Abner Challenges David's Army (2 Samuel 2:12-17)

8/22/2010 7:58:11 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Abner challenges David’s army

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Samuel 2:12-17

            Message of the verses:  “12  Now Abner the son of Ner, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon with the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul. 13  And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, one on the one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. 14  Then Abner said to Joab, "Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise." 15  So they arose and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. 16  Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon. 17  That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.”

            I would suppose that this battle took place some four plus years after David was named king in Judah for Abner had already made Ish-bosheth, son of Saul king over all of the tribes but Judah.  The beginning of this battle seems kind of strange as there is a contest between Abner’s men and Joab’s men.  Now Joab was the nephew of David and the head of his army, however David seems to have a hard time in controlling Joab at times.  The result of the contest was that all twenty-four men were killed and then there was a battle that took place afterwards of which Abner’s army was beaten badly by Joab’s army; something that I am sure was very surprising to Abner.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Joab seemed to be an underdog in this battle, but if he would have thought about it he should have been able to figure it out that God had chosen David to be king over all of Israel and nothing he could have done would have stopped that.  This reminds me a little bit about when Saul, who became Paul, was converted on the road to Damascus and the Lord told him, in so many words, that he could not stop what was going on for it was of the Lord.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.       I never want to interfere with what the Lord is doing.

2.      I give myself to the Lord for worship and service today.

3.      I seek to be protected by the Spiritual armor as I am in a battle today.

4.      I wish to continue to learn contentment.

5.      I want the Holy Spirit to search my heart for unconfessed sin.

6.      I want the Lord to direct my path this day.

8/22/2010 8:19:33 AMA