https://youtu.be/NavIbqPRzZE

2 Sam 3- Now then do it. Sauls house getting weaker- Davids house stronger, The kingdom is divided north and south. In this time- who your king was is everything- provides protection. Abner is 2nd to ishbosheth, but ish is losing- must make a move. So Abner makes a big move- sleeps with the concubine- power move to get over on him-  Goes to david- make a covenant with me- I’ll help you be king- I’ll bring isreal. David says- if you bring me back my wife. Goes to the elders of Israel- go to david- tells them the prophetic words. So he goes to David- says- I talked to Benjamin- its all good. Abner goes with his 20 men- They make him a feast- Abner says Ill go gather isreal- . Joab comes back from a raid and the men tell him that abner was there (Abner killed his brother Asahel) . Joab disrespects David- and says that you had your chance to kill him, but you didn’t. Joab meets him at the gate to kill him. David hears about it- distances himself from Joab. He mourns over abner- follows the coffin- they weep- they realize that it was joab that killed abner and not davidLet me walk you through this story- Explain it all and then go back (explain story)

So what do we focus on? 2 sam 3:17 Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. 18 Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ”Now do it. Abner speaking words he should have spoken to himself, but also to Joab, EldersNow then do it- Quit living for yourself Micah 2:1-2 READ This is the heart of AbnerAbner was completely self seeking in this story- He sleeps with Rizpah to pull a power move on Ishbosheth- He’s the one who installed him! Why? V1 Sauls house was weaker and Davids stronger- He knew that he had a limited time to act to secure his place within the new administration- he gets so incensed that Ish. Is afraid of him! (This is narcissistic behavior- its meant to push it on Ish. As the perpetrator- not that Abner did this unrighteous act)He had been talking to the elders, he knew the truth- david was to be king, not ishFrom 10k feet, it appears that Abner has a change of heart- he goes to David- BUT- “make a covenant with ME”…. “I will bring Israel” Abner doenst make kings, GOD does!Proverbs 3:27  Do not withhold good from  those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. (He should have just repented and helped David with no return)Not going to be talking a lot about David today- but he makes the feast- Honorable to do 4 enemy. Shows again- his heart- But he HAD to because of the unification of N/S KingdomAbner goes to the Elders and says ‘Now then do it” for them to make David King

Take that advice yourself Abner! You make David King! Quit with your negotiations and self-seeking behavior. Quit vying for influence and position. SUBMIT TO HIS LEADERSHIPSame as the disciples in NT- Whats in it for ME? (Luke 9, mk 9, mt 18- Least- Like a Child)Posturing, scheming, conniving, are not what God intends for his people. David is a Christ figure (Son of David). Ultimate king and authority and Abner REFUSES to submitWhat does it mean to you?You cant live for Jesus and yourself at the same time. This is a constant theme in preaching because it’s a constant theme in the Bible. OT stories of Baal worship, idol worship, Its all self seeking- because they wanted to control their Gods, not be controlled by GodsPeople set limits in their relationship with God. “I’ll serve you until this____) and then they stop serving God, because there is a demand they don’t want to meet.  Death to self is keyPhilippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,