2 Samuel 1-3
Life Isn't Easy
for a Reason

Those who speak and deal truthfully delight God, and He blesses them to encourage such behavior. Those who lie and deal falsely will suffer His wrath, because they are an abomination to Him. Our words, as well as our deeds, can wound or heal others. The wise person, who has the right objectives for their comments, and the right timing, builds up others so they can be blessed and experience God's peace. Sometimes it is wiser to say nothing even if it's true, if the timing isn't right. The one who just blurts out foolish words from a foolish heart, doesn't build up, but wounds. The wrong objective is to just say what one is feeling, without thinking of the other-centered implications. Those who speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) will have both a legacy and protection from God. Those who don't, will wish they had.

The Amalakite probably came upon Saul's crown and brought it to David, lying about the events, hoping to be rewarded for killing David's enemy.

David mourns the multiple loss and executes the liar on the basis of his own testimony.

David composes a lament for Saul and Jonathan, called “Song of the Bow” (a symbol of might). It's amazing that David is able to speak well of Saul, eulogizing him as the glory of Israel, loved and delightful, and the one who delivered and blessed the daughters of Israel. Unfortunately Saul's shield (protection) was not anointed, and it failed him. There is no hint of bitterness toward Saul, nor rejoicing that his persecutor had perished. This speaks volumes about David's ability to draw on the grace of God to deal with the difficulties Saul had caused him. Satan uses bitterness to ensnare believers who fail to forgive those who wrong them and acknowledge God's sovereign goodness in permitting the difficulties.

David gives greater praise for his relationship with Jonathan. The Scriptures are not hesitant to talk about sex as it occurs in various contexts. There is a word for sexual love (to know), which is not used here. The word for love in this passage is that of an emotional bond that is used of friendship, or of our love for God (Dt 6:5), or God's love for His people (Dt 23:5). It is specifically differentiated from sexual love in (Gen 29:20,32) There has not been and is not a breath about a sexual relationship between David and Jonathan, which would have been a clear violation of the Scriptures on which both men staked their lives (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Dt 23:17; Job 36:8-14). The essence of love is not self-centered eroticism, but giving/sacrificing of oneself in serving the needs and looking out for the interests of others. That's the kind of love God demonstrates toward His people, a covenantal loyal love, hesed. That's the kind of love Jonathan demonstrated towards David, in sacrificing his own right to the throne in favor of God's choice, and risking his life to encourage David in the Lord.

David asks God if and where he should go. We frequently ask only the latter, and wonder why there's no answer. In Hebron, the men of Judah anoint David as their king. David blesses the men of Jabesh Gilead for the loyalty they showed to Saul, who had delivered them in his first victory. Their loyalty to Saul, David's enemy might be interpreted as hostility toward David, but he assures them that they did the right thing, and he is not their enemy. He mentions that the men of Judah have acknowledged him as king (hint, hint), but his diplomacy falls on deaf ears, as the rest of the chapter reveals.

Abner, the captain of Saul's defeated army (who should have stayed with Saul to the bitter end, but fled) appoints a puppet king, Ishbosheth, Saul's last son (1Ch 8:33). Ishbosheth means “man of shame” an upgrade or downgrade from his original moniker, Eshbaal “man of Baal”. God has specifically said that Saul's kingdom would not continue (1Sam 13:14) but Abner didn't get the memo.

A meeting between Abner and Joab, David's loyal chief of staff and army turns into a battle in which David's men mightily defeat Saul's men. Joab's brother was a casualty for his refusal to stop chasing Abner, who struck him with the blunt end of his spear, and unintentionally killed him in self-defense.

Abner and Joab call off the conflict so Israelites aren't killing each other.

In fulfillment of God's promises, David, the one blessed by God, gets stronger while the house of Saul, cursed by God, gets weaker. This theme is seen in the blessing of the fertility of David's wives, some of whom we hear about for the first time. God cites them positively, and since He makes no negative comment about them, neither will I.

Abner gets grief and religion. Ishbosheth gives Abner grief for taking one of Saul's concubines (who could bear an heir for the throne), and alienates the man who made him king. So Abner switches allegiance to David.

Abner acknowledges that Yahweh had promised the kingdom to David! An amazing admission for a guy who supported Saul against David and set up Ishbosheth as king against David.

Abner and David make a covenant, with the stipulation that David gets Michal, his first wife and Saul's daughter back. This gives the ten tribes, who are loyal to Saul's house, a reason to be loyal to David, since he is Saul's son-in-law.

Joab returns from a victory and hears of David's interaction with Abner (his military rival, and slayer of Joab's brother) and expresses concern that Abner will attack David. Joab sends a message to Abner and meets him at the gate of Hebron (a city of refuge) and kills him to avenge Asahel (although it looked like self-defense). David goes ballistic, asserting his blamelessness, and cursing the house of Joab and his father. David laments Abner like he was Jonathan, and experiences no political fall-out from the ten tribes. David exhibits great loyalty to God, but looks like he values his enemies over his loyal friends (and nephews). Joab, the mighty man of valor and action, apparently didn't learn from David the benefits of waiting for God to fight his battles and execute justice. By taking matters into his own hands, he got them dirty.

Zeruiah was David’s sister, and the mother of Joab, Abishai, and Asahel his loyal nephews (1Ch 2:16) and leaders of David’s men.