God Achieves His Purposes Despite Evil

Our reading today is from 2 Samuel 3, beginning at verse 6.

And you can find it on page 430 in your pew Bibles.

2 Samuel 3, verse 6.

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 a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Ai.

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.

So 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 offence 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.

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 Michelle, daughter of Saul, when you come to see me.

Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, son of Saul, demanding, Give me my wife Michelle, 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.

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.

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person.

Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do.

When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men.