ripple effect: vacaville

Read 2 Samuel 5:1-12.

[We're going to do some serious skipping...so...

* David's about to go to battle with the Philistines and King Achish, but the commanders tell him to go away. Achish had to send David home. So...we don't know if he would have fought.

* When David returned to Ziklag, he saw that the Amalekites had raided the town and stolen all the women and children (including David's wives, Ahinoam and Abigail). David asked God (through Abiathar, the priest) whether or not they could beat the Amalekites. God said they could; and, on the way to find them, David met an Egyptian servant of the Amalekites who promised to lead them to the bad guys. He did, and they beat them down and got everything back.

* The Philistines beat down the Israelites, killing Saul's sons: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua. Saul was struck by an arrow, and he begged his armor bearer to go ahead and kill him. He wouldn't, so Saul had to kill himself. Then the armor-bearer killed himself. So...Saul's whole unit got killed that day. Then the Philistines cut of Saul's head and fastened his body to a wall in Bethshan. The men of Jabesh-gilead rescues Saul and his sons' bodies and gave them a proper burial.

* 2 Samuel starts with David hearing of Jonathan and Saul's death from some random guy. This guy lies and says that he killed Saul (thinking that David would like that). Instead, David mourns and has the guy killed for daring to lift his hand agains the Lord's anointed.

* David sings a lament that includes the famous words, "how the mighty have fallen."

* David then goes and becomes king of the tribe of Judah. He also commends the men of Jabesh-gilead for honoring Saul.

* Abner, Saul's commander, made one of Saul's other sons, Ish-bosheth, the king of Israel. He was the king for two years.

* Abner and Ish-bosheth's men fought Joab (David's commander...brother to Abishai) and David's men. David's guys won. Joab had another brother, Asahel, who was a fast guy. He followed Abner's chariot on foot, and Abner ended up stabbing Asahel through with the butt end of his spear. Joab and Abishai hunted down Abner, but they ended up calling it off after Abner makes a speech about not killing fellow Israelites.

* Ish-bosheth's army got weaker and weaker, and David's army got stronger and stronger. We learn that David had sons through his many wives. Turns out David has a couple more than two wives. Here's the breakdown: son #1 Amnon (mom is Ahinoam); son #2 Chileab (mom is Abigail); son #3 Absalom (mom is Maacah?); son #4 Adonijah (mom is Haggith?); son #5 Shephatiah (mom is Abital?); and son #6 Ithream (mom is Eglah?). Wow...six sons from six mamas!

* So...Ish-bosheth accuses Abner of sleeping with one of his father's concubines (big insult). Abner says the accusation is insulting and tells him that he's going to go help David become king from now on! Abner sends a message to David, and David says that the only way he can join the good side is by bringing him Michal (Saul's daughter). Ish-bosheth ends up allowing this, and poor Palti (her husband) cries the whole way as Michal leaves for David. Abner tells him to go home, so he does.

* Abner rallies all the leaders of Israel to David's side. Joab catches wind of Abner helping David and refuses to trust Abner. Then Joab calls Abner for a "private meeting" and murders him. When David finds out about this, he places a curse on the house of Joab. David wins over the people by the way that he mourns for Abner. They realize that he didn't assassinate him-- Joab did.

* We are informed that Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth (who was crippled in the feet). He'll come into play later.

* Two of Ish-bosheth's captains, Rechab and Baanah, ended up murdering him. They brought his head to David, thinking he would be happy. Instead, David kills the two men because he considered Ish-bosheth "innocent." David buried Ish-bosheth's head with Abner's body.

Wow...sounds like a soap opera.]

1. David finally becomes kind. Don’t you think the people would be happier to follow him?
2. The Jebusites (who were living in Jerusalem) talked smack to David because they didn’t think his army could get in the city. They went in though the sewers, and cleaned house. Then Israel became known as “the city of David.” It still is. The promised land is looking like it’s finally taking shape.
3. Hiram of Tyre sent lumber to build David’s home. Sweet. It says that David knew that he was blessed because of God.

So…we obviously have some unresolved issues…

1. What’s going to happen to Joab and Abishai?
2. What’s going to happen to Jonathan’s crippled son, the heir to Saul’s throne?
3. Are all the people going to buy in to David’s leadership?

Stay tuned…