Series: 3:16- Numbers That Bring Hope [#10]
THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM RESTORATION
2 Samuel 3:16
Introduction:
This morning, we are going to continue our series from chapter 3 verse 16 of each Book of the Bible. This is the most difficult 3:16 passage yet. Not only is the passage challenging; but the events of this week have been challenging. Now, I am not saying that it has been impossible, because we can do all thing through Christ. In fact, as usual this passage is very fitting and applicable to us.
2 Samuel 3:16 (NIV)
“Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back."
I wanted to read just this 1 verse to you this morning to prove a few things. 1st- It is necessary to read more than 1 verse when you are studying the Bible. You need to understand the context of the passage. 2nd- The stories we read in the Bible are about real people who went through terrible and unfair situations. 3rd- God has a word for you today, even in the most odd passages of the Bible. I want each of you to know that I started preparing for this sermon last Sunday afternoon and I was looking at this passage from the negative view. I was looking at the weaknesses of David and not what the Lord was doing. Karen and I were going somewhere and we were talking about this passage and I told Karen about all of the negative things going on; but Karen saw it differently. She said, “I see God restoring to David all of these things he had lost”. I began thinking and praying about that and you know, she is right.
If you were to begin reading in verse 1 of this chapter, you would find that the war between the house of Saul and the house of David continued on for some time. The house of Saul got weaker and weaker while the house of David got stronger and stronger. By this time, Saul and 3 of his sons are dead. Ish-Bosheth, 1 of Saul’s sons was the King over Israel while David was the King over Judah.
2 Samuel 3:6-12 (NIV)
“During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?" Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said and he answered, "Am I a dog's head--on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba." Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him. Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you."
There is hope in…
1. God’s restoration of lost time.
David had been running from Saul and his men and battling them for years. Abner had been leading Saul’s army even when David was a young boy having just defeated Goliath. God had chosen David as the next King of Israel many years before when David was just a child. David served Saul as a musician to calm the evil spirit tormenting Saul. As the years went by, Saul became very jealous of David and started trying to kill David. During this time, David had several opportunities to kill Saul and yet he waited on God to fulfill the promise given to him.
David did not try to speed up what God was doing. In fact, David had nothing to do with his being offered the Kingship over all of Israel. Abner, who had been trying to destroy David for years, changed his loyalty from Saul’s house to David’s house because of an accusation from Ish-Bosheth. God knows what He is doing and we need to be faithful to His plan for our lives.
2 Samuel 3:13-16 (NIV)
“Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me." Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins." So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back.”
There is hope in…
2. God’s restoration of lost relationships.
Michal, Saul’s daughter had been married to David; but when David escaped from Saul, Saul gave Michal to Paltiel as his wife. Again, there had been many years that had passed since David and Michal had been married; but God reunited them.
God can bring restoration in relationships in our lives that seem like there is no hope. I have been praying for restoration in many of my Church relationships through the years and I know that God can make that possible.
2 Samuel 3:17-18 (NIV)
“Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. Now do it! For the LORD promised David, `By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'"
There is hope in…
3. God’s restoration of lost purpose.
God’s plan was for David to rule all of Israel. You know that David had so many moments where he thought, “Maybe God meant for me to only rule 2 Tribes of Israel.” I’m sure that he doubted God’s plan and purpose for his life.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Now, this is one of my favorite verses in Scripture; but we need to look at verse 10 as well.
Jeremiah 29:10 (NIV)
“This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.”
Conclusion:
God has a plan for each of us this morning. His plan is a plan for you to prosper, a plan to give you hope, and a plan to give you a future. How He does that is up to Him. When He does that is up to Him. Don’t lose hope, God is going to restore you.
