2 Samuel 2: David & Abner Jockey for Power, God's Will in ☧

Rev. Doug Nicely, pastor of Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study 2 Samuel 2.

“And Joab said, ‘As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.’” Even though the North had pledged its allegiance to Saul’s son Ish-bosheth and the South had anointed David, it’s not all black and white. In chapter 2, Ish-bosheth’s general Abner shows three times that he wisely seeks to avoid a slaughter among fellow Israelites, but David’s men just won’t back down. David may have been God’s choice, but he was posturing as much as Abner for power and territory as the true successor to Saul. We are humbled that God’s will is done and His kingdom comes despite our will, and confident that ☧ saves even when both sides unrighteously seek their own self-interest.