The first king of Israel, Saul, has died in battle. The news has already reached David and his camp in Ziklag and instead of rejoicing over it they mourned for Saul as if he was their close friend. Only the love of God in his heart would have moved him to such a reaction.

Now David is at a crossroads on what to do and so he asks the Lord for counsel and direction.

• 2 Samuel 2:1-4
  1 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
• Upon seeking counsel from the Lord, God tells him to go up to Hebron which is in Judah. And it is there that the men of Judah come and anoint him to be king over the house of Judah.
• Notice that he is just king over Judah and not king over the whole of the Israelite nation.

His first act as king was to attend to the men of Jabeshgilead.

• 2 Samuel 2:5-7
  5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. 6 And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing. 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
• David shows proper regards for the men that had taken the bodies of Saul and his sons from the Philistines and gave them a proper burial.
• This showed that he had nothing against Saul or his household. And more than that, that he was not involved in the battle in which Saul perished.
• At the same time, he announced his coronation of king over Judah and invited anyone who would to join him.
• Judah was only one of twelve tribes that made up the nation Israel. What had happened to the other eleven tribes?

Something had taken place that would stop David from ruling over the whole of Israel for a nearly 8 years. What was it?

• 2 Samuel 2:8-11
  8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim; 9 And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel. 10 Ishbosheth Saul’s son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
• David had asked God whether he should take the throne. And it was on God’s approval that David moved forward. God had told him to go to Hebron. However, it still was not a smooth transition for him to be king over the whole nation.
• David would be king over Judah for seven and a half years before becoming king over all Israel.
• What happened to cause such a division? Abner, Saul’s commander took Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, and made him king.
• Why did Abner do that? While David was a fugitive from Saul, there was that time that he crept into the camp of Saul and took his water bottle and spear. Abner was meant to be guarding him. And so when David was a safe distance away, he gave Abner a rebuke.
• 1 Samuel 26:15-16
  15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. 16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
• As a result, Abner did all that he could do to create division and to stop David from taking the throne. It was out of spite because of the rebuke from David.
• However, it was also out of selfish ambition. Abner was the commander of the armies of Israel during the reign of Saul. But if he was to join David, David already had his commander who was Joab. Surely he would not be in that same position if he were to render his services to David? He would be demoted and not have as much power and influence as to what he now had.

Thus, there would be much civil war between David and Ishbosheth, between Joab and Abner, and between Judah and Israel.

• 2 Samuel 2:12-17
  12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
• Overall, David’s soldiers were better trained and more disciplined. He would continue to gain the upper hand.
• But it didn’t stop there.
• 2 Samuel 2:18-19
  18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. 19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
• Asahel, the brother of Joab, would chase after Abner to try to kill him.
• 2 Samuel 2:23
  Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
• After repeated warnings from Abner to Asahel to turn aside and not keep chasing him, Asahel refused to listen. So Abner would eventually strike Asahel and he would die.
• 2 Samuel 2:30-31
  30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
• 2 Samuel 3:1
  Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
• Civil war was taking place within the country when there were more important matters to look to. Satan had achieved his purpose in setting up kings in the land of Israel as they acted more like the heathen did when there was change in king. The chase to gain power and influence was the same in Israel and in other nations.
• However, David’s armies and kingdom would continue to get stronger and stronger while the house of Saul would continue to grow weaker and weaker. God was obviously with David.

Eventually, Abner had a seeming change in heart. Why? How did it all begin?

• 2 Samuel 3:6-11
  6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine? 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; 10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. 11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
• Ishbosheth accuses Abner of going into his father’s concubine. Nowhere do we see that Abner denies such an accusation, nor do we see that Abner did do such a thing. Instead, Abner gets angry at the king of Israel and points out that he has shown kindness to the house of Saul instead of delivering Ishbosheth to David.
• Abner recognizes that the Lord had sworn the kingdom to David. And so it was a known fact that David being established as king was God’s own appointment and not by man’s hand.
• However, Abner had chosen to go against the will of God and keep the house of Saul established because of his own selfish ambitions.
• But it also showed how much power Abner had in the kingdom, seeing that he could get away with rebuking the king and then walking out saying that he would turn the kingdom over to David. Ishbosheth feared Abner more than anything else. And it really was by the leadership of Abner that most of Israel still followed Ishbosheth rather than defecting over to David. Abner knew this, and so did Ishbosheth, that it was Abner who had the real power behind the throne.
• His resolve to transfer the kingdom over to David was probably not the result of hasty judgment. He would have seen the house of Saul growing weaker and weaker whilst David’s house was increasing in strength. But this seemed like the favourable opportunity to carry his decision out that he had previously arrived at. This was the only way to preserve his own life and honour.

So Abner comes to David.

• 2 Samuel 3:12
  And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
• Surprisingly, how does David react?
• 2 Samuel 3:13
  And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
• David agrees to the agreement with Abner. Then Abner brings Michal (David’s first wife) back to David. They have a feast together and Abner then departs to begin uniting the kingdom to be one under David.

However, there was one person that was absent whilst David was talking with Abner. Who was it?

• 2 Samuel 3:22
  And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
• It was just a short moment after Abner left that Joab would come in from war. He was gone while David and Abner came to the agreement for Abner to bring all of Israel under David. What was his reaction?
• 2 Samuel 3:23-25
  23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. 24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? 25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
• Joab did not trust Abner at all. Afterall, it was Abner that killed his brother Asahel.
• So he runs after Abner, making him to think that he is maybe greeting him or wanting to talk further about uniting the kingdom together. But what does Joab do?
• 2 Samuel 3:27
  And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
• Joab would smite him under the fifth rib and he would die.

Upon hearing this, how does David react?

• 2 Samuel 3:28
  And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
• David declares that he is guiltless for the murder of Abner. And he would mourn for his death. Everyone would come to know that it was Joab that murdered him in cold blood.
• 2 Samuel 3:36-37
  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.
• People would see how David reacts and they were pleased. They would come to the knowledge that it was not David’s desire for Abner to die in order for the kingdom to be united.

If we take a step back, we would realise that it was actually not a wise decision on the part of David to do this politically. To have his enemy suddenly defect to his side would have raised more eyebrows than approvals amongst his counsellors.

• But David knew that it was not good for the kingdom to be divided and constantly at war. He wanted peace.
• And although we read that what Joab did was not accepted by the king and ultimately by God, what Joab lacked was faith and trust in God and the king whom God had appointed. He decided to take matters into his own hands and act unrighteously.
• Many would have read into the motives of Abner to be selfish and devious, and they would not have been wrong. But another wrong any does not make up for someone else’s wrong.
• We need to be careful that in trying to do what is right, we don’t act unrighteous. God is more than able to deal with a situation in the right way rather than to resort to wicked human efforts.

Upon hearing that Abner was now dead, what would happen next to Ishbosheth and those that followed him?

• 2 Samuel 4:5-7
  5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, 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.
• He is murdered by two of his own captains. And thinking that David would be happy to hear this, this this head and bring it to David.
• How does David react?
• 2 Samuel 4:10-12
  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 Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
• They had obviously not heard about the incident of the man that brought Saul’s crown and bracelet to David, bragging about the fact that he was the one that had killed David’s so-called enemy – Saul. David did not rejoice but took the life of the man who so willingly killed the Lord’s anointed.
• However, these two men were in fact responsible for the death of Ishbosheth. They had murdered him unjustly and they paid for it with their own lives.

2 Samuel 5:1-3
1 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.

• Finally, after seven and a half years of civil war, the whole of Israel is finally united under one king again.
• David finally realizes the promise that Samuel the prophet gave to him as a teenager when he anointed him king over Israel. What faith and patience David had to exercise that God would bring it to pass one day.
• It was not David’s desire to be fighting against Israel. That was the fault of Saul, and then Abner. Yet, Israel got to see the result of their decision in foolishly asking for a king.
• But God would not leave them or forsake them. Finally, God would place a man on the throne that was after His own heart and after His order. And God would begin to exalt David and Israel, and elevate the kingdom to a level never yet seen before.

Have you ever been tempted to doubt God’s promises and His word? Maybe you’re wondering today why all this trouble is taking place around you when all you have done is been faithful to God. That was the experience of David in having to run from Saul and then wait another seven and a half years for the promise from Samuel to be fulfilled.

I want to remind you today that all of God’s promises are a yes and a yes. We don’t need to doubt God’s faithfulness. He never lies. However, His timing is not always our timing.

Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Sometimes we will be called to wait. Even though there seems to be a delay, it will surely come to pass.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?

What God says, He will do it. Only, today let us continue to cling to Him by faith. Let us not lose hope nor courage. God is faithful. Let’s continue to trust Him and to trust His Word today!