Transcript for Day 122: Abner Is Killed (2023)

Hi, my name is Father Mike Schmitz and you're listening to the Bible in a year podcast where we encounter God's voice and live life through the lens of Scripture. The Bible in a year podcast is brought to you by Ascension. Using the great event of Bible timeline will read all the way from Genesis to Revelation discovering how the story of salvation unfolds and how we fit into that story today. It is day 122. Gosh, well done, you guys. So good. Huh, we're reading from 2nd Samuel chapter 3. First Chronicles chapter three and four two chapters of names. It's going to be great. You're going to love it. I tell you. And we're also going to be praying Psalm 25. As always, the Bible translation that I'm reading from is the revised standard version second Catholic edition. I'm using the great adventure Bible from a sentient. If you want to download your own Bible in a year reading plan, you can visit ascensionpress.com slash Bible in a year. You can also subscribe to this podcast in your podcast app by clicking subscribe and that would make you subscribed. It'll be great. As I said, today is 122 and we are reading today from 2nd Samuel chapter 3, first Chronicles chapter 3 and 4 and praying Psalm 25. 2 Samuel chapter 3, Abner defects to David. There was a long war between the House of Saul and the House of David, and David grew stronger and stronger, while the House of Saul became weaker and weaker. And sons were born to David at Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon of a Hinoem of Jezreal, and his second chileab of Abigail the widow of Nepal of Carmel. and the 3rd Absalom, the son of Maaka, the daughter of Talmai, King of Gheshe, and the 4th at Anajah, the son of Hagith, and the 5th, Shabbatia, the son of Abital, and the 6th, ethryam, of Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. Well, there was a war between the House of Saul and the House of David, Abner was making himself strong in the House of Saul. Now, Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpa, the daughter of Iya. And a ship of chef said to Abner, why have you gone into my father's concubine? Then Abner was very angry over the words of a ship of chef and said, am I a dog's head of Judah? This day I keep showing loyalty to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a false concerning a woman. God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David, what the Lord has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan Dubir Shiba. In the Shibasheth, could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. And Amner said messengers today, but at Hebron, saying, to whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you. 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 Mikhail, Saul's daughter, when you come to see my face. Then David sent messengers to a Shibishest, Saul's son, saying, Give me my wife, Mikhail, who might be triathed at the price of a hundred four skins of the Philistines. And a Shibishest sent and took her from her husband, Palthiel, the son of Laish. But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bapurim. Then Abner said to him, go, return, and he returned. And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel saying, for some time past, you have been seeking David as king over you. 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. 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. When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. In Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my Lord the King, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires. So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. Abner is killed by Joab. Just then, the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoiled with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron for he had sent him away and he had gone in peace. On Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab Abner the son of Nurr came to the king and he has let him go and he has gone in peace. And Joab went to the king and said, what have you done? The old Abner came to you, why is it that you sent him away so that he has gone? You know that Abner, the son of Nure, came to deceive you and to know you're going out and you're coming in and to know all that you are doing. When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent Messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the Cistern of Sarah, but David did not know about it. And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there, he struck him in the belly so that he died for the blood of Asahel his brother. Afterwards, when David heard of it, he said, I and my kingdom offer ever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the Son of Nere. May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house. And may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is lepros, or who holds a spindle, or who is slain by the sword, or who lacks bread. So Joab and Amishah his brother, slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibyan. Then David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, tell your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner. And David followed the beer. They buried Abner at Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. and the king lamented for Abner saying, should Abner die as a fool dies? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not feathered, as one falls before the wicked you have fallen. And all the people wept again over him. Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day, but David swore saying, God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down. And all the people took notice of it. And it pleases them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. So all the people and all Israel understood that day, that it had not been the king's will to slay abner the son of Nure. And the king said to his servants, do not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel. And I am this day weak, though I know he did king. These men, the sons of Zirawai, are too hard for me. The Lord repaid the evil doer, according to his wickedness. the verse book of Chronicles chapter three, descendants of David and Solomon. These are the sons of David that were born to him in Hebron. The first born Abnon by Ahinoam, the Jeserulites. The second Daniel by Abigail, the Comerulites. The third Absalom, whose mother was Maaka, the daughter of Talmai, King of Gheshure. The fourth Adonaja, whose mother was Hegith. The fifth, Shifatia by Abatal. The sixth, Ethriam, by his wife Eglah. Six were born to him in Hebron at where he rained for seven years and six months, and he rained 33 years in Jerusalem. These were born to him in Jerusalem. 9. All these were David's sons, besides the sons of the concubines, and Tamar was their sister. Amazaya, his son, has a raya, his son. Jotham, his son, he has his son, has a kaya, his son. Manasa, his son. Amnon, his son, Josiah, his son. The sons of Josiah, Johanan, the first born, the second Jajoyakim, the third Zedakaya, the fourth Shalom, the descendants of Jajoyakim, Jakenaya, his son, Zedakaya, his son, and the sons of Jakenaya, the captive. Malkiram, Padaya, Shinazar, Jakamaya, Hoshima, Nibadaya, and the sons of Padaya, Zerubabel, and Shamiya, and the sons of Zerubabel, Mushulam, and Hananaya, and Shilamith was their sister, and Hasubah, Okal, Berakaya, Hasadaya, and Jeshubahesed, five. The sons of Hananaya, Palatia and Jashaya, his son, Rafaia, his son, Arnon, his son, Obedaya, his son, Jakanaaya. The sons of Shakanaaya, Shamaya, and the sons of Shamaya, Hattush, Igal, Baraya. Niharaya and Shafat-6. The sons of Niharaya, Ellie Okhanei, his Gyaj, and Azrikam-3. The sons of Ellie Okhanei, Khadavaya, Ellie Ashib, Palaya, Akhub, Jokhanan, Delaya, and Anani-7. Chapter 4. Descendants of Judah. The sons of Judah, Perez, Hezran, Carme, Hur, and Shabal. Reya, the son of Shabal, was the father of J.H. and J.H. was the father of A'humai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites. These were the sons of Atam, Jezreal, Ishma, and Idbash. And the name of their sister was Hezadil Pony. And Penewell was the father of Gidor, and Ezr the father of Husha. These were the sons of her, the first born of Ephatha, the father of Bethlehem. Ash-Hur, the father of Takawa, had two wives, Hela and Nara, Nara, for him Ahuzam, Ephar, Temeni and Ha-A-Hashdari. These were the sons of Na'ara. The sons of Hella, Zireth, Ishar, and Ithnan. Caused with the father of Anub, Zubaba, and the families of Arhahal, the son of Harum. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name, Jabez, saying, because I bore him in pain. Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me. And God granted what he asked. Jelub, the brother of Shukha, was the father of Meher, who was the father of Eshtan. Eshtan was the father of Bet Rafa, Paseya, and Hina, the father of Irna Hash. These are the men of Raka. The sons of Kinas, Othneel, and Saraya. The sons of Othneel, Hathath, and Mionathai. Meonathai was the father of Ophra, and Saraya was the father of Joab, the father of Gai Harashim, so called because they were craftsmen. The sons of Caleb, the son of Jefuna, Iru, Ila, Ina'am, and the sons of Ila, Ina'az, the sons of Jahal al, Zif, Zifah, Tiri'a, and Asarel. The sons of Ezra, Jethir, Mered, Ifer, and Jelone. These are the sons of Biti'a, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married, and she conceived in bore Miriam, Shamay, and Ispah, the father of Eshtimo'a. and his Jewish wife, Borg Jared, the father of Gidor, Heber, the father of Soko, Jekwethiel, the father of Zanawah. The sons of the wife of Hodaya, the sister of Niham, were the fathers of Kailah, the Garmite, and Eshtemoa, the Makathite. The sons of Shimon, Hamnon, Reina, Ben Hanan, and Tilan. The sons of Ishi, Soheth, and Ben Soheth. The sons of Shila, the son of Judah, or the father of Lakha, Laada, the father of Marasha, and the families of the house of linen workers at Bet Aspia, and Jochem, and the men of Kozaba, and Joash, and Seraph, who ruled in Moab, and returned to Lechem, now the records are ancient. These were the potters, and inhabitants of Natayim, and Giderah. They dwelt there with the king for his work. Descendants of Simian, The sons of Simian, Nemoel, Jamine, Jarib, Zarah, Shaul. Shalom was his son, Nibsam, his son, Mishma, his son. The sons of Mishma, Hamoel, his son, Zakour, his son, Shmia, his son. Shmia had 16 sons and 6 daughters, but his brothers did not have many children nor did all their family multiply like the men of Judah. They dwelt in Biersheba, Molleda, Hazar Shual, Bilha, Ezim, Tolad, Bethul, Horma, Zikleg, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Chahar Arayma. These were the cities until David Rained, and the villages were Atam, Aayin, Ramon, Takhan, and Ashan, five cities, along with all the villages which were round about these cities as far as Baal. These were their settlements and they kept a genealogical record. These mentioned by name were princes in their families, and their father's houses increased greatly. They journeyed to the entrance of Gador to the east side of the valley to seek pasture for their flocks, where they found rich, good pasture, and a land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful for the former inhabitants there belonged to him. These registered by name came in the days of Hezekiah, King of Judah, and destroyed their tents, and them meet Uneem, who were found there, and exterminated them to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. And some of them, 500 men of the Simianites, went to Mount Seyer, having as their leaders Pilataya, Niharaya, Rafaia, and Usaya, the sons of Ishi, and they destroyed the remnant of the Amalikites that had escaped, and they have dwelt there to this day. Psalm 25. Prayer for guidance and for deliverance. A Psalm of David. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust, let me not be put to shame. Let not my enemies exult over me. Yes, let none that wait for you be put to shame, let them be ashamed to or want in the treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord. Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation, for you I wait all the day long. Be mindful of your compassion, O Lord, and of your merciful love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions, according to your mercy, remember me for your goodness's sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right. He teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your names, say, O Lord, pardon my guilt for it is great. Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose? He himself shall abide in prosperity and his children shall possess the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, where He will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me. Any gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my life and deliver me. Let me not be put to shame for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness preserve me for I wait for you. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Father, and have we give you praise, and we thank you. We thank you for the difficulty of these days. Honestly, God, it is difficult to get through these names, and we just have to admit that, yes, they mean something, yes, they're powerful, they're meaningful, and they're difficult, and that is worth noting. It's worth noting that. Oh gosh, Lord, thank you. Thank you for your word that is rooted in history and rooted in reality, rooted in people's actual stories. And so all of these names is a marker. All these names is a person. All these names is an untold story. So many of the names we have here, Lord, are our names of people that we don't know much about other than their name. And other than the fact that they were critical to you. They were loved by you. They were known by you. And they were part of your story to redeem the world. So, in the difficulty Lord, we ask that you please give us strength and give us patience so that we can hear the words we need to hear and we can become the people you want us to become in Jesus' name. We pray in the name of the Father, in the Son of Holy Spirit. Amen. Oh, brother. Okay. So, I don't know if they were difficult for you. We have a couple more chapters with us and it's going to be fine. It's going to be fine. My friends, it's going to be fine. But not only we had first chronicles with a bunch of names where are so good. In fact, I truly am saying this. It's not just I'm trying to psych myself up for this and getting more into the names, but it is a grace, a complete grace to be able to hear here are the stories of the people that are going to factor in to the rest of the story. For example, we have the descendants of David and of Solomon. Now, we're gonna, we might, you might not know all of the stories of all these people, but Solomon has a number, or David has number sons, obviously. We talked about Amnon and how this crossover, again, happy, God incident, right? The crossover between second, same age chapter three and first Chronicles chapter three because the list of David's children is in second, same age chapter three. And in first Chronicles chapter three, it is so good because if you struggled with some of those names like Amnon, And, yeah, Hinoem and Abigail and Daniel and Absalom and Talmai, all of them, these people, these sons of David and one daughter, they're going to talk about Tamar, are going to be very, very important as the story in second Samuel continues to unfold. And then when we get to Solomon, the story of Kings is going to be unfolding, and that's so, so good, and rabom, and all those are the names. So they might not mean a ton, a ton, to you right now, but they mean a ton in the larger scheme of things. In fact, not only we're going to follow this whole line of David and Solomon and Rehaboam and all the rest of them. When it comes to the book of kings, we're also going to find their stories of these guys. The stories of these kings is not necessarily the story of a lot of really, really great kings. And so we're just praise God for the ability to hear their stories, hear their names more than once. But when it comes back to 2nd Samuel, just one quick note on 2nd Samuel, chapter 3. What do we have? We have this story, this tragic story, really, of how David recognizes that he can enter into a agreement of sorts, an agreement of sorts with Abner. Now, Abner was accused by a Shibasheth, right, Saul's son, for taking one of Saul's concubines as his own. I've read some commentaries and they've indicated that there's not necessarily any reason why Abner who seems like a pretty upstanding guy. He seems like a pretty solid individual. Any reason why that would be the truth, but because Shibashith would see Abner as a threat that he would have to make up some kind of accusation against him. Now that maybe the case might not be the case. Either way, what it led to is Abner than going to David and saying, basically, hey, let's make peace. I can, I'll be willing to fight for you and make sure that you are the king over all of Israel. David says that sounds great. Let's go in peace and what happens? Remember, we talked with us yesterday. Ah, violence, begets violence. And so, Joab finds out that Abner was just there. Remember, from the day before, from the chapter before, remember there's three brothers, Abashai, Asahel, and Joab, and Abner had killed Asahel. Now he killed Asahel in self-defense. He killed him in battle. It was straightforward, kind of a real thing here. There shouldn't be any desire for revenge, and yet Joab takes, gives into his desire for revenge, And he kills Abner. This highly decorated general. This person that many, many people in all of Israel would have known him. They would have been a very, very prominent figure and a respected figure. Now, what's it look like? It looks like David and invited Abner to his, his home. And then he called them back and then, you have kills him. So what David does is genius and is just shows again, David's character. It's genius because it unites all the people. And it shows David's character because it's the right thing to do, where David publicly mourns the death of his enemy. David publicly mourns the death of Abner and he actually even instructs the murderer, Joe Ab, himself. and Abishai's brother. He instructs them both to wear sackcloth and to tear their garments. Everyone, he says, we're all going to do this, including the guys who murdered Abner and all the people saw this and they recognized. Yeah, David, he's a good leader. He's a good leader because he has his character and he's wise. And there's something so good about this, as I said, it pleased all the people. Everything I David had done. It pleased the people because David and he showed his the depth of who he is, the kind of leader he was, and the kind of human he was. And that's just such a gift. To be able to mourn for one's enemies. Because it would have been wise or for David to have made that enemy a friend, and that's what he wanted to do in the first place. Anyways, for us, the same thing that's true, it is often more beneficial. It's where it's called to let those enemies become friends. Not because we need to trust people who aren't trustworthy, but because they have an open door to people who might be able to come back home, might be able to be reconciled, might be able to be forgiven. To do that, we need wisdom, right? Because we don't want to be taken for a fool. We can't trust people who aren't trustworthy. And yet, Abner here seemed like a trustworthy person. So there are people in our lives who in my life may be that I've hurt and so I need to be careful. I can't just trust them because they hurt people around them. I hurt me. So I can't just trust them. But there are others that maybe have hurt me, but I can grow and trust again. And the cycle of violence can maybe end. with me in my heart. So we pray for each other so that that's like a low balance ends in our hearts and that forgiveness can be offered from our hearts and reconciliation can be offered from our hearts. So we need to pray. We need God's grace to do that. So I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. My name is Father Mike. I cannot wait to see you tomorrow. God bless.