Mephibosheth
2 Sam 4:1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
The King of Israel was feeble without Abner who was his strength. It does not mention here if he trusted in the LORD, but it appears that he trusted only in his flesh. Perhaps he was feeble of mind when Abner used him to gain power over Israel. All Israel was troubled, for they saw weakness in King Ishbosheth, he had trusted in Abner.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
David had God's Spirit, this gave him strength and wisdom and the respect of His people.
2 Sam 4:2 And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin.
2 Sam 4:3 And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)
When the military rules over a king, they must be watched. For now that Abner was gone there was no protector of the king. Who could he trust? Here are two captains of the armies who have a devious plan.
2 Sam 4:4 And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.
This was the son of David's beloved friend Jonathan. David had made a covenant with Jonathan to watch over his family, he later made a covenant with Saul to care for his family. This young boy being lame would be in danger, if a king of the world were in power. The custom would be to kill the heirs of the previous king, but David was a man of God's word and he kept covenants.
God expects us to keep our promises too, for he keeps His. Every promise in the Bible he honors, if we do as he says. Mephibosheth would be a test of David's honor in keeping his word.
Blood flows
2 Sam 4:5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.
2 Sam 4:6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.
The two military captains in the kings service entered the unguarded room of the king in the middle of the day. Where were the guards? The king was neglecting to provide himself with protection.
2 Sam 4:7 For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
They used the dagger on the king in the same manner as Joab killed Abner, only he was killed as he rested in his bed. They took his head as proof of his assassination.
2 Sam 4:8 And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.
They brought their prize into the palace of the king as a cat brings in a dead mouse, seeking approval. They were expecting perhaps a reward from David, the opposing king was dead. Had not Saul treated David as a criminal? Now by killing Saul's son, they took pride in being his avenger and pretended to be doing God's will. The LORD hath avenged? Was not this the work of the devil? Too often God is accused, when it is evil men doing the devil's work. Be careful to not give God the credit for your self willed deeds. His ways are perfect, give him glory for His works.
Isa 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:
Isa 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
2 Sam 4:9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,
It is the LORD who helped David, he is his redeemer, in him he trusted. He needed no help but the LORD. What had the LORD said about avenging?
Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
2 Sam 4:10 When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings: (2 Samuel 1:10)
2 Sam 4:11 How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?
2 Sam 4:12 And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
Swift justice under the law. David was not a king as the other kings. He kept his covenants to protect Saul and his family. The head of the king was buried near Abner. He gave them the justice they deserved and showed Israel that he did not approve of the assassination of their king. The king was in the ground with his military protector. Who would save them now?
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
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