WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:01.720 He doesn't forget his need of God. 00:00:04.660 --> 00:00:05.120 Hello there. 00:00:05.300 --> 00:00:07.260 This is the LifeSpring One Year Bible Rewind 00:00:07.380 --> 00:00:09.340 and coming to you from Riverside, California, 00:00:09.860 --> 00:00:11.240 podcasting since 2004. 00:00:11.540 --> 00:00:13.880 My name is Steve Webb and I'm your OG Godcaster. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:16.600 This is the podcast that comes to you every day 00:00:16.860 --> 00:00:19.320 and we're reading the entire Bible together in a year. 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:20.400 I'm so glad you're here. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:21.620 It's good to see you. 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:23.980 The website is lifespringmedia.com. 00:00:24.860 --> 00:00:27.280 It's National Cream Cheese Brownie Day. 00:00:28.300 --> 00:00:28.980 I mean, come on. 00:00:29.240 --> 00:00:30.500 Do I need to say anything else? 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:32.340 This is History Tuesday. 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:34.220 We'll read 2 Samuel 1-4. 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:35.820 And after my commentary, 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:40.060 Before he was a giant of history, he was a husband and a pastor. 00:00:40.900 --> 00:00:42.640 Today, on this date in church history, 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:45.560 a final private letter from a dying reformer 00:00:45.700 --> 00:00:49.680 that contains a timeless piece of advice for anyone struggling with anxiety. 00:00:50.480 --> 00:00:52.040 Before the world lost Martin Luther, 00:00:52.140 --> 00:00:55.180 he had four words for his worried wife and for us. 00:00:55.660 --> 00:00:56.400 Hang on for that. 00:00:57.080 --> 00:00:57.600 Let's begin. 00:00:58.500 --> 00:01:03.100 Our Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you so much for your word, and we thank you again for our time together. 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:06.460 I pray that you would bless us as we read and as we study. 00:01:06.830 --> 00:01:08.860 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:12.940 2 Samuel chapter 1 00:01:14.240 --> 00:01:19.980 After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed at Ziklag two days. 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:25.340 On the third day, a man with torn clothes and dust on his head came from Saul's camp. 00:01:26.080 --> 00:01:29.080 When he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 00:01:29.980 --> 00:01:31.960 David asked him, Where have you come from? 00:01:32.740 --> 00:01:35.820 He replied to him, I've escaped from the Israelite camp. 00:01:36.580 --> 00:01:37.340 What was the outcome? 00:01:37.800 --> 00:01:39.100 Tell me, David asked him. 00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:41.820 The troops fled from the battle, he answered. 00:01:42.440 --> 00:01:44.220 Many of the troops have fallen and are dead. 00:01:44.720 --> 00:01:46.980 Also, Saul and his son Jonathan are dead. 00:01:47.820 --> 00:01:49.940 David asked the young man who had brought him the report, 00:01:50.580 --> 00:01:52.700 How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead? 00:01:53.540 --> 00:01:58.460 I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, he replied, and there was Saul leaning on his spear. 00:01:59.220 --> 00:02:02.640 At that very moment the chariots and the cavalry were closing in on him. 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:07.640 When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, so I answered, I'm at your service. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:11.940 He asked me, Who are you? I told him, I'm an Amalekite. 00:02:12.640 --> 00:02:18.140 Then he begged me, Stand over me and kill me, for I am mortally wounded, but my life still lingers. 00:02:18.760 --> 00:02:23.480 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he couldn't survive. 00:02:24.320 --> 00:02:28.100 I took the crown that was on his head, and the armband that was on his arm, 00:02:28.380 --> 00:02:33.340 and I brought them here to my Lord. Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:38.780 and all the men with him did the same. They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening 00:02:39.160 --> 00:02:45.160 for those who died by the sword, for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord's people, and the house of 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:51.560 Israel. David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, Where are you from? I'm 00:02:51.560 --> 00:02:57.880 the son of a foreigner, he said. I'm an Amalekite. David questioned him, How is it that you were not 00:02:58.140 --> 00:03:03.760 afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? Then David summoned one of his servants 00:03:03.810 --> 00:03:09.400 and said, Come here and kill him. The servant struck him, and he died. For David had said to 00:03:09.460 --> 00:03:15.140 the Amalekite, Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth testified against you by 00:03:15.380 --> 00:03:21.220 I killed the Lord's anointed. David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, 00:03:21.590 --> 00:03:26.300 and he ordered that the Judahites be taught the song of the bow. It is written in the book of 00:03:26.460 --> 00:03:33.660 Jashur. The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen. Do not tell 00:03:33.660 --> 00:03:39.100 it in Gath. Don't announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:45.600 will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will gloat. Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:51.340 or rain be on you, or fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled, 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:59.400 the shield of Saul no longer anointed with oil. Jonathan's bow never retreated, Saul's sword never 00:03:59.600 --> 00:04:05.540 returned unstained from the blood of the slain, from the bodies of the mighty. Saul and Jonathan, 00:04:06.260 --> 00:04:12.260 loved and delightful. They were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:19.280 stronger than lions. Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with luxurious 00:04:19.540 --> 00:04:24.920 things, who decked your garments with gold ornaments. How the mighty have fallen in the 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:31.160 thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. 00:04:31.960 --> 00:04:36.940 You were such a good friend to me. Your love for me was more wonderful than the love of women. 00:04:37.900 --> 00:04:41.360 How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished. 00:04:42.080 --> 00:04:43.400 2 Samuel 2 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:49.240 Sometime later David inquired of the Lord, Should I go to one of the towns of Judah? 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:56.140 The Lord answered him, Go. Then David asked, Where should I go? To Hebron, the Lord replied. 00:04:57.020 --> 00:05:03.080 So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:10.280 In addition, David brought the men who were with him, each one with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:15.920 Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:20.300 They told David it was the men of Jabesh-Gilead who buried Saul. 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:24.720 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-Gilead and said to them, 00:05:25.200 --> 00:05:29.720 The Lord bless you, because you have shown this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. 00:05:30.400 --> 00:05:36.020 Now may the Lord show kindness and faithfulness to you, and I will also show the same goodness to 00:05:36.140 --> 00:05:42.200 you, because you have done this deed. Therefore, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your 00:05:42.380 --> 00:05:48.799 lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me king over them. Abner, son of Ner, commander of 00:05:48.820 --> 00:05:55.840 Saul's army, took Saul's son Ish-bosheth, and moved him to Maenaim. He made him king over Gilead, 00:05:56.100 --> 00:06:03.960 Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, over all Israel. Saul's son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:09.860 began his reign over Israel. He ruled for two years. The house of Judah, however, followed David. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:15.599 The length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:21.540 months. Abner, son of Ner, and soldiers of Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, marched out from 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:27.900 Maenam to Gibeon. So Joab, son of Zeruiah, and David's soldiers marched out and met them by the 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:34.900 pool of Gibeon. The two groups took up positions on opposite sides of the pool. Then Abner said to 00:06:35.020 --> 00:06:40.900 Joab, Let's have the young men get up and compete in front of us. Let them get up, Joab replied. 00:06:41.540 --> 00:06:43.600 So they got up and were counted off, 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:46.520 twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, 00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:48.800 and twelve from David's soldiers. 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:52.520 Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head 00:06:52.960 --> 00:06:55.360 and thrust his sword into his opponent's side, 00:06:55.610 --> 00:06:57.180 so that they all died together. 00:06:58.100 --> 00:07:00.000 So this place, which is in Gibeon, 00:07:00.310 --> 00:07:02.100 is named Field of Blades. 00:07:03.520 --> 00:07:05.520 The battle that day was extremely fierce, 00:07:06.060 --> 00:07:09.060 and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by David's soldiers. 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:14.740 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Azahel. 00:07:15.780 --> 00:07:18.700 Azahel was a fast runner, like one of the wild gazelles. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:23.520 He chased Abner and did not turn to the right or the left in his pursuit of him. 00:07:24.260 --> 00:07:27.100 Abner glanced back and said, Is that you, Azahel? 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.340 Yes, it is, Azahel replied. 00:07:30.280 --> 00:07:34.980 Abner said to him, Turn to your right or left, seize one of the young soldiers, and take 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:36.180 whatever you can get from him. 00:07:36.690 --> 00:07:38.620 But Azahel would not stop chasing him. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:44.740 Once again Abner warned Azahel, Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:50.400 How could I ever look your brother Joab in the face? But Azahel refused to turn away, 00:07:50.940 --> 00:07:55.920 so Abner hit him in the stomach with the end of his spear. The spear went through his body, 00:07:56.280 --> 00:08:01.820 and he fell and died right there. When all who came to the place where Azahel had fallen and died, 00:08:02.200 --> 00:08:08.740 they stopped. But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset they had gone as far as the hill of Amma, 00:08:09.140 --> 00:08:12.040 which is opposite Gaia, on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:14.700 The Benjaminites rallied to Abner. 00:08:15.050 --> 00:08:18.500 They formed a single unit and took their stand on top of a hill. 00:08:19.380 --> 00:08:21.100 Then Abner called out to Joab, 00:08:21.780 --> 00:08:23.360 Must the sword devour forever? 00:08:24.080 --> 00:08:26.520 Don't you realize this will only end in bitterness? 00:08:27.260 --> 00:08:30.240 How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers? 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:32.960 As God lives, Joab replied, 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:34.800 If you had not spoken up, 00:08:34.930 --> 00:08:37.940 the troops wouldn't have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning. 00:08:39.219 --> 00:08:45.200 Then Joab blew the ram's horn, and all the troops stopped. They no longer pursued Israel or continued 00:08:45.380 --> 00:08:51.340 to fight. So Abner and his men marched through the Ereba all that night. They crossed the Jordan, 00:08:51.800 --> 00:08:57.480 marched all morning, and arrived at Maonaim. When Joab had turned back from pursuing Abner, 00:08:57.730 --> 00:09:03.460 he gathered all the troops. In addition to Azahel, 19 of David's soldiers were missing, 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:10.640 but they had killed 360 of the Benjaminites and Abner's men. Afterward, they carried Azahel to 00:09:10.640 --> 00:09:16.760 his father's tomb in Bethlehem and buried him. Then Joab and his men marched all night and 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:24.820 reached Hebron at dawn. 2 Samuel 3. Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:30.080 of David, and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually. 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:36.240 Sons were born to David at Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:42.460 and his second, Kiliab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third, Absalom 00:09:42.770 --> 00:09:48.600 the son of Micaiah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, and the fourth, Adonijah the son of 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:54.899 Haggith, and the fifth, Shephetiah the son of Abidal, and the sixth, Ithrium, by David's wife 00:09:54.940 --> 00:10:00.660 Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron. It came about while there was a war between the 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:05.380 house of Saul and the house of David that Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:11.580 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, 00:10:11.760 --> 00:10:16.820 Why have you gone in to my father's concubine? Then Abner was very angry over the words of 00:10:16.920 --> 00:10:22.779 Ish-bosheth and said, Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the 00:10:22.800 --> 00:10:27.700 house of Saul your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:34.580 hands of David. And yet today you charge me with a guilt concerning the woman. May God do so to 00:10:34.800 --> 00:10:40.260 Abner, and more also, if, as the Lord has sworn to David, I do not accomplish this for him, 00:10:40.680 --> 00:10:45.580 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to establish the throne of David over Israel 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:51.580 and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. And he could no longer answer Abner a word, 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:57.240 because he was afraid of him. Then Abner sent messengers to David in his place, saying, 00:10:57.700 --> 00:11:02.860 Whose is the land? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:09.260 all Israel over to you. He said, Good, I will make a covenant with you. But I demand one thing of you, 00:11:09.640 --> 00:11:14.980 namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michael, Saul's daughter, when you come to 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:21.480 see me. So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, saying, Give me my wife Michael, 00:11:21.680 --> 00:11:27.340 to whom I was betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. Ish-bosheth sent and took her 00:11:27.460 --> 00:11:32.720 from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:38.800 and followed her as far as Behurim. Then Abner said to him, Go, return. So he returned. 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:44.960 Now Abner had consultation with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past you were seeking 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:50.100 for David to be king over you. Now then, do it. For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, 00:11:50.540 --> 00:11:54.920 By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:59.680 and from the hand of all their enemies. Abner also spoke in the hearing of Benjamin, 00:12:00.160 --> 00:12:05.040 and in addition Abner went to speak in the hearing of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, 00:12:05.400 --> 00:12:11.200 and to the whole house of Benjamin. Then Abner and twenty men with him came to David at Hebron, 00:12:11.660 --> 00:12:15.820 And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. Abner said to David, 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:21.760 Let me arise and go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with 00:12:21.760 --> 00:12:27.820 you, and that you may be king over all that your soul desires. So David sent Abner away, 00:12:28.280 --> 00:12:33.720 and he went in peace. And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought 00:12:33.880 --> 00:12:38.220 much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, 00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:43.980 and he had gone in peace. When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, they told Joab, 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:49.540 saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he has gone in peace. 00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:56.880 Then Joab came to the king and said, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why then 00:12:56.910 --> 00:13:02.180 have you sent him away, and he is already gone? You know, Abner the son of Ner, that he came to 00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:06.520 deceive you and to learn of your going out and coming in and to find out all that you are doing. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:12.540 When Joab came out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the 00:13:12.550 --> 00:13:18.900 well of Syrah. But David did not know it. So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into 00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:23.300 the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly so that he 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:28.380 died on account of the blood of Azahel, his brother. Afterward, when David heard it, he said, 00:13:28.760 --> 00:13:33.920 I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner, the son of Ner. 00:13:34.660 --> 00:13:38.300 May it fall on the head of Joab, and on all of his father's house. 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:43.820 And may there not fail from the house of Joab one who has a discharge, or who is a leper, 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:49.100 or who takes hold of a distaff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.700 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Azahel to 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:56.420 death in the battle at Gibeon. 00:13:57.480 --> 00:14:02.300 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes and girt 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:04.400 on sackcloth and lament before Abner. 00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:10.860 And King David walked behind the bier. Thus they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lifted up his 00:14:11.160 --> 00:14:17.200 voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. The king chanted a lament for Abner, 00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:23.560 and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies? Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters. 00:14:24.180 --> 00:14:31.020 As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen. And all the people wept again over him. Then all 00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:35.980 the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was still day. But David vowed, saying, 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:41.960 May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:47.420 Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did 00:14:47.640 --> 00:14:53.120 pleased all the people. So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:58.720 been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. Then the king said to his servants, 00:14:59.040 --> 00:15:02.820 Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:09.820 I am weak today, though anointed king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. 00:15:10.380 --> 00:15:13.260 May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil. 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.300 2 Samuel 4 00:15:16.880 --> 00:15:21.880 Now when Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:27.160 and all Israel was disturbed. Saul's son had two men who were commanders of bands. 00:15:27.400 --> 00:15:33.380 The name of the one was Baena, and the name of the other was Rechab, sons of Rimen the Bearethite, 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:37.400 of the sons of Benjamin, for Beoroth is also considered part of Benjamin. 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:41.880 And the Bearethites fled to Gideon, and have been aliens there until this day. 00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:46.500 Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son crippled in his feet. 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:52.000 He was five years old when the report of Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel, and his nurse 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.140 took him up and fled. 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:59.640 And it happened that in her hurry to flee, he fell and became lame, and his name was Mephibosheth. 00:16:00.800 --> 00:16:05.960 So the sons of Rimen the Bearethite, Rechab and Baena, departed and came to the house of 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:11.400 Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest. They came to the middle 00:16:11.460 --> 00:16:16.860 of the house as if to get wheat, and they struck him in the belly, and Rechab and Baena his brother 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:21.540 escaped. Now when they came into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:26.580 they struck him and killed him and beheaded him, and they took his head and traveled by way of the 00:16:26.760 --> 00:16:32.220 Ereba all night. Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron, and said to the 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:38.180 king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. Thus the 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:44.140 Lord has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants. David answered 00:16:44.280 --> 00:16:49.480 Rechab and Baanah his brother, sons of Rimen the Beirathite, and said to them, As the Lord lives, 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:55.380 who has redeemed my life from all distress. When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:59.880 and thought he was bringing me good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag, 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:05.439 which was the reward I gave him for his news. How much more, when wicked men have killed a 00:17:05.640 --> 00:17:10.699 righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hand, 00:17:10.959 --> 00:17:15.900 and destroy you from the earth? Then David commanded the young men, and they killed them, 00:17:16.180 --> 00:17:19.839 and cut off their hands and feet, and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron. 00:17:20.699 --> 00:17:24.819 But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron. 00:17:27.020 --> 00:17:31.640 In chapter 1 today, the man who brought the report of Saul's death to David made a terrible 00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:37.740 miscalculation, didn't he? As we read at the end of 1 Samuel, Saul fell on his own sword because 00:17:37.840 --> 00:17:42.620 he didn't want to fall into the hands of the Amalekites. The soldier must have thought that 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:48.520 David would be pleased to meet the one who killed Saul, since it was widely known that Saul had been 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:54.880 pursuing David for oh so long. But remember, David had no desire to harm Saul, because he considered 00:17:55.060 --> 00:18:00.700 him to be the Lord's anointed. So when David heard that this man killed Saul, he had him executed 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:08.059 right there on the spot. David's grief over Saul and Jonathan is genuine and deep, as evidenced by 00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:13.620 the song he wrote and his tearing of his clothes in the morning, weeping and fasting he and his men 00:18:13.760 --> 00:18:20.620 did. In chapter 2, we see David seeking God's direction. He certainly did so while running for 00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:25.480 his life from Saul, but now that that threat is gone, he doesn't forget his need of God. 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:30.940 It is so important to keep God at the center of our life in good times as well as bad. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:36.560 God tells David to go to Hebron, which is a priest's city in one of the cities of refuge. 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:41.160 There he is anointed by the Judahite men as king of the tribe of Judah. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:46.500 Ishbosheth, a son of Saul and the nephew of Abner, is made king of the rest of Israel. 00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:52.680 And this sets up the so-called contest between David's men and Ishbosheth's men. 00:18:53.120 --> 00:18:55.040 Abner wants to keep the throne in the family. 00:18:55.760 --> 00:19:00.060 He wants Ishbosheth to be king over Judah as well as the rest of the twelve tribes. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:03.240 Everyone knows that David is God's anointed king, 00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:08.820 and David has proven that he is willing to wait until God brings it about in his own time. 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:15.960 But Abner has his own plans. So he proposes a contest to the general of David's army, Joab. 00:19:16.580 --> 00:19:22.240 And in order to save face, Joab accepts the challenge. Things got out of hand and the 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:27.200 contestants end up killing each other. This causes the armies on both sides to engage. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:33.480 And before you know it, a total of 20 of David's men and 360 of Abner's men are dead. 00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:40.100 including the young nephew of David, Asahel, at the hand of Abner. So Israel is a divided 00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:45.440 kingdom at this point. There's the tribe of Judah, the house of David, and the rest of Israel, 00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:50.620 which is under the house of Saul. How do you suppose this is going to play out? We'll find 00:19:50.820 --> 00:19:57.360 out in the weeks to come. And then in chapter 3, Ish-bosheth made a mistake. He forgot who really 00:19:57.560 --> 00:20:02.500 put him in the throne. It was Abner who made it possible for Ish-bosheth, King Saul's son, 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:08.000 to ascend to the throne. It was Abner's cunning and strength as a leader who put him there. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:14.640 Ishbosheth was not a leader, and he severely misjudged the consequences of accusing Abner 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:19.340 of sleeping with Saul's concubine. Abner's response was basically, 00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:25.620 How dare you accuse me of this? I served your father well. I kept you from defeat at David's 00:20:25.760 --> 00:20:31.319 hands. I put you in the throne, and now I'm going to take you out of it. I will make sure that David 00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:37.480 becomes king of all Israel. Ish-bosheth was gobsmacked. He couldn't say a thing. He knew 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:43.140 he was powerless against Abner. And Abner went to David and proposed to ally himself with David, 00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:48.640 which David agreed to. When Joab, the general of David's army, heard about the agreement, 00:20:48.760 --> 00:20:54.980 he was not happy and said as much to David. He rightfully didn't trust Abner and thought Abner 00:20:54.980 --> 00:21:01.300 had come to David as a spy, and he took it upon himself to murder Abner. And David, being an 00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:08.680 man mourned for Abner and gave him a proper and honorable funeral. In chapter 4, when Ish-bosheth 00:21:08.800 --> 00:21:14.720 heard about Abner's murder, things really began to fall apart quickly for him. He loses any semblance 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:20.140 of control, and two of his military leaders murdered him and made the same mistake made by 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:25.660 the man who murdered Saul. These two thought they were doing David and themselves a favor by killing 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:30.720 one of David's enemies. They figured they would ingratiate themselves to David by doing this deed, 00:21:31.020 --> 00:21:36.540 but their fate was the same as Saul's murderer. David had them killed and then hung by the pool 00:21:36.600 --> 00:21:43.040 in Hebron. There is a difference between killing in war and murder. Many people think that one of 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:48.160 the Ten Commandments says, Thou shalt not kill, and it does say that in the King James Version, 00:21:48.260 --> 00:21:53.600 but when you look at the original language, the Hebrew, the word used is better translated 00:21:54.260 --> 00:22:00.980 murder. You shall not murder is the commandment. David knew this, and he did not want anyone to 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:06.620 him to the throne through murder. Beloved, be sure that if you think you're on a mission from God, 00:22:07.020 --> 00:22:12.420 that you're not doing anything against God's Word. He is a righteous and holy God, and He will 00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:19.500 accomplish His will only in the bounds of what He has told us in His Word is good and right. He will 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:25.880 never ask anyone to break His own law. David made an example of those who crossed that line because 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:32.080 he wanted everyone to know that his kingdom would be a godly kingdom. What are your thoughts? 00:22:37.950 --> 00:22:44.060 We often think of the great reformers as larger than life, men who stood before emperors and 00:22:44.340 --> 00:22:51.660 didn't blink. But on February 10, 1546, just eight days before his death, we see a much more human 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:57.140 side of the man who sparked the Reformation. Martin Luther was in Eisleben, the city of his birth, 00:22:57.460 --> 00:23:02.860 attempting to mediate a legal dispute between the courts of Mansfield. He was 62 years old, 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:09.360 exhausted, and suffering from severe chest pains. Back in Wittenberg, his wife, Catherine von Bora, 00:23:09.710 --> 00:23:15.800 was understandably frantic with worry. In response to her anxious letters, Luther picked up his pen 00:23:16.010 --> 00:23:21.260 one last time to offer pastoral counsel to the person he loved most. 00:23:22.020 --> 00:23:27.160 In this final letter, Luther didn't focus on high theology or ecclesiastical battles. 00:23:28.030 --> 00:23:32.880 Instead, he gently scolded Lord Cady for her worry, famously telling her, 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.920 Pray and let God worry. 00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:39.980 He reminded her that no amount of anxiety could steer the providence of God, 00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:41.340 writing that, quote, 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:46.460 God is able to create ten Martin Luthers, unquote, if the first one should fail. 00:23:47.600 --> 00:23:49.540 It's a profound moment in church history. 00:23:49.840 --> 00:23:54.320 The man who challenged the papacy and translated the Bible into the common tongue 00:23:55.080 --> 00:24:02.000 spent his final strength reminding his family and us that the sovereignty of God is our only true rest. 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:08.880 Even in his weakness, Luther's faith remained anchored in the mighty fortress he so famously sang about. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:16.760 Tomorrow is Wednesday, which means we'll have a time of praises and prayer requests. 00:24:17.060 --> 00:24:23.960 So if you want to share with the LifeSpring family, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com and fill out that form you'll find there. 00:24:24.360 --> 00:24:30.840 And as always, when you send your prayer requests in, I'll pray for you in my daily prayer time, and I'll pray for you on the show. 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:45.560 Comment on the show at comment.lifespringmedia.com or email me at steve at lifespringmedia.com. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.540 I'll read some of your comments on the show. 00:24:47.950 --> 00:24:49.020 I do want to hear from you. 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:52.500 And now, until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:55.520 Thank you so much for being here and making me a part of your day. 00:24:56.020 --> 00:24:56.800 I'm Steve Webb. 00:24:57.620 --> 00:24:57.700 Bye. 00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:02.620 Lifespringmedia.com slash support. 00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:11.360 Lifespring Media, bringing the message of hope, love, and good news since 2004. 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:20.480 The Lifespring One Year Bible Rewind is a Lifespring Media production hosted by Steve Webb, the OG Godcaster, since 2004.