QT 2/13/2023 2 Sam 3:13-19, Cleaning out the attic (forgotten or hidden sins)

2 Samuel 3:13–19 (ESV) —

13 And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” 14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned.

17 And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. 18 Now then bring it about, for the Lord has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” 19 Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do.

 

NOTE: Abner has, after 7 years, come to his senses. He realizes that only David can save Israel. David, for his part, demands the return of his first wife. Technically, he had never divorced Saul's daughter, but she had been taken away by Saul. Consequently, she was living in adultery. Also, the marriage restores David as part of the Saul household, and gives him some legal claim to the throne. Abner meets with the other tribes (gaining their blessing), and then the tribe of Benjamin separately. The tribe of Benjamin had the most to lose with the kingship moving out, but they now were outnumbered too since everyone else wanted to make David king. It is a mostly peaceful transition except for what will happen next by Joab.

 

David's action in regaining his wife removes the stench of adultery in the monarchy. If he had divorced her, he could not remarry. That was prohibited by the law. Clearly, he had not divorced her. She was still his wife and so his actions restores morality to the monarchy.

 

PONDER:

1. Do we ever think about our sins, even the so-called little sins and how they bring a stench into our family?
2. What are we doing to restore wholeness to our homes?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for restoring me and giving me salvation in Jesus. I am still a sinner and I need your blood to wash me. But salvation does not exclude my need for sanctification. Continue to refine me to be more like the savior.