2 Samuel Chapter 2:1-26

We spent so much time and effort in ministry as a whole, trying to figure out what we can get God to do was doing talk got into doing what they went on got a new ceiling got a backward that's no way to live a life and ministry.

A better way is to see what God is doing. It's okay, God, why your blessing this working to do more of that were in it where you put more effort and energy and resources and the lack of got your only last seen that that's a healthy attitude and welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. As David McGee teaches through second Samuel today find some interesting insights and share with us some of that is he's assisting pastors. Thanks again Bob, great to be here with the listeners open up your Bible take some notes if you're able to come back to this a listen on the podcast today. Pastor Dave talk about seeing God bless something in getting behind you know me alive. Her mother great teacher say look for where God is working, going always want to be a follower in the thing that God is doing. We see great things.

Let's listen as he continues teaching verse by verse through second Samuel chapter. So were looking at. The second book of Samuel. Now what's happening is Saul now as God is killed in battle. After a long, long time, but just not listening to the Lord disregarding the Lord billing against the Lord and and against Samuel, who was the spiritual leader of Israel and also trying to kill David when David was probably the best friend the Sauber had had a heart to serve Saul and so last chapter. David was lamenting the death of Saul which you know we looked at the fact that one statement of David's character that he would mourn the death of his enemy says a lot about David so that brings us into chapter 2 verse one it says it happen after this. David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go out to any of the cities of Judah and the Lord said to him, go up and David said, where shall I go up and he said that he brought so David went up there and his two wives also and I know I'm the judge or lightness and Abigail the widow of the ball. The Carmelite and David brought up the men who were with them every man with his household, so they dwelt in the cities he brought in the men of Judah came in there they anointed David king over the house of Judah, and they told David saying the men of Jabez Killian were the ones who buried Saul verse five. So David sent messengers to the men of Jabez Killian and send them you are blessed of the Lord for you shown this kindness to your Lord to Saul and buried. And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay this kindness because you have done this thing now therefore let your hands be strengthened and be value for your master Saul is dead and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them, but the son of nerve, commander of Saul's army took issue. Moshe, the son of Saul and brought them over to Matt Matt name and he made him king over Gilead over that she writes over Jezreel over Ephraim over Benjamin, and over all Israel to see a distinction between these two travelers to tribes of Judah and and and then the other 10 tribes listed as Israel and sadly this is an amazing division that will see later under the rain after the reign of Solomon. But this guy Abner West must figure out who Abner is because he is going to play a pretty major park here in the next couple chapters 1st Samuel chapter 14 verse 50 says the name of Saul's wife was at a no on the daughter of him as in the name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of nurse Saul's uncle so Abner was Saul's cousin who was the commander of Saul's army as County interesting and when you think about this because there's a couple things that I'm thinking Abner should have been involved in an Abner should've done that we didn't see him involved with and we didn't see them doing one is in verse 17 verse 55 is is when Saul, Saul, David, going against the Philistines. He said there the commander of the Army son is issues not understood as your so little soaking. I do not know.

So the king said, inquire, whose son this young man is going to point out something may not be obvious, but okay so Abner and Saul are having this will chitchat. While Goliath comes out and challenges not only armies of Israel challenges their God. And so Abner and Saul are kinda hanging out, chatting, and David. This use comes up decision on what is going down. I'm taking them that we have to question why wasn't Saul going out to fight Goliath, but here we see the same point with a different character, why wasn't Abner, the commander of the Army going out. The fight Goliath. I don't know seems to indicate perhaps that there was character flaw was say well maybe was a coward. I don't know you know I you would like to think the commander of the Kings army would say I don't care how big he is God's on our side. I'm going to take now to clearly work so you see here. He didn't didn't make they let David a young boy, go out and do this on the line. Abner didn't think it points to something not just one time but will see it over and over again. First Samuel chapter 26 verse 14 through 16 and this is one of those times that that David had the opportunity to kill Saul and didn't Abner was the commander of the Army and David had the opportunity to kill Saul not once but twice was Abner doing will will David got a point this out in this passage and David called out to the people and to Abner the son of nurse and do you not answer Abner. Then Abner answered and said who are you calling out to the king.

So David said that there are you not a man and who is like you and Israel. Why then have you not guarded your Lord the King for one of the people came in to destroy your Lord the King in this thing that you have done is not good as the Lord lives.

You deserve to die because you have not guarded your master the Lord's anointed and now see were the king spirit is the jug of water that was buys it. David had those things. Abner was doing his job was protecting Saul.

David had the opportunity kill Saul in any brings out the fact that Abner wasn't doing his job. I'm sure this endeared him very much to have the way this theme in front of everybody.

I'm asking a question. Saul and his three sons died on the battlefield. Where was Abner and why is Abner still alive, the commander of the Army you would think would be by the side of the king of the king was going down, and his sons are going down. He would stand with them. He would stand with the king, no matter the odds. They didn't do it and do it as a story and I love this story.

Robert the Bruce. He was in the Braveheart movie, but he was a real-life Scottish character and he ended up fighting against England to see Scotland be made free and on his deathbed he had several men that served him on his deathbed he asked that one of these men would take his heart and put it in a leather satchel when they went in the battle that they would carry his heart into this into the back one amends that all do that for you my king I will do that. The man won many battles in one day when he was with about 100 men. They came up the fight against 1200 men. They fought valiantly in the fall. Bravery bravely, but the got surrounded these men look to their leader. At that point the leader took the leather pouch off of his neck and he threw it over the head of the enemies and he turned to his men. He said now fight for the heart of your king. I love that.

Why because we should be fighting for the heart of our king, King Jesus, not just a king. The king, king of kings and the be courageous, even when the odds look horrible. I'm been in the situation doesn't matter what the odds look like their human one person and God is a majority, you're never outnumbered with God at Abner obviously didn't get that we look at disease okay will Abner I guess I do some twisted loyalty, perhaps for Saul wanted to see in her Saul's fourth son, his remaining son be made king, that's not it at all really see this this chapter and the next chapter wasn't some twisted sense of loyalty. Abner was it was a PowerPoint was a PowerPoint and Abner instead of swallowing his rod because David had corrected in St. will you know what this is the will of God out. David, I'm with you, he became contentious and divisive against God's anointed king David to because it was plain that this was not the will of God that Saul's son be made king first Samuel chapter 13 verse 13 Samuel talking to Saul.

And Samuel said to Saul you have done foolishly.

You will not can The command of the Lord your God, which he commanded you. For now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever, but now your kingdom shall not continue the Lord a song for himself, a man after his own heart.

The Lord has commanded him to be a commander over his people because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you gotten this is it, Saul, your family, your sons after you are not going to rain. That was the word of the Lord, but Abner did one here that Abner wanted to do his own thing and practical personal application fairly obvious and it July times we get something in our thoughts we think will let's do this. Let's do that. And sometimes, indeed, God is leading us to do that, but sometimes is not what we do then what we do when we see who God is anointed are empowered. We don't necessarily agree with God's decision. How do we handle that tells a lot about about the person God is anointed because let's be honest, God frequently anoints people that you know you got a scratch or Hanover.

Some of you may be scratching your head over me and that's okay. I mean I scratch my head over me some of the life lesson here is we should see what God wants to do what God's blessing and get totally behind it.

We should see what God wants to do what God is blessing you get totally behind the scene. We spent so much time and effort in ministry as a whole, trying to figure out what we can get God to do was doing talk got into doing it. Assuming talk got a new ceiling did not do it. That's backwards that's backwards. That's no way to live a life and ministry. A better way is to see what God is doing.

It's okay.

Got your lesson this working to do more of that were in it working to put more effort and energy and resources and the lack is gone. Your only blast scene that that's a healthy attitude in ministry and it's not you know a lot of churches have taken that, you know, if you build it they will come backwards rather than trying to talk got in the doing something I wouldn't do were with you, God bless and we will remove that that is a great way to live a life of ministry you try to live the other way you live a frustrated life is always going try to talk God into blessing something when God is so willing and so able to show you what is blessing and let you get behind that you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be back with more than just a moment but first, if you haven't been to our website@crossthebridge.com yet what you waiting for go to cross the bridge.com to learn more about how listeners like you are helping get the life-changing truth of God's word to more people to the radio, Internet and mobile technologies across the bridge.com you can also check out our broadcast schedule. Listen to more teaching from Pastor David and sign up for Pastor David's free daily devotional and there's more thereto, so visit cross the bridge.com today. Now here's Pastor David as he continues showing verse by verse, verse 11 in the time that David was king and he brought over the house of Judah, seven years and six months now Abner the son of nerd, and the servants of this vicious, the son of Saul went out from man name to Gibeon in July, the son of Sarah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon so they sat down, one on one side of the pool and the other on the other side of the pool. So Abner was the commander of Saul's armies and Joab was the commander of David's armies again week we see this division.

Once at the heart of this division between Joab and Abner and between David. This will shift at the heart of it. David was seeking the Lord. Abner was dear obsessed that that is worth so much of the friction in the world comes from and he made the painfully mistake of marrying somebody there was an unbeliever, you know what I'm talking about that division that friction that comes from one person desiring to do what the Lord wants to do in the other person not wanting to do with the Lord wants to. There's attention. There's attention.

Whether it's a marriage or in a church with leadership. Some people listen to the Lord.

Other people got their own agenda. There's going to be tension.

There's going to be division and what always happens.

Infighting always weakens a whole. Infighting always weakens the whole it's always a sad thing to mean it here about this church fighting in this church splitting in this church doing that man behind Jesus was being divided and will and will and to any person that would not hesitate to divide the body of Christ, have you ever heard the story about the church. They did a thing on the kind of take off on the Sistine Chapel you know of God touching Adam and given life to Adam.

Adam had a belly but part of leadership came up that Adam shouldn't have a belly button because he wasn't born of woman he came from the desk of the grant.

Other sides that will really give a belly button. Because human beings are belly buttons and it wasn't involved. He was born in Malaga. Another group said no. I deafly didn't have a belly button and if you don't take away that bellybutton paid overly in the church and I did over whether Adam had a bellybutton or not.

That is a true story. We messed up or what their people. Diane go into eternity without God more than talk about whether Adam had a bellybutton don't you email me about. I will I will not answer. I know tell you beforehand, not going to spend answer, so they got this division and Abner's letter asking what the will of the Lord is verse 13 mentions a spool of Gibeon. They found is there is a very real place and once again you know the Bible is shown itself to be historically accurate to be archaeologically accurate and again, historically, archaeologically, there's never been one person that's been able to disprove this book.

Hundreds and hundreds of people try to affect Sir William Ramsey, historian set out to disprove the Bible going through the book of Luke and was going to show that the geography and it was false. Well, he came to not only discover that it was true, but after discovering the accuracy of the book of Luke actually converted to Christianity. A lot of people that set out to disprove the Bible that in the believe in the Bible. So when intricate details again. You know when we don't ask God's guidance we get in a lot of trouble and Abner's headed towards trouble.

Verse 14. Then Abner said to Joab, let the young men now arise and compete before us and Joab said let them arrive so they arose and went over by number over Benjamin followers of fish per shift in the son of Saul and 12 from the servants of David again. They're not asking God or just doing what they wanted to verse 16 with an endless see the result. Verse 16 each one grasp his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side so they fell down together, therefore, that place was called the field a sharp sword which is in Gibeon and we don't talk to the Lord, you just plod ahead. People get hurt people get hurt what was gained here affect some time simply by fighting we lose there some fights that we we don't need to be fighting, and there are some fights that we need to be fighting the pray for God's guidance about what fights the flight will fights not to fight.

Verse 17 so there was a very fierce battle that day and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David now understand Abner and his men over the past few years and been in a lot of combat landmen in the some battles think about David's men all David's men and know over the past few years was fine was fighting them when you engage in the battle look for some people have been in battles before.

Look for some people been victorious in battle to our experience that when war breaks out that the people you want around you people who have been fighting in a Wheaton Sunday we had the elders and deacons and so many of these guys have been in the trenches with me for years. I may wind that we locked arms and some pretty serious battles and so I know their experience. I know that the will fight when there is a fight to be fault David's men they were experiencing. They want verse 18.

Now the three sons of their ire were there. Joab and Abba Schein asked and asked how was this fleet as fluid as the wild gazelle of their house was a half-sister to David so Joab was his nephew, as well as Abba Schein asked. They were David's nephews. This can be come important and what happens so asked help pursued Abner and in doing need not turn to the right hand to the left following number. Then Abner looked behind him and said you asked Helen he said answer Diane and Abner send him turn aside the right energy left and lay hold on one of the young men take his armor for yourself.

But as hell would not turn aside from following. So Abner said again that sale. Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike into the ground. How then could I face your brother Joe so Abner's got them in a dilemma because he realizes the if he taken if he thinks I fell out, he's made a real enemy of joy because their brothers enjoy them as the leader of David's army.

Verse 23. However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back and he fell down there and died on the spot so it was that as many as came to the place where is held Phil down and still this part of the problem with division people get hurt when division comes in. People get hurt in an obscene seen here in this church. It breaks my heart to know that the end result is somebody getting hurt. And even if that person meant me harm or spoke evil of me. It's it's still saddening to see them get hurt messed up and up in a dry place before the Lord, but Abner Abner was on the news own thing and it will hurt people over and ask what happens when you quit listening to God you doing your own thing in your walk in your own way you start to not care about who gets hurt in the process. That's what happens with but what really see is when the people it ends up getting hurt in the process is Abner himself for needing to remember that that is you demand your own way and try to not listen to God that you're gonna leave bodies in one of the bodies that very well may be left in your wake is your own, you probably end up hurting yourself more than anybody here we have Abner's China manipulate an interesting when you look at the three main personalities and you've got fish per shift which is yet he's kind of been thrown into this simply because of his connections to the Saul's son so he's kind of thrown into this thing and innovative been a real real strong man in gamblers questions as you read really think about the stories couple from the why wasn't he in about I think was his dad knew he was a very strong soldier said you stay home, left him in a weird position and I think he knew as well as Jonathan's brother that David was to be king. I didn't care. So he's having a shot of manipulators connections is a weak leader is without the anointing of God and you got Abner's China manipulate everything make it work to his own benefit doesn't care what the will of God is in you got David is anointed call and appointed but is willing to wait on God's timing. David's not involved in this battle.

I want you to notice his absence.

I think he had anything to do with. I think his men went off on the stand think David was waiting on the Lord open up the doors and God does open up the door. Verse 24 Joab and I wish I also pursued Abner the sun was going down when they came to the hill of them, which is before you buy the road to the wilderness of Gibeon, not the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner became unit took their stand on top of the hill.

Then Abner called Joab and said show the sword devour forever.

Do you not know that in the that it will be better in the latter in how long will it be that into you tell the people return from pursuing her brother. Let's review verse 14. At this point go back to verse 14 with me.

Then Abner said to Joab, let the young men now arise and compete before us this whole thing was Abner's idea. When Abner starts losing in his life is in danger. These all, let's make the piece. Let's not fight people get hurt another little realization on the character of Abner if he starts this whole mess needs I: still fighting more life lesson here when there is division in the body of Christ, people get hurt Joab skinny again. The be heard. These are been hurt. He's lost his brother Abner is going to suffer very much in the next chapter. People get hurt is a high price for division of the New Testament talk so harshly about the vision division in the body Christ speaks very harshly against loser be in the vice to be careful. Be careful what you say with your mouth the sorts of things and be in the vice asked God what he wants to do and God anointed certain person you don't agree with that and you submit yourself to God friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now own Legion.

A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend if you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossed the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. You can also write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life. Now before we go in a world it seems chaotic at every turn. Jesus wants you to experience peace this year want you to experience his shalom, which is wholeness, joy and hope. No matter what the circumstances are that you face every day meal.

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