God Is Faithful But I Still Have Work To Do

 

Synopsis     2Sam 3:10-21     11/18/2018 

Ishbaal was the son of Saul and the second king of Israel. Abner was the general over Ishbaal’s army. He was also Saul’s first cousin.  

But Ishbaal’s kingdom was in trouble. After Saul died, the tribe of Judah had named David as their king. And Samuel had anointed David as the next king. Samuel had anointed David as the next king of Israel. And it was widely known that the great prophet, Samuel anointed David for this purposed. And he prophesied about David’s kingship. But, as time dragged on, Ishbaal could feel his power weakening. But he blamed Abner his problems. And, in an effort to undermine him, Ishbaal accused Abner of a crime.  

Ishbaal’s charge enraged Abner. And he responded by committing to helping David become king over the whole of Israel. He made a pact with David. Likewise, the tribal leaders from all the tribes of Israel made clear their disdain for politics as usual. So Abner consulted with the tribal leaders of all the tribes of Israel. He got them to ally with David. And he even secured the return of Michael, David’s estranged wife whom Saul had given to a man named Peltial.  

Finally, Abner met with David face-to-face in Hebron. There they made a pact. The kingdom was about to finally come to David, just as God had promised and the prophet Samuel had spoke.  

David Was Shrewd 

David demanded the return of Michal as a prerequisite to meeting with Abner. But David’s motive transcended the romantic. His request was a brilliantly timed political demand that was intended to accomplish two things.  

First,  it was an implicit threat of war. When Ishbaal received the demand from David to restore his wife Michal, he immediately sent Michal back to David. Michal was Ishbaal’s sister. So, he sent his own sister back to his archenemy even though Saul had given Michal to a second husband named Paltiel. Ishbaal did this despite the lawful pleas of her second husband. Ishbaal clearly feared that David would use any refusal as a premise for war. 

Second, the demand for Michal created a set of circumstances by which Abner could meet with David without suspicion.  

David trusted God. But he also looked for ways to agree with what God was doing in his life. This is how he positioned himself to generate the unique value that he alone was created to bring into the world.  

God is Faithful But I Still Have Work To Do 

I have to agree with God if I’m going to enter into the possibility of my life.  

He says, “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself”. And so I focus my attention on these two things. And, God saves me through the circumstances I encounter. As they are given. So, I encounter the circumstances through which I will create the value that I was created to bring into this world.  

Potential to actual. The true manifestation of an eternal reality.