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Looking back…

2. How well do you handle power?

3. David has begun to shape a new regime.
In doing so, he is also establishing a new culture.
Now, he has learn how to deal with the good and the bad of those he has brought along with him.

4. A combative spirit often comes from a proud heart.

5. David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered.
2 Sam. 2:1
In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked.
The Lord said, “Go up.”
David asked, “Where shall I go?”
“To Hebron,” the Lord answered.

6. David begins right by asking the Lord about whether and where he should move.
When our situations in life change, our new beginnings should be met with a deliberate seeking after God, His help, and His direction.

7. 2 Sam. 2:2-4a
So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

8. Those who suffered with David would now reign with him.
For the first time in ten years, David and those with him are not fugitives.
Those who suffered with David would now reign with him.
This same reality is true for us 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 2:26-27

9. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.
2 Timothy 2:12
If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.
Revelation 2:26-27
 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father;

10. David continues to care for those who were with him through his difficulties.
It’s not uncommon that as things get better in our lives, we tend to forget those who have stood by our side.

11. It’s wise to remember and maintain relationships with those whose track record in your life is proven.
New may be more appealing, but it is also risky and fails to value loyalty.

12. 2 Sam. 2:4b-7
  When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.  Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

13. Honoring Jabesh Gilead was both right and wise.
Recognizing values like honor, courage, and bravery is important in any nation.
Doing what is right instead of indulging pettiness is always a good thing.

14. 2 Sam. 2:8-11
 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Boshethson of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim.  He made him king over Gilead,Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.  Ish-Bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned two years. The tribe of Judah, however, remained loyal to David. The length of time David was king in Hebron over Judah was seven years and six months.

15. Abner’s actions were in direct conflict with what even Saul knew was God’s will.
When we place human tradition over God’s revealed will, we make a serious mistake.

16. “All right, let them do it,” Joab said.
2 Sam. 2:12-14
Abner son of Ner, together with the men of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. Joab son of Zeruiah and David’s men went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat down on one side of the pool and one group on the other side.
Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”
“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

17. 2 Sam. 2:18-21
The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. He chased Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he pursued him. Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?”
“It is,” he answered.
Then Abner said to him, “Turn aside to the right or to the left; take on one of the young men and strip him of his weapons.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

18. 2 Sam. 2:22-23
Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? How could I look your brother Joab in the face?”
But Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back. He fell there and died on the spot. And every man stopped when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

19. 2 Sam. 2:24-26
But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner, and as the sun was setting, they came to the hill of Ammah, near Giah on the way to the wasteland of Gibeon. Then the men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They formed themselves into a group and took their stand on top of a hill.
Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

20. 2 Sam. 2:27-29
Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”
So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt; they no longer pursued Israel, nor did they fight anymore.
All that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, continued through the morning hours and came to Mahanaim.

21. 2 Sam. 2:30-32
Then Joab stopped pursuing Abner and assembled the whole army. Besides Asahel, nineteen of David’s men were found missing. But David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty Benjamites who were with Abner. 
They took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb at Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and arrived at Hebron by daybreak.

22. David tried to create a culture of respect, his leaders made that more difficult.
It’s important to surround yourself with good people who share your perspective.

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24. The conflict between Abner, Joab and their men reflects a spirit of foolishness and vengefulness that leads down a road of tragedy.

25. Need to know the difference between friendly competition and dangerous contests of pride.

26. David tried to create a culture of respect, his leaders made that more difficult.
It’s important to surround yourself with good people who sign on to the right perspective.

27. How strange that our society is now at a place in which we need to have rules and penalties against taunting.

28. workplace environments board games siblings marriages
An overly competitive spirit shows up more often than we might imagine in and around:
school lunchrooms
workplace environments
board games
siblings
marriages
when people imagine their teams as their surrogate selves

29. When things get too competitive, when the stakes get too high, we need to know when to quit.

30. James 4:1-3
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

31. But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
James 4:4-6
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

32. James 4:7-10
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

33. Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

34. Our inward conflicts lead to outward conflicts.

35. Brother-to-brother battles result.
Envy and jealousy can’t (and usually won’t) be expressed as we sometimes feel, so more frustration ensues.
Brother-to-brother battles result.

36. Prayer can simply be an expression of selfishness.
We don’t turn to prayer and when we do, it often still only involves us.
Prayer can simply be an expression of selfishness.

37. God never runs out of grace. Grace is always available to the humble.
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

38. Steps to Peace
1. Specific, regular prayer
For grace
For wisdom and a transformed mind
2. Study in the Word
To discover principles
To transform our thinking

39. Steps to Peace
3. A Humble Life
Aware that failure is possible
Aware that it’s a process
4. Recovery
By confession
By embracing spiritual realities

40. A combative spirit often comes from a proud heart.