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You arewelcome

StoneCreek

www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

February 24, 2013

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Thompson family history

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Abner took one of Saul’s concubines for himself.

That was significant.

Abner reached out to David and offered to help him become king of all Israel.

Abner really wanted to be king of Israel, and was using

Ishbosheth.

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2 Sam 3:12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. Abner said, “Whose is the land?” --

He was implying that it was his to control.

Join up with me and I will give it to you.Arrogance!

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13 And David said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

Saul had given David’s wife to another man.

That was a deliberate insult to David.

David wanted her back to erase the insult.

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14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

Saul had demanded that price for Michal.

David paid the price.

Michal belonged to David.

No one could keep his property!

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15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. 16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

Callous treatment of common people is not a new thing.

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17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: 18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

We learn here that the tribes other than Judah had also wanted David to be King.

Abner and his army had prevented them.

But now he says it is the Will of God.

Quoting the Word of God for his own purpose.

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19 And Abner also spake in the ears of (the tribe of) Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. 20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

Abner is working to line up support for David.

David hosted a feast in Abner’s honor.

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21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

So, there’s peace between David and Abner.

But, the real question isHas Abner changed in

his heart?

Not at all!

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Joab had been out with the army raiding against some Israelites.

When he returned, he heard about Abner’s visit, and the treaty he had made with David.

Joab was angry and told David he had done wrong.

He said that Abner had come to spy and was up to no good.

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Joab took matters into his own hand, and not for righteousness sake

Vengeance.

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David was angry and saddened by Joab’s revenge.

He cursed Joab and all his descendants.

David buried Abner in Hebron, and declared a time of mourning for him, and fasted that day.

He admitted that he should have punished Joab for his evil deed, but could not.

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David was tender-hearted and had trouble punishing people whom he loved.

But that is not altogether a bad trait.

Ephesians 4 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

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Abner was not a good man.He was greedy, ambitious, and all about self.

He would have broken his treaty with David.

God would have brought him down, because he was an enemy to David.

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But Joab’s act of vengeance was not honorable.

SneakyBecause he thought that Abner needed killing,

and David would not do it,

He took matters into his own hands.

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When we take matters into our own hands,

We take them out of the Hand of God.

Romans 12 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not your-selves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Revenge takes many forms:Hurtful words

Hurtful Deeds

Passive aggressi

ve

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Let’s be more like David and less like Joab.

Be not like Abner at all.Let’s be tender-hearted and kind.

Let’s be open and honest before all.

Be bold; never sneaky.

May we never take matters into our own hands.