less losses than the men under Ishbosheth). We will see in the next chapter that the houses of Saul and David will end up warring against one another for quite some time to come, with the house of David slowly gaining the advantage (II Samuel 3:1).

What can we learn from this chapter? It progresses the story of David nicely. David was first anointed as king in I Samuel 16 by Samuel when Saul was still king. So, while we see David as the eventual rightful ruler of Israel in God’s eyes, we see his earthly progression towards the throne guided by God and taking place in God’s time. We can learn that God has a plan for everything and all will come to pass in His time, not in our own. David’s patience and diligence to do the right thing even though it is not convenient or even just is admirable. This is an example for us to persevere in our own lives through difficult or confusing stages, even when things are particularly hard. It can seem near impossible, but we have so many examples in our own lives and in God’s Word of people persevering through difficult times and keeping the faith. No matter their reward on earth (which is often substantial), the heavenly reward trumps all.