II Samuel 3
War between house of David and Saulverse 1
Now there was long war between the
house of Saul and house of David
BUT David waxed stronger and stronger
and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker
List of David’s sons born at Hebronverses 2-5
And to David were sons born in Hebron
and his firstborn was Amnon of
Ahinoam the Jezreelitess
and his second – Chileab of Abigail
the wife of Nabal the Carmelite
and the third – Absalom the son of Maacah
the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur
and the fourth – Adonijah the son of Haggith
and the fifth – Shephatiah the son of Abital
and the sixth – Ithream by Eglah David’s wife
These were born to David in Hebron
Ish-bosheth accuses Abnerverses 6-7
And it came to pass while there was war
between the house of Saul and house of David
that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul
And Saul had a concubine – whose name was Rizpah
the daughter of Aiah and Ish-bosheth
said to Abner
Wherefore have you gone in to my father’s concubine?
Abner will establish David over Israelverses 8-11
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth
and said
Am I a dog’s head – which against Judah do show kindness this day
to the house of Saul your father – to his brethren
and to his friends
and have not delivered you into the hand of David
that you charge me today with a fault
concerning this woman?
So do God to Abner – and more also – except
as the LORD has sworn to David – even so I do to him
to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul
and to set up the throne of David over Israel
and over Judah from Dan even to Beer-sheba
And he could not answer Abner a word again – because he feared him
Abner contacts Davidverse 12
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf
saying
Whose is the land? saying also
Make your league with me – and behold
my hand shall be with you
to bring about all Israel to you
David wants Abner to bring Michalverse 13
And he said – Well
I will make a league with you
BUT one thing I require of you
that is – You shall not see my face
except thou first bring Michal – Saul’s daughter
when you come to see my face
David tells Ish-bosheth he wants Michalverses 14-16
And David sent messenger to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son
saying
Deliver me my wife Michal
which I espoused to me for
an hundred foreskins of the Philistines
And Ish-bosheth sent – and took her from her husband
even from Phaltiel the son of Laish
and her husband went with her along weeping
behind her to Bahurim
Then said Abner to him
Go – return
And he returned
Abner talks to leaders of Israel and Benjaminverses 17-19
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel
saying
You sought for David in times past to be king over you
now then do it – for the LORD hath spoken of David
saying
By the hand of MY servant David I will save MY people
Israel out of the hand of the Philistines
and out of the hand of all their enemies
And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin
and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron
all that seemed good to Israel
and that seemed good
to the whole house of Benjamin
David gives feast for Abnerverses 20-21
So Abner came to David to Hebron – and twenty men with him
and David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast
And Abner
said to David
I will arise and go – and will gather all Israel to my lord the king
that they may make a league with you
that you may reign over all that your heart desires
And David sent Abner away and he went in peace
Joab was told that Abner was with Davidverses 22-23
And behold – the servants of David and Joab came
from pursuing a troop
and brought in a great spoil with them
BUT Abner was not with David in Hebron
for he had sent him away – and he was gone in peace
When Joab and all the host that was with him were come
they told Joab – saying
Abner the son of Ner came to the king
and he has sent him away
and he had gone in peace
Joab complains to David regarding Abnerverses 24-25
Then Joab came to the king
and said
What have you done?
BEHOLD – Abner came to you
Why is it that you have sent him away
and he is quite gone?
You know Abner the son of Ner
that he came to deceive you and to know your going out
and your coming in
and to know all that you do
Joab kills Abnerverses 26-27
And when Joab was come out from David
he sent messenger after Abner
which brought him again from the well of Sirah
BUT David knew it not
And when Abner was returned to Hebron
Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly
and smote him there under the fifth rib – that he died
for the blood of Asahel his brother
David curses Joab for his actverses 28-29
And afterward when David heard it
he said
I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever
from the blood of Abner the son of Ner
Let it rest on the head of Joab – and on all his father’s house
and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has
an issue – a leper – leans on a staff
falls on the sword – lacks bread
Joab revenge for his brother’s deathverse 30
So Joab – and Abishai his brother slew Abner
because he had slain their brother Asahel
at Gibeon in the battle
Funeral given by David for Abnerverses 31-35
And David said to Joab
and to all the people that were with him
Rend your clothes – and gird you with sackcloth
and mourn before Abner
And king David himself followed the bier
and they buried Abner in Hebron
and the king lifted up his voice
and wept at the grave of Abner
and all the people wept
And the king lamented over Abner
and said
Died Abner as a fool dies?
your hands were not bound – nor your feet put into fetters
as a man falls before wicked men – so fell you
And all the people wept again over him
and when all the people came to cause David to eat meat
while it was yet day
David swore
saying
So do God to me – and more also – if I taste bread
or aught else – till the sun be down
All of Israel and Judah realize David not guiltyverses 36-37
And all the people took notice of it – and it pleased them
as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people
For the people and all Israel understood that day that it was
not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner
Joab and his brother turned over to the LORDverses 38-39
And the king
said to his servants
Know you not that there is a prince and a great man
fallen this day in Israel?
And I am this day weak – though anointed king
and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me
the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according
to his wickedness
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog’s head, which against Judah do show kindness this day to the house of Saul your father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David, that you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman? (5771 “fault” [‘avon] means iniquity, punishment, mischief, sin, misdeed, or the state of having committed an offense)
DEVOTION: Confrontation is never easy. Here is a king who was put in power by his general trying to confront his general regarding an action that he didn’t think was appropriate.
Abner had had a relationship with one of his father’s concubines. It is strange to have wives and concubines or mistresses during this time period. David had six wives while he was in Hebron and had six children one by each wife. So the LORD allowed these things in the life of the children of Israel during this time period in history. HE only created one woman and one man to be in the Garden of Eden. The first time we hear of someone having more than one wife was a child of Cain having two wives.
God’s command for our time period is for one man to marry one woman for life. HE doesn’t like divorce but allows it because of the hardness of the hearts of those involved in divorce.
So to confront someone regarding their marital status was hard in this time period. It was wrong for a servant to go into a concubine of a king because this meant that there was disrespect involved.
Abner was a king maker and because of being confronted he wanted to be a king remover. He set out, to make David king over the twelve tribes after he was confronted.
Should we confront people who are not doing what the Bible says is wrong? The answer is YES if we do it with the right attitude and in the right way.
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants us to confront sin with a loving attitude that would cause the individual to want to be restored to fellowship with the LORD. Any other way is wrong.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with you: but one thing I require of you, that is, You shall not see my face, except you first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face. (7592 “require” [sha;al] means to ask, demand, wish, request, wish for, seek, or want)
DEVOTION: This chapter deals with the issue of David wanting his first wife back who was given to another man by Saul to spite David. At this point David has six other wives already but he wants his first love back.
So when Abner wanted to come to him to make him king of all of Israel he had one condition. He wanted him to bring his first wife with him. Restoration was what David had in mind regarding Michal who had lied for him and helped him escape from death when her father wanted to kill David.
He owed her for this service she did for him and he wanted to restore her to a position of power as the wife of the king. This is not what was going to happen as she didn’t want to be with him after she was returned to him. This will become plain later in the life of David.
Have we ever wanted life to be perfect and thought we knew how to get this to happen. David had this thought. We can have these same kinds of thoughts regarding what would make our life perfect.
However, our thoughts and God’s thoughts are not the same and we need to keep ourselves close to the LORD to find out whether our thoughts are HIS thoughts or not. We have to be open to not having our way because it is not the best thing for us.
Continually ask the LORD what HE wants us to do as we live our life for HIM. HE will give us answers.
CHALLENGE: Sometimes HIS answers are not what we want to hear but HE always knows what is best for us.
:18 Now then do it: for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. (3467 “save” [yasha] means to help, to be victorious, deliver, preserve, to give victory to, to set free, aid, succor, or rescue)
DEVOTION: Deliverance was promised by the LORD to come through David. The children of Israel were in bondage to the Philistines and they wanted to be released from that bondage.
David was the one who the LORD promised to give victory over the Philistines and so Abner was willing to turn the kingdom over to David. He was angry at Ish-bosheth the son of Saul because of his treatment of him.
So he changed sides and wanted to become a leader in the reign of David over Israel. He offered David his services and David accepted with one condition. However, David’s general, Joab, had not forgiven Abner for killing his brother.
So David was promised the whole kingdom by Abner and David accepted his offer. The LORD was with David but some of the circumstances around this offer were not pleasing to Joab.
Joab took this occasion to deal with Abner his way. This was allowed by the LORD but it was not pleasing to David.
We find that throughout the Bible there are individuals who are not happy with how the LORD was settling differences between individuals. Many times individuals took things into their own hands instead of letting the LORD settle things.
On this occasion this happened. We need to make sure that we don’t take things into our own hands to settle things between us and others rather than waiting on the LORD to handle the situation.
The end result might be good but the process can be wrong. Joab handled it wrong. He didn’t want to wait on the LORD to take care of it HIS way.
CHALLENGE: Do we take things into our own hands instead of waiting on the LORD to deal with those who have hurt us? Joab was wrong. Could we be wrong in our actions as well at times? We need to wait on the LORD!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. (5234 “notice” [nakar] means to scrutinize, look intently at, respect, to acknowledge, or discern)
DEVOTION: Division is normal with human beings. People fight with one another. Should this be normal for the children of God?
Here we have the children of Israel fighting with the children of Judah. This went on for years. Finally, it came to a head when Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, who was king of Israel confronted Abner concerning a concubine of Saul. This caused Abner to be angry at him and tell him that he would make David king of Israel.
Abner went to David to offer him the kingdom. After their meeting Abner left to talk with the leaders of Israel for the changeover to David a king. However, Joab, the general of David’s army, found out about the meeting and was angry with David for letting Abner leave in peace.
Joab sent a secret message to Abner to return to Hebron. When he returned Joab killed Abner for killing his brother. David was upset with Joab. He placed all the blame for the murder on Abner.
Now we have the funeral of Abner in Hebron. The people are watching David to see what he was going to do. He made a song to honor Abner at his funeral. He also refuses to eat anything until the sun went down to honor Abner even more. The people respected David for these actions.
How would we treat an enemy within the family of God? What usually happens in the local church when there is a disagreement?
All leaders are scrutinized by their followers. David had been leading the tribe of Judah. The elders of Israel were thinking about David becoming the leader of all of the twelve tribes of Israel. The people of Israel watched how David reacted to Joab’s deed of killing someone who had come in peace. They saw something that pleased them.
David was genuine in front of the people and mourned the death of Abner. People are scrutinizing our every move, to see how we react to events in our lives. They want to see if we are trusting the LORD and doing what HE would have us do for HIM.
Remember that the first people who observe us are our families. The next group that observes us is our church family. If we can earn the respect of both these groups it is a blessing beyond words. David gained the respect of the children of Israel.
CHALLENGE: The goals of our lives should be to have the respect of God and our family and the respect of our church family.
: 39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. (7186 “too hard” [qasheh] means stiff-necked, cruel, churlish, hardhearted, obstinate, difficult, shameless or impudent)
DEVOTION: When you are a leader of a large group of men you will find in the group at least one who is very stubborn and who always think that what they do is right even when they will not listen to your leadership.
David had such a man in a leadership position in his kingdom. Joab was someone who thought he was always right and that the king was naive regarding Abner’s real purpose for coming to see him.
So he called Abner back to confront him and kill him because he still remembered that he had killed his younger brother. He was out for revenge rather than to just protect his king from being misled by Abner.
Once Abner was dead David showed the people that he didn’t order his death and that he didn’t agree with his general for killing him. He wanted the LORD to judge him for his actions.
We are going to meet individuals like this if we are in any type of leadership position. They will always think what they are doing is right and you are wrong. They can be good workers unless you disagree with them. Joab disagreed with David and killed a man.
This might not happen during our time of leadership but sometimes a person’s reputation can be hurt by someone falsely accusing someone of something.
Sometimes in churches we might find that there are deacons who think they would be better pastors than the pastor in a given situation. We have to watch to be sure that we are electing good men into positions of leadership in the church.
CHALLENGE: We have to let the LORD deal with some individuals who don’t want to follow our leadership. HE always deals with people properly and in HIS time.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
David fasted until sundownverse 35
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 9, 35
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 9, 18, 28, 39
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Philistinesverse 18
Enemiesverse 18
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Wroth verse 8
Faultverse 8
Fearverse 11
Deceiveverse 25
Joab kills Abnerverse 27
Foolverse 33
Wickedverse 34
Evilverse 39
Wickednessverse 39
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Kindnessverse 8
Servantverse 18
Save [Deliver]verse 18
Guiltlessverse 28
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
House of Saulverses 1, 8
Waxed weaker
House of Davidverse 1
David waxed stronger
David has six wives with him in Hebronverses 2-5
Firstborn: Amnon
Second: Chileab
Third: Absalom
Fourth: Adonijah
Fifth: Shephatiah
Sixth: Ithream
Abner – made himself strong verses 6-39
Took concubine of Saul
Rizpah
Angry with Ishbosheth
Wanted a league between him and David
Brought Michal to David
Spoke to tribe of Benjamin
Promised David kingdom
Killed by Joab
Buried in Hebron
Ishbosheth – Saul’s sonverse 7
Confronted Abner
David wants his first wife: Michalverses 13-16
Ishbosheth delivered her to David
Abner promised David the other tribesverses 17-21
Joab kills Abnerverses 22-39
Confronted David regarding Abner
Killed him to avenge his brother
David lamented Abnerverses 33-39
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
28 The expansive phrase mēʾaḥarê ḵēn (“later,” lit., “from after this”) lends a touch of formality to David’s protestation of innocence (the idiom occurs only twice elsewhere: 15:1 [“in the course of time”]; 2 Chronicles 32:23 [“from then on”]). In addition, Clines observes that from here to the end of the chapter Abner is given his legal/formal title “Abner son of Ner” only in vv.28 and 37 (cf. “X, X Ben Y, Ben Y,” p. 275 for details). Furthermore, David’s use of “forever” adds to the solemnity of his statement (cf. 1 Kings 2:33).
Upon hearing of Abner’s murder, David declares himself—and his kingdom, doubtless including his future royal heirs—innocent of all personal responsibility for Abner’s death. The motif of David as “innocent” is first recorded in the assessment of his friend Jonathan (1 Sam 19:5) and recurs in the Davidic psalms (cf. Pss 19:13; 26:6; 64:4). Needless to say, that opinion is not shared by disaffected Israelites, who hold David accountable for the massacre of the Saulides and continue to think of him as a “man of blood” (cf. 16:7–8). (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 839). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Joab then took measures to have Abner return to Hebron from the well of Sirah (site unknown). Pretending to whisper something of importance to Abner … Joab drew him aside and viciously assassinated him (stabbed him in the stomach, v. 27; cf. 4:5–6). This was in revenge for Abner’s murder of Joab’s brother Asahel (3:27, 30; 2:23). When David discovered what had happened, he did not rejoice but rather uttered a curse on Joab and his progeny (3:29). Joab’s murder of Abner took place in Hebron, a city of refuge (Josh. 21:13), where such revenge was not permitted (Num. 35:22–25) (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 459). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
3:22–39 Abner’s murder. Perhaps Joab believed that Abner was a spy and not to be trusted, as he told David (25). More probably that was merely an excuse: v 30 gives the real reason why he murdered Abner in such a treacherous way.
The murder of Abner was a very serious embarrassment to David. The murderer was one of his senior officers, and the suspicion would have been widespread that David had given the instructions to kill Abner. In Ish-Bosheth’s kingdom, it must have seemed that David meant to kill all relatives of Saul in order to secure his own position. David’s only defence was to show publicly, in every way possible, that he was innocent of the murder. So he honoured Abner and mourned him publicly. V 37 records that he was able to persuade the populace, both in Judah and northern Israel, of his innocence.
The fact that the writer tells the full story of Abner’s death shows that at a later date some of David’s enemies were still accusing David of relentless hostility to Saul and his family. It is true that David did nothing to punish the killer; v 39 gives his reason for this. David did not mean that he was weak in character, but that Joab and his brother Abishai (the sons of Zeruiah) were too influential in the kingdom to be brought to trial. David’s resentment of Joab’s action lasted for many years (see 1 Ki. 2:5–6). (Payne, D. F. (1994). 1 and 2 Samuel. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 323). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
3:28, 29 My kingdom and I: David issued a public proclamation denying any involvement in the murder of Abner. The death of Abner was not only an act of treachery, but also a great blow to David’s hopes for a peaceable unification of the nation under his control. Let it rest on the head of Joab: This verse forms a strong curse on the household of Joab. Both a discharge (Lev. 15:2–33) and leprosy (Lev. 13) made the afflicted person ritually unclean, an outcast from the community. The phrase leans on a staff describes one who is crippled, lame, or blind (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 393). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
David honors Abner (vv. 28–39). When David heard the news of Abner’s death, he immediately disclaimed any part in what his two nephews had done. In fact, he went so far as to call down a curse on the house of Joab, naming some of the plagues that Moses had warned about in the Covenant (Deut. 28:25–29, 58–62). David issued a royal edict that commanded Joab and his army to mourn over Abner and to attend his funeral. The phrase “all the people” is used seven times in vv. 31–37 (kjv) and refers to the men in Joab’s army (2:28; 12:29). David commanded them all to tear their garments, put on sackcloth, and weep over the death of a great man, and David himself followed the bier to the place of interment. Because Joab and Abishai were among the official mourners, it’s likely that many of the people didn’t know that they were the murderers. David didn’t call them to trial, and it’s likely that his statements in verses 29 and 39 were spoken privately to his inner council. He tried to shield them as much as possible, although they certainly didn’t deserve it. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2002). Be restored (pp. 29–30). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)
3:28 the blood of Abner. Since life is in the blood (cf. Ge 9:4; Lv 17:11, 14; Dt 12:23), this expression refers to the life of Abner. David made it clear he had nothing to do with the murder of Abner, and David sought the Lord’s help to punish Joab for his evil deed (v. 39). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Sa 3:28). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 28. And afterward, when David heard it, &c.] That Joab bad sent to fetch Abner back, and that he had stabbed him in the gate of the city, and he was dead; it was some time after it was done that the news of it was brought to David; this circumstance is observed, the more to clear the king from any concern in this affair: he said; in a public manner, in open court, before all his princes; he called God to witness, and, as Josephus says, stretching out his right hand to God, he cried aloud: I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner; he was sensible it would be known that Abner had been with him, and that Joab his general had killed him; and therefore it might be suspected that he had an hand in it, and that it was done by his order, with his privy council; and therefore, to purge him and them from it, he made this public declaration, that neither he nor his council knew anything of it; and that it was not done with their knowledge and consent, and by their order, but through the resentment of a single person; and therefore hoped that no man would impute the shedding of this blood unto them, or that God would punish them for it; and he was the rather led to make this public declaration, because he knew that the death of Abner in this way would be resented by the friends of Saul’s family, and be an obstruction to the union of the two kingdoms, which it was known Abner was endeavouring to bring about. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 578). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set upon our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Jesus. Whenever we stand on our dignity we systematically vex and grieve His Spirit; and when the knowledge comes home that it is Jesus Whom we have been persecuting all the time, it is the most crushing revelation there could be. (My utmost for HIS Highest)
Jesus teaches His followers concerning prayer and personal treasures.
INSIGHT
We cannot fool God. It is impossible to put something over on Someone who is omniscient. We can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time. But not God. Jesus says, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them”(Matthew 6:1).
It is easy for us to fall into the trap of living our Christian lives for the sake of other Christians. We should be living it for the sake of our relationship with the Lord. We may find ourselves going to church, singing the songs, and going through the motions but spending no time cultivating a personal relationship with the Lord. Such a relationship does not come easily. It requires commitment and time.
But we must not fool ourselves, either. The Lord does not want merely our church attendance or other external actions. He wants us! (Quiet Walk)
LOVED BY THE FATHER AND THE SON
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world.
John 17:6
Consider the place we occupy in the interest and love of the Father and the Son. I confess that I am almost overwhelmed when I think of this. I so often spend my time, as I am sure many of you do, wondering why it is that I do not experience more of the love of God; why God does not, as it were, love me more and do things for me. What a terrible thing that is! The trouble is that I do not realize His love for me—that is my difficulty. People often say, “I feel my love for God is so small.” Quite right, I say the same thing myself:
Lord, it is my chief complaint,
That my love is weak and faint.
William Cowper
That is true, but the best cure is not to try to do things within yourself and work up some love from the depths of your being.The way to love God is to begin to know God’s love to you, and this doctrine is the high road to that love. Before time, before the creation of the world, He set His eye upon you, He set His affection upon you; you were marked, you were already put among His people. And all that has been done, all the person and the work of Christ, all this manifestation of His ineffable love, was done because of God’s love to you. Therefore, realize His interest in you. The God who has loved you to the extent of sending His only begotten Son to endure and to suffer all that for you loves you with a love that you will never understand, a love that passes knowledge. If we but knew God’s love to us, it would revolutionize our lives.
A Thought to Ponder
The way to love God is to begin to know God’s love to you.
(From Safe in the World, pp. 41-42, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Redeeming Love
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)
Verse four of “There Is a Fountain” fills Christians with thankfulness for the great and lasting work accomplished on the cross. A never-ending stream of redeeming love has gushed forth from Calvary to supply our never-ending need for forgiveness and provision and love. We respond in love to Him for His abundant love framed in undeserved grace. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). And how can we do so? “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
Through propitiation, God was satisfied with the full payment for our sin. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), but “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3), and God, the holy Judge, is satisfied. “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared…which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4, 6-7). Little wonder we respond as we do.
Not only do we receive forgiveness from the Father, He looks at us as though we had fully obeyed Him as His Son had done. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past….Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 3:25; 5:9). (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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