Sat.’s Devo - David’s Rocky Start

Read: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30 Abner who was the army officer of Ishbosheth came head to head with Joab, David’s army officer at the pool of Gibeon. Abner suggested they have a contest. Twelve of his best men would fight 12 of Joab’s men. They agreed and they each killed the other. Then the real battle began. 
 *** Joab had two brothers named Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was a very fast runner, so he pursued Abner on foot. Abner was much older and didn’t want to kill Asahel, but when Asahel wouldn’t stop pursuing him, he struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear. The spear went all the way through his body. *** Joab and Abishai saw that Abner had killed their younger brother and chased after Abner till they came to the land of Benjamin. All the people of Benjamin came out in support of Joab. Abner called out to Joab to stop the killing and called a truce. Joab agreed. When Joab got back to his troops they found they had lost 19 men, but Abner had lost 360 men. *** The house of Saul continued to war with the house of David. David became stronger while Saul became weaker. *** During this time, David had six sons by six different wives. Their order was Amnon, Chilean, Absalom, Adonijah, Stephatiah, and Ithream. *** Abner was becoming powerful in Israel and went in to Ishbosheth’s concubine which showed great disrespect to the king. When Ishbosheth confronted Abner, he was very offended. He told Ishbosheth he had made him who he was today and he would unmake him just as easily. He was defecting to David’s side and would give him Israel. Ishbosheth was very afraid of Abner from that day on. *** Abner went to David and offered to make a covenant with him to give him Israel. David said he would make a covenant with him if Abner would give him back his wife, Michal who Saul had given to Paltiel. Abner went and got Michal and brought her to David. Abner also met with the elders of Israel to tell them that it was time to make David their king. They agreed. *** Abner met with David again at Hebron and told him he would go throughout Israel and bring them there so they could make a covenant and make David their king. David let him go in peace. *** Meanwhile, Joab had just returned from a raid and was bringing all the spoils to David. He heard that Abner had met with David and had left in peace. He pursued Abner and killed him as revenge for killing his brother. *** When David found out what Joab did, he cursed his house with illness, leprosy, death and poverty. *** David made Joab and all who were with them tear their clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn for Abner. He refused to eat till the sun went down. The people of Israel loved David and approved of all he did. *** In John, Jesus was at his last supper with his disciples. Judas had already made up his mind to betray Jesus. Jesus knew he was going back to God and this was the last moments he would have with his disciples. He washed their feet. When Peter didn’t understand, Jesus told him he would understand later. *** Then Jesus asked them if they understood what he had just done. He told them that he had done this as an example for them to do to others. They were to remain humble and serving God, their creator and master. He told them that one of them was not clean and that he would lift his heel against him. He finally told them that one of them would betray him. They were all questioning who it was. Jesus dipped his bread and said that the one he gave it to was him. He gave it to Judas. He then sent Judas out to do what he had determined to do. The disciples didn’t understand what was happening and thought Jesus was sending him on a mission to buy something. Jesus was in truth sending him to sell him. *** Lord, how precious those last moments with your disciples must have been for you. Thank you that one day we will be able to see you face to face. May we enjoy your fellowship daily even now.