APRIL 3, 2 Samuel 3:1-10

Abner was the formidable commander of Saul’s army and he tried to rally the ten northern tribes around the only surviving son of Saul, Ishbosheth. However, Ishbosheth was a weakling. One day he accused Abner of having an affair with Rizpah, one of Saul’s concubines. If it was true, it was a dangerous move, because to claim one of the king’s concubines was a sign of claiming the throne. So Ishbosheth could have felt threatened by this action.

In any case, the charge so angered Abner that in a fit of fury he turned against Ishbosheth whom he himself had helped put on the throne. He swore that he would switch his loyalty from the dynasty of Saul and offer the entire ten tribes to David, the king of Judah. He dispatched messengers to David informing him of his defecting to David’s side. David was only too glad to meet him. Now, there was hope that the nation would be united as one.

                How did God make Abner to defect to David’s side?
                Did David plan and plot this move?

                God did this by first souring the relationship

                between him and ____________ , the king that he

                championed. Ishbosheth accused him of having an

                affair with one of his ____________ which Abner

                denied. He felt unfairly treated that he decided to

                 ____________ side and pledge his loyalty to David.

Thought: The hearts of men are in the Lord’s hands.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me trust Thy great power to do great and mighty things that men think impossible. Faith is the victory that conquers the world. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.