2 Samuel 3

Let’s pray to open. Lord speak clearly through me, help us to see Christ more clearly.

Intro

I got my Dad the GoT boxset for his birthday a few years ago, and we watched a few episodes together. It was a brilliant TV Show that captivated so many people. This whole passage almost feels like a Game of Thrones episode. There are key leaders in the North and the South, from rival families, making political moves to strengthen their own position. Everyone wants to be in charge and be king, to have power. We have Ish-Bosheth the puppet king, maybe like King Joffrey, who is nothing more than a face for the real power in Tywin Lannister. And there is a betrayal, with Abner betraying the house of Saul for potentially a better offer at House David. Maybe this is like Tyrrion, the Imp, who betrays house Lannister and goes off to support Daenyrs Taegaryn the Dragon Queen. There is betrayal and war in both. This passage, like Game of Thrones is gruesome and gritty and dark. Game of Thrones navigates the brokenness of the world not at peace. Because no-one wants to watch a series where nothing happens. But as we watch we find ourselves as viewers eager, for yes to see who will end up on the Throne, but also to see the land at peace.

And so in the finale we get our wish, all the houses are united together and land is at rest. And even though the way Directors got there was rubbish, the point still stands that we want a happy ending. We want resolution, we keep watching after cliff hangers. We want peace in these fictional worlds. pause But we want peace also in our world today. How we hate hearing of the recent stories of the unrest of Iran firing upon Israel, the frightening events in Bondi and Wakely and Doonside. Or even more close to home how we hate when there is tension and division in our relationships. These things happen far too often. Peace is so ever-elusive. And we see the realities of this broken world in the passage before us.

peace slide

This passage continues the story where God is bringing his chosen people, the Israelites, into a land of peace and blessing, under the rule of a chosen King in David. Throughout this passage, we take big steps forward towards this reality, with David ending as the uniformly recognized leader after years of war and disagreement. We see that God works through it all, through surprising ways and people, to bring about peace to the nations. But in this passage, and the remainder of 2 Samuel we see that peace in our world, is elusive. Peace now is so quickly fractured and easily broken. So where can we get it?

Todays big idea is Peace in a Broken World.

Body

We’ve come from last week where we heard of the savage war between Ish-Bosheth and David. But it's not really between Ish-Bosheth and David. It’s really between David and Abner. Abner is the one who initiated the gruesome war between the two regions. Abner made Ish-Bosheth a puppet-king , like we see in 2:9.

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We see his power in verse 6 “Abner had been strengthening his position in the house of Saul.” One of the likely ways he was been strengthening his position is seen in the accusation described in verse 7, the claim that Abner is sleeping with one of the concubines in the royal harem. In ancient days, for rulers, this was a sign of power. Abner doesn’t deny the claim and it seems unlikely that Ish-Bosheth would make a bold political move against Abner, given how he is depicted as weak in verse 11. However, Abner doesn’t like being accused, and he promises to shift alliances and do everything he can to bring his former enemy, David, into power, as we see in his angry speech in verses 8-10. He is essentially saying “I will do everything I can to make David King”.

He has not suddenly had a change of heart and wants to honor the Lord. He is likely motivated by impure reasons, seeking glory and honour for himself in this new alliance. But the Lord can and does use anything and anyone to accomplish his purposes. What is surprising here is that Abner knows, and has known all along, the Lord’s plan. We see in verse 9 that the Lord has promised David on oath, and Abner is aware of it. He knows that David is the promised King, yet he has ignored it, only now bringing it up as a fall-back plan when it's convenient for him. He has lived in opposition to both David and to the Lord. And after Abner’s oath, he gets to work immediately.

***v12 -19 slide ***

From verses 12 to 21 we see a series of political conversations that have one purpose in mind. Peace. To transfer the kingdom to David and establish his throne. Previously a WarMaker Abner is now happy to unite the people of Israel with David. He meets David’s conditions by bringing Michal, Saul’s daughter, to David. A symbol to the people that there is unity and peace between the two houses, yet again, bonded through their marriage. Abner himself goes around, and chats to all parties involved, especially the Benjamites infamous for their loyalty to House Saul. And at last the good news!

v21 slide

Abner’s almost saying to David “David David! The people of Israel are ready to follow you. They acknowledge you as the Messiah, the Chosen One by God to lead us!” We can see this in v21. And so David sends Abner away in peace.

All is good! After many years of Saul chasing David, and the war between Israel and Judah it seems now that peace will occur. We see the plans of God finally coming together, through an unusual source in Abner. And because Abner is now acting in line with the plan of God, albeit with likely impure motives, he still receives peace from David.

***peace verses slide ***

The writer makes it extremely clear that Abner was sent away in peace. Because it is repeated multiple times, in verse 22, “David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.”, and verse 23, “The king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace.”

David brings peace to Abner. David provides an arm of peace to the one who has been sowing division. He shows kindness and forgiveness to the one who had been against him. Abner, the rebel and war-lord over the past few years turns back and he is forgiven.

long pause

Unfortunately, the story does not end here. Peace doesn’t last, not in a broken world. We encounter Joab, a man hell-bent on revenge. And we see in verses 24-26 his arrogance as He accuses the King of not knowing what he is doing, of being stupid. Verse 24 “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go?”

And then jarringly, Joab disobeys King David and goes against his plans. He betrays his king with a vile act, that would be disgraceful in war, let alone in this newfound peacetime.

We see sharply the contrast between peace and anger. We see the damage of not having forgiveness and the ugliness of revenge. In verse 27 “They had a private meeting, And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.”

This was a cold-blooded, calculated assassination. It’s a scene of revenge and anger. Of hatred. Of betrayal under the guise of peace. Abner innocently enters into the hands of his old enemy, confident of the peace that David had just provided. slow And he is betrayed, stabbed and dies.

And friends, in light of recent events in Australia, I think it’s only fitting to pause here. Because this world is broken. There is so much anger and hatred. The loss of life, it’s heartbreaking and it does not belong in this world. And we’ve seen it so much, too much, this week, in Bondi, Wakeley, Doonside.

*Kanishka slide *

And Friends, I think it would be appropriate for us to pause in a moment of silence, a moment of reflection and respect for all those who have lost their lives at recently. In around 30 seconds I’ll say an amen. There’s a prayer on the screen if you want to pray it.

pause

Amen.

Joab’s actions threaten to disrupt the union between the houses and throw the land yet again into civil war. But David’s response to this tragedy is fitting and right. He responds both with mourning and with justice.

It’s a good thing to mourn injustice. We see that in the actions of the king and the people as they respond to these events in verse 32 “They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.”

The king weeps, the people weep. It is a right and good response to mourn after evil has happened, after wrongdoing has occurred. In King David we see the right response to tragedy. He weeps. We do not have to bottle our pain up and just move on. It’s okay to take some time and process the emotions. And it’s a good thing to do so in prayer with God. Cry out to him, pour out your pain and anger, everything. He can take it. Most Psalms, written by David, are a crying out, a mourning at the injustice that has occurred. Keep talking to him even in suffering.

And another right response to wickedness that we see in the passage is justice. We need justice because we aren't in a peaceful world. This world is broken and so we need justice against those who break peace, who harm, for those who are hurt. We see this as David curses Joab and his actions, and forces him to take responsibility for it in a humiliating sack-clothed walk in verse 31. We don’t know if Joab is remorseful, likely not, but David forces him to take ownership of his actions as he walks in front of the dead Abner.

slide 39 + 1 Kings

Another way we see justice is in the final verse of todays passage, with David calling on the Lord to judge Joab. v39 “And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”

Although it certainly is the right thing to trust in the Lord’s justice and to call on him to judge, this is actually a sign of David’s weak leadership. He is not the perfect King that Israel and the world so desperately needs. He doesn’t act decisively and appropriately punish Joab. And over the coming weeks we will again see how flawed David is. In different parts of 2 Samuel, in chapter 1 and chapter 5, next weeks passage, we see that David enacts justice on those who take innocent life. He has them killed. And so it should make us angry at the unfairness of this response. Joab gets away with it, with a light slap on the wrists solely because he is powerful. It seems David is afraid of losing his newfound position as King if Joab leaves him. And how often do we see this in the world. Where the rich and powerful get away with shocking crimes. It should make us angry when we see people hurting and sin not punished. But friends they will not get away with it forever. The Lord will judge. He will punish all sin. He will punish every little sin, every wicked thought or deed, every bit of anger and frustration. He doesn’t sweep it under the rug or forget about it. And that is such good news to those who have been sinned against. There is a hell where all evil, all evildoers will be rightly punished.

In regards to Joab, we get to see his punishment in the book of 1 Kings, at the end of David’s life. He doesn’t forget. In David’s final words to his son Solomon he remembers Joab’s evil and provides justice for Abner in 1 Kings 2:5-6 “ *****Deal with [Joab] according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.*”

Deal with him. Do not let him have peace. And we see that this wicked sin of Joab’s is met, almost immediately through Solomon, a few verses later in that chapter, verse 34 “So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him”.

Justice has come for Abner. Joab is killed.

holding Peace slide

But we see time and time again that David is not the perfect King. Luckily, We are followers of Jesus Christ, not King David. He is a great example of Jesus, but he is so flawed. And our King Jesus is perfect. We look forwards from David, to Jesus. It is only right that as we focus in on David, the Messiah of Israel, the Chosen King, we continue to cast our eyes into the future to Jesus, the Messiah of the World, the Chosen King.

So when we see David as the peacemaker, offering grace to the one in rebellion we can see how much better is the grace that Christ provides us, the ones in rebellion to him.

When we see how David provides justice in the end, we can see how much more decisive is the justice that the Lord Jesus provides, for every piece of sin.

And when we see David mourn with compassion over the ugliness of sin and murder, we can see how much deeper and real and passionate is the love of Christ for the world, for you and your pain, for me and my pain.

As we continue on in 2 Samuel, we will see again and again that David is unable to provide true lasting peace for the people of Israel. But let us not be disheartened and look to Christ, the provider of eternal, deep peace. There can be peace in this broken world, in Christ. We can have peace now, but only in Christ. He is the one who calms chaotic storms. The one who restores relationships, calms unrest. He is the one who while getting stabbed with nails in his wrists on the cross, He cries out at those who are killing him and says “Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing”.

He is the peace this world needs. Desperately.

***Romans 12 slide ****

And so we are called to follow Christ’s example and live in peace and forgiveness, even when it is hard. We see this in Romans 12:18

****If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] says the Lord.

As followers of Jesus, of this Prince of Peace, it is our aim to strive to be like him in all things. And so like Jesus, we are called to live at peace with everyone. We strive to do so because we trust that the Lord is the Lord of peace and also of Judgement.

We have confidence that our perfect king, Jesus, will remember and judge the evil in this world. We can have peace because we trust the Lord is a fair and good judge. We can leave it up to him to deal with it. He will avenge it. He will not forget. You can have confidence that God’s wrath will happen to those who do not repent. For those who abuse, who extort, who cause division, who murder, for those who are not peaceful, they will experience God’s wrath. In hell. God misses nothing, all sin will be punished.

DV hotline slide

But also, in God’s kindness we live in a part of the world where he has set up governments to act with justice on his behalf. In the next chapter in Romans, it says that God has set up the authorities and that we should obey them. And so if you have been wronged, it is a good and right thing to seek justice. To report it. For the abuser and the wrongdoer to pay for their crimes. You are not called to suffer in silence, to not protect yourself. Seek justice.

On the screen are some helplines, some phone numbers of people who are trained to help. These numbers and helplines are also in the churches bathrooms, on the cubicle doors. Please take the time to read them. Domestic Violence does happen and it is not acceptable. Seeking justice is good.

Conclusion

Friends as we come to close, and summarise, as we read this passage and throughout 2 Samuel, and as we see time and time again throughout the Old Testament, this world is not where we are meant to be. Peace is fleeting. But the good news is that this is not the end of God’s creation. His plan for us does not end here in this broken world. The certain hope of the Christian faith is that there will be a day when there will be true peace. Unrestrained peace. With nothing to break it, nothing to disturb it. Where there will be no more crying. There will be a day where there will be no more broken relationships, no more bitter remarks or passive-aggressive comments. They will cease. It will be a glorious day. A peaceful day. Come to Christ to receive this peace. Keep coming back to Christ because that peace is available to you. Let us end with these final words from 2 Thess 3:16 ”Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

Peace be with you.